Contraception Reviews

Copper IUD vs Hormonal IUD

Copper IUD

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Hormonal IUD

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Overview

Rated 3.4

20 reviews

5 - 10 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.7

61 reviews

3 - 8 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Copper IUD ingredients

Copper coils are made of a T-shaped frame of polyethylene (plastic) and barium sulphate. Copper wire is wound around the vertical arm.

Hormonal IUD ingredients

Main hormones in Hormonal IUD

progestin

What Lowdown reviewers say

Mood

35% no impact on mood

Bleeds

70% heavier periods

Sex drive

60% no impact

Weight

65% no impact

Skin

75% no impact on skin

Cycle return

33% in 1 month

Mood

43% no impact on mood

Bleeds

43% stopped periods

Sex drive

43% no impact

Weight

49% no impact

Skin

43% no impact on skin

Cycle return

50% in 1 month

Benefits: What this birth control can help with

There are no benefits that are recognised in scientific research or guidelines for this birth control

Adenomyosis

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Menopause

Period pain

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Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Copper IUD reviews

20 reviews

Copper IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 days ago

Paragard IUD  

Painful insertion. Worst period of my life the month after insertion. Puked 3 times and lightheaded due to how much i was bleeding. Overly emotional, cramping, exhausted, and nauseous but hey my acne is better after switching from nexplanon to copper iud.

Read more

Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper IUD  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
44 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  30th Apr 25

Copper IUD  

My Periods are very strong and I sometimes have to change my pad every 30minutes


Very negative mood

11 helpful

0 comments

Copper IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  23rd Mar 25

Copper IUD  

Weight gain


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 days ago

Paragard IUD  

Painful insertion. Worst period of my life the month after insertion. Puked 3 times and lightheaded due to how much i was bleeding. Overly emotional, cramping, exhausted, and nauseous but hey my acne is better after switching from nexplanon to copper iud.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper IUD  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
44 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  30th Apr 25

Copper IUD  

My Periods are very strong and I sometimes have to change my pad every 30minutes


Very negative mood

11 helpful

0 comments

Copper IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  23rd Mar 25

Copper IUD  

Weight gain


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments


Hormonal IUD reviews

61 reviews

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 days ago

Mirena IUD  

So far i’m loving mine! The spotting for the first month has been very annoying but nothing horrible. Cramping went away in four days, only negative so far is i’ve had a lower heat tolerance and (i’m blonde) my leg hair has gotten DARK. I have been consistently loosing weight since starting and plus, in my opinion, my sex drive is way up. My partner is on testosterone therapy so i’m finally able to keep up with him and we love it! I highly recommend so far!


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  6 days ago

Kyleena IUD  

TLDR: -If you struggle with PMS already, please ask your doctor about the effects progesterone only birth control can have. I wish I had known that it can make it worse. -Expect new kinds of cramps. For me it was lightning rectum pain


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
15 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Mirena IUD  

So far I've had this for about a month and some change and I love it! Made my period significantly less painful this time around ❤️


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 days ago

Mirena IUD  

So far i’m loving mine! The spotting for the first month has been very annoying but nothing horrible. Cramping went away in four days, only negative so far is i’ve had a lower heat tolerance and (i’m blonde) my leg hair has gotten DARK. I have been consistently loosing weight since starting and plus, in my opinion, my sex drive is way up. My partner is on testosterone therapy so i’m finally able to keep up with him and we love it! I highly recommend so far!


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  6 days ago

Kyleena IUD  

TLDR: -If you struggle with PMS already, please ask your doctor about the effects progesterone only birth control can have. I wish I had known that it can make it worse. -Expect new kinds of cramps. For me it was lightning rectum pain


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
15 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Mirena IUD  

So far I've had this for about a month and some change and I love it! Made my period significantly less painful this time around ❤️


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
23 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Mirena IUD  

Honestly, the Mirena in my opinion isn’t bad at all. I have increased migraines but with OTC pain meds like Tylenol or ibuprofen, it helps a lot! I highly recommend this IUD just for the fact that it did lighten my period and lessen the cramps BUT I will add, it’s been continuous spotting since I’ve gotten it which isn’t a huge deal, just very annoying. Then I don’t know about yall, but the sweating…and over heating is crazy. This 4th of July I had to be taken by ambulance to the ER because I overheated so bad I passed out for over two hours, completely unresponsive BUT good vitals. I’m a very healthy 23 year old so that was completely unusual for me, I live in the Midwest so the heat can be a killer but it’s never EVER made me pass out or even dizzy, let alone unresponsive. So following with that, I wouldn’t say it’s a bad IUD, minus all the inconveniences. I haven’t gotten pregnant at least! Oh and to add, my sex drive is annoying my partner, he threatened to give me an ice bath last night to be exact😅


Increased sex drive

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Mirena IUD  

I have been on the marina for almost a year and every time I get my period I am in severe pain….. when I’m driving I have to pull over on the side of the road to spit up and hold my stomach. Today it was so bad. I had to call in early. I throw up most times…… moral of the story I’m getting it taken out


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Skyla IUD  

I got the IUD put in and since then I have experienced intense nausea and frequent headaches.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
23 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  11th Jun 25

Kyleena IUD  

I’ve only been on it for going on 3 weeks now. The first week was cramping and low back pain. Week 2 was nausea and hunger pains. I’m starting week 3 now and I’m working with my hunger, tiredness, and possibly some mood swings. So far I really like it. I don’t feel it, it doesn’t hurt or nothing.


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  19th May 25

Mirena IUD  

This is a test!


Very positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  29th Apr 25

Mirena IUD  

Best decision ever made!


Top side effects not reported

10 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  28th Apr 25

Kyleena IUD  

I got the Kyleena prescribed off-label to me after suffering from ridiculously heavy periods in my teens. I used to bleed 200mls+ on some periods and even Tranexamic acid didn’t help. This IUD has been an absolute life-saver and my periods are so much lighter. I will admit I have experienced some side effects - I used to have clear skin 95% of the time, however since the IUD I permanently have 1 or 2 pimples around my jawline which can be quite annoying. My periods are often very long now (7-11 days) despite being light which also gets frustrating. Those are the two main side effects I’ve experienced, but overall it’s been a positive experience.


Worse skin

10 helpful

0 comments

Birth control alternatives and comparisons

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