Contraception Reviews

Copper IUD vs Mini pill

Copper IUD

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Mini pill

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Overview

Rated 3.3

21 reviews

5 - 10 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.4

28 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 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.

Mini pill ingredients

Main hormones in Mini pill

progestin

What Lowdown reviewers say

Mood

38% no impact on mood

Bleeds

71% heavier periods

Sex drive

62% no impact

Weight

67% no impact

Skin

71% no impact on skin

Cycle return

33% in 1 month

Mood

32% no impact on mood

Bleeds

36% stopped periods

Sex drive

43% no impact

Weight

50% no impact

Skin

39% no impact on skin

Cycle return

60% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this birth control can help with

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

Period pain

Heavy menstrual bleeding

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Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Copper IUD reviews

21 reviews

Copper IUD  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
29 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  5 days ago

Paragard IUD  

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.

Read more

Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks 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 6 - 12 mo
29 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  5 days ago

Paragard IUD  

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

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


Mini pill reviews

28 reviews

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  26th May 25

Mini pill  

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

Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  21st Apr 25

Mini pill  

Best bc pill experience I've had


Worse skin

1 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  16th Apr 25

Slynd birth control pill  

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

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  26th May 25

Mini pill  

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

Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  21st Apr 25

Mini pill  

Best bc pill experience I've had


Worse skin

1 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  16th Apr 25

Slynd birth control pill  

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

Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  31st Mar 25

Slynd birth control pill  

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

Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  21st Feb 25

Slynd birth control pill  

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

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  15th Feb 25

Slynd birth control pill  

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

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  31st Dec 24

Slynd birth control pill  

N/A


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
33 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  29th Dec 24

Slynd birth control pill  

My experience thus far has been great with minor concerns for acne.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  19th Nov 24

Norethindrone 0.35 birth control pill  

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

Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  2nd Nov 24

Norethindrone 0.35 birth control pill  

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

Birth control alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Copper IUD with other birth control

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