Hormonal IUD vs Combination birth control pill
Hormonal IUD ingredients
Main hormones in Hormonal IUD
progestin
Combination pill ingredients
Main hormones in Combination pill
estrogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
44% no impact on mood
49% stopped periods
42% no impact
49% no impact
40% no impact on skin
50% in 1 month
29% no impact on mood
29% lighter periods
39% lost sex drive
43% no impact
41% improved skin
40% in 1 month
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Hormonal IUD reviews
43 reviews
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 5th Jan 25
I took this for endometriosis and it dialed my pain and symptoms down from a 9 to a 2-3, for a whole year. Unfortunately after a year I felt the pain begin to creep back in, a little more intense every month after that year mark, so I decided to pursue excision surgery as a more permanent solution. If you’re not ready for surgery but want endo relief, definitely encourage you to give Mirena a try!
Improved skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
46 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 4th Jan 25
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 20th Dec 24
Just got this inserted early November. It's December and Im experiencing a month of bleeding, cramps, irritability, nausea, headaches, dizziness, feeling unwell everyday.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
3 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 5th Jan 25
I took this for endometriosis and it dialed my pain and symptoms down from a 9 to a 2-3, for a whole year. Unfortunately after a year I felt the pain begin to creep back in, a little more intense every month after that year mark, so I decided to pursue excision surgery as a more permanent solution. If you’re not ready for surgery but want endo relief, definitely encourage you to give Mirena a try!
Improved skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
46 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 4th Jan 25
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 20th Dec 24
Just got this inserted early November. It's December and Im experiencing a month of bleeding, cramps, irritability, nausea, headaches, dizziness, feeling unwell everyday.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
3 helpful
0 comments
Combination birth control pill reviews
96 reviews
Used for 5 - 8 yr
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
I’ve experienced these issues around or during my period
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
Had nausea the first week of both months 1 and 2. Only side effect was significant breast and butt enlargement, which led me to stop taking it.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
52 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
no noted side effects very happy with this medication was switched to sprintec and not happy at all with sprintec
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
I’ve experienced these issues around or during my period
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
Had nausea the first week of both months 1 and 2. Only side effect was significant breast and butt enlargement, which led me to stop taking it.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
52 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
no noted side effects very happy with this medication was switched to sprintec and not happy at all with sprintec
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
23 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
I actually didn't really have any "normal" side effects with this pill, I felt like I was mostly normal. But I did notice that my hair was gradually thinning, and it felt like it triggered some form of chronic hair loss for me. Interestingly enough, while it wasn't a huge issue, I noticed that I had "stinky" periods? I stopped having them after I stopped the pill.
Worse skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 1 month ago
Being on this actually helps me to get fewer menstrual migraines. I don’t seem to have had any truly bad side effects over the years I’ve been taking it.
Improved skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 month ago
I got major mood swings when skipping the placebo week, which is why I stopped.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
45 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 15th Jan 25
Very positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
39 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 17th Dec 24
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
3 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 10th Dec 24
Worse skin
2 more effects
3 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
32 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 10th Dec 24
Lots and lots of weight gain to the tune of 70+ lbs in about 12 years currently. Been on depression medication for no energy and nothing has helped
Very negative mood
2 more effects
3 helpful
0 comments
Popular birth control
Combination pillImplantShotThe legal stuff
Terms of usePrivacy & cookieContent policy©The Lowdown 2025