Copper IUD vs Mini pill
Copper IUD ingredients
Mini pill ingredients
Main hormones in Mini pill
progestin
What Lowdown reviewers say
38% no impact on mood
71% heavier periods
62% no impact
67% no impact
71% no impact on skin
33% in 1 month
32% no impact on mood
36% stopped periods
43% no impact
50% no impact
39% no impact on skin
60% don’t know impact
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Copper IUD reviews
21 reviews
Used for 6 - 12 mo
29 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 5 days ago
I have had the Paraguard IUD for 7 months, it is effective but there are still many side effects that I feel may not be explained upfront. I experience cramps so much worse, a few days of the month the pain magnitude is so bad it affects my normal functioning and focus. I have experienced late appendicitis pain and these cramps are consistently quite a bit worse. I also developed pre-menstrual cramps a week before menstruation, which are also quite bad. Aside from this, I developed some acne around my chin and jaw that I did not have issues with before. The cramps have not gotten any better in the 7 months I have had it since insertion.
Worse skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
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
Used for 5 - 8 yr
44 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 30th Apr 25
My Periods are very strong and I sometimes have to change my pad every 30minutes
Very negative mood
11 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
29 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 5 days ago
I have had the Paraguard IUD for 7 months, it is effective but there are still many side effects that I feel may not be explained upfront. I experience cramps so much worse, a few days of the month the pain magnitude is so bad it affects my normal functioning and focus. I have experienced late appendicitis pain and these cramps are consistently quite a bit worse. I also developed pre-menstrual cramps a week before menstruation, which are also quite bad. Aside from this, I developed some acne around my chin and jaw that I did not have issues with before. The cramps have not gotten any better in the 7 months I have had it since insertion.
Worse skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
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
Used for 5 - 8 yr
44 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 30th Apr 25
My Periods are very strong and I sometimes have to change my pad every 30minutes
Very negative mood
11 helpful
0 comments
Mini pill reviews
28 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 26th May 25
I lost so much hair. I’m done using this. My periods are more painful, I’m so tired now
Improved skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 16th Apr 25
Really love it! I can skip my periods, don't experience migraines and my acne cleared up!
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 26th May 25
I lost so much hair. I’m done using this. My periods are more painful, I’m so tired now
Improved skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 16th Apr 25
Really love it! I can skip my periods, don't experience migraines and my acne cleared up!
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 31st Mar 25
I gained 30 pounds after starting this birth control. Could not figure out what was going on with my body until I found a reddit thread where other people were experiencing the same.
Worse skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 21st Feb 25
I’m hoping it gets better. Switched from Errin to Slynd 6 months ago. Hair loss stopped. Acne got better. Those were an immediate win. Month 1 - bled for 1 week. Month 2 - bled for 3 weeks. Month 3 - bled for 2.5 weeks. Month 4 - bled for 2 weeks. Month 5 - bled for 1.5 weeks. Month 6 - bled for 1 week. I naturally have a short cycle, and in the process of trying to force my cycle into a 30 day cadence, I’ve gotten 1-2 days per month of severe headaches before my period (thought my head would blow off without Tylenol) and minor dull headaches for ~1 week before each period. The headaches didn’t happen with Errin - but they are happening with Slynd (and also happened a few year back when I took the combo pill).
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 15th Feb 25
It does what it needs to do, pregnancy prevention. Intense emotional fluctuations following the “usual” postpartum journey is definitely a downside
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 31st Dec 24
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
33 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 29th Dec 24
My experience thus far has been great with minor concerns for acne.
Worse skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 19th Nov 24
started taking it about a week and a half ago. i missed a day on sunday, so i took two on monday. today is tuesday and im having terrible cramps. other than that, emotionally its better than the combination pill.
Worse skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 2nd Nov 24
This pill improved my sex drive which had been very reduced by the combination pill. It allowed me to put on more muscle too! The weight gain was mostly muscle, which I was so happy about. It was just hard to take the same exact time everyday.
Somewhat positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
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