Contraception Reviews

Hormonal IUD vs Combination birth control pill

Hormonal IUD

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Combination birth control pill

Want to switch birth control?

Overview

Rated 3.6

70 reviews

3 - 8 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.3

134 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Hormonal IUD ingredients

Main hormones in Hormonal IUD

progestin


Combination pill ingredients

Main hormones in Combination pill

estrogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

Mood

39% no impact on mood

Bleeds

44% stopped periods

Sex drive

40% no impact

Weight

47% no impact

Skin

43% no impact on skin

Cycle return

50% in 1 month

Mood

28% no impact on mood

Bleeds

31% lighter periods

Sex drive

37% lost sex drive

Weight

43% no impact

Skin

40% improved skin

Cycle return

35% in 1 month

Benefits: What this birth control can help with

Adenomyosis

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Menopause

Period pain

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

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Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Hormonal IUD reviews

70 reviews

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
34 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  4 days ago

Kyleena IUD  

I initially thought I was having a positve experience, but after 3 months was diagnosed with Sebohrreic Dermatitis with an extremely itchy scalp and bumps on jawline. Within 5 months I started having noticeable hair loss. I have lost at least 50% density. It is now 11 months from insertion and still shedding drastically. 8 months after insertion, I started having cystic acne which Ive never experienced before. I use to have the Paraguard IUD and didnt have these symptoms

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Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Mirena IUD  

I’ve had the Mirena since 2022 and just got it taken out today. I will preface this with I do not do well with birth control in general and it’s a struggle. I did not realize the correlation between my Mirena and my side affects. I feel like my side affects got gradually worse. I already suffer from anxiety and depression but since the Mirena was put in I have had to add on another anxiety and depression medication. I’ve also had to get on an acne medication from the dermatologist because I was getting deep acne and my face chemistry had changed including a little more facial hair growth. Once on the medication I no longer had an issue the the hair growth or acne. Let me also point out that I’ve never had acne my entire life so this was new. Everyone’s body reacts differently to birth control. I just want to make sure that I said these things in case there is another person who thought they were going crazy. I had extreme exhaustion and this increased my depression and made things much worse. I am not the only one who has had these symptoms either so take comfort in knowing you are not alone.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  7th Nov 25

Skyla IUD  

Has helped overall by stopping my periods which were long (5-7 days) and heavy.


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
34 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  4 days ago

Kyleena IUD  

I initially thought I was having a positve experience, but after 3 months was diagnosed with Sebohrreic Dermatitis with an extremely itchy scalp and bumps on jawline. Within 5 months I started having noticeable hair loss. I have lost at least 50% density. It is now 11 months from insertion and still shedding drastically. 8 months after insertion, I started having cystic acne which Ive never experienced before. I use to have the Paraguard IUD and didnt have these symptoms


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Mirena IUD  

I’ve had the Mirena since 2022 and just got it taken out today. I will preface this with I do not do well with birth control in general and it’s a struggle. I did not realize the correlation between my Mirena and my side affects. I feel like my side affects got gradually worse. I already suffer from anxiety and depression but since the Mirena was put in I have had to add on another anxiety and depression medication. I’ve also had to get on an acne medication from the dermatologist because I was getting deep acne and my face chemistry had changed including a little more facial hair growth. Once on the medication I no longer had an issue the the hair growth or acne. Let me also point out that I’ve never had acne my entire life so this was new. Everyone’s body reacts differently to birth control. I just want to make sure that I said these things in case there is another person who thought they were going crazy. I had extreme exhaustion and this increased my depression and made things much worse. I am not the only one who has had these symptoms either so take comfort in knowing you are not alone.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  7th Nov 25

Skyla IUD  

Has helped overall by stopping my periods which were long (5-7 days) and heavy.


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments


Combination birth control pill reviews

134 reviews

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Loryna birth control pill  

This birth control has been GAME CHANGER for me. My periods are almost non-existent, seriously, so light I barely notice! My cramps are also almost NEVER there when my period comes. Before, I would have crippling pain and a heavy, inconsistent period. In the first month or two of taking the pill, I did notice a frequent occurrence of headaches, but nothing major or unbearable. Also, no weight gain!! I used to occasionally have acne, but that seems completely gone now too. I do feel my mood has improved considerably as well. Endlessly grateful for this pill, I hope it works for many others when they try it!


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Junel Fe 1.5/30 birth control pill  

I got on this birth control because I was having mood swings and was feeling irritable and not like myself on the birth control pill I was on before. This one helped my mood a lot and my periods have been short and light on it (bleeding for 2-3 days and spotting for 1-2 days).


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
16 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  18th Dec 25

Yaz birth control pill  

good for me


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Loryna birth control pill  

This birth control has been GAME CHANGER for me. My periods are almost non-existent, seriously, so light I barely notice! My cramps are also almost NEVER there when my period comes. Before, I would have crippling pain and a heavy, inconsistent period. In the first month or two of taking the pill, I did notice a frequent occurrence of headaches, but nothing major or unbearable. Also, no weight gain!! I used to occasionally have acne, but that seems completely gone now too. I do feel my mood has improved considerably as well. Endlessly grateful for this pill, I hope it works for many others when they try it!


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Junel Fe 1.5/30 birth control pill  

I got on this birth control because I was having mood swings and was feeling irritable and not like myself on the birth control pill I was on before. This one helped my mood a lot and my periods have been short and light on it (bleeding for 2-3 days and spotting for 1-2 days).


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
16 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  18th Dec 25

Yaz birth control pill  

good for me


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  11th Dec 25

Combination birth control pill  

Discharge throws off my mood and for sex..


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
19 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  17th Nov 25

Vienva birth control pill  

I really like it! I take it daily and bae no bad side effects, and actually feel my mood has improved


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  5th Nov 25

Junel 21 1/20 birth control pill  

I started taking this pill post partial hysterectomy for worsening PMDD symptoms. Within week 1 I totally lost my libido (I generally have a super high drive and have sex daily with my partner). I have had a couple of headaches as well since starting which is not a frequent thing for me. After the first few days I felt bloated as well. I do not have to worry about pregnancy since having a partial hysterectomy, however the other side effects are uncomfortable enough I do not want to continue this pill.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  30th Oct 25

Junel Fe 1.5/30 birth control pill  

It was fine, but not the best. I noticed feeling increasingly agitated often and it made my cramps a lot worse when I had a pill period. Overall wasn't a bad med, but not my favorite. Main symptom that made me get off it was really bad hot flashes everyday.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  21st Oct 25

Junel Fe 1/20 birth control pill  

It’s worked and been totally fine.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
18 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  27th Sep 25

Hailey Fe 1/20 birth control pill  

hey readers! i’m 18 and have been on it since 15. my periods were 50-70 days late and now i can pin it down on a calander! i’ve always been slimmer due to my sickness (cvs) and this has helped it tremendously too, i haven’t noticed much weight gain. (shoutout to my gyno) that being said my friends have had some other feedback so it is very personal to your body. but for me it has been life changing! i am considering maybe a shorter period length now that mine are 4 days and not 7.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
44 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  16th Sep 25

Vienva birth control pill  

Irregular periods and it's got worse.


Decreased sex drive

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Birth control alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Hormonal IUD with other birth control

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