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

43 reviews

3 - 8 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.3

96 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

44% no impact on mood

Bleeds

49% stopped periods

Sex drive

42% no impact

Weight

49% no impact

Skin

40% no impact on skin

Cycle return

50% in 1 month

Mood

29% no impact on mood

Bleeds

29% lighter periods

Sex drive

39% lost sex drive

Weight

43% no impact

Skin

41% improved skin

Cycle return

40% 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

43 reviews

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  5th Jan 25

Mirena IUD  

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!

Read more

Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
46 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  4th Jan 25

Kyleena IUD  

I just had it inserted yesterday.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  20th Dec 24

Mirena IUD  

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

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  5th Jan 25

Mirena IUD  

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

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
46 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  4th Jan 25

Kyleena IUD  

I just had it inserted yesterday.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  20th Dec 24

Mirena IUD  

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

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Kurvelo birth control pill  

I’ve experienced these issues around or during my period


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Junel Fe 1/20 birth control pill  

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

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
52 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Nortrel 7/7/7 birth control pill  

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

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Kurvelo birth control pill  

I’ve experienced these issues around or during my period


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Junel Fe 1/20 birth control pill  

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

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
52 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Nortrel 7/7/7 birth control pill  

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

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
23 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Lutera birth control pill  

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

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Vestura birth control pill  

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

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Lo Loestrin Fe birth control pill  

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

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 8+ yr
45 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  15th Jan 25

Vestura birth control pill  

I love my birth control


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 8+ yr
39 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  17th Dec 24

Nortrel 0.5/35 birth control pill  

Overall discomfort.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

3 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  10th Dec 24

Combination birth control pill  

Eh


Worse skin

2 more effects

3 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 8+ yr
32 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  10th Dec 24

Junel 21 1/20 birth control pill  

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

Birth control alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Hormonal IUD with other birth control

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