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
40% no impact on mood
43% stopped periods
42% no impact
48% no impact
45% no impact on skin
50% in 1 month
29% no impact on mood
31% lighter periods
37% lost sex drive
43% no impact
40% improved skin
36% in 1 month
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Hormonal IUD reviews
67 reviews
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 1 month ago
It's ok. No unplanned pregnancy but my periods last for 2-3 weeks and I gained 25lbs in 2 years with no changes to eating habits.
Improved skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 3rd Oct 25
Went on the IUD bc I had super painful periods. Modena stopped my period and once a month now I’ll have just a little bit of phantom cramps—but none that ever pose an issue. The first month was quite painful adjusting to the IUD, but COMPLETELY worth it in the end. Only negative side effect I’m experiencing is vaginal dryness. Vaginal discharge has decreased and when I’m with my partner, no matter how aroused I am, I’m still pretty dry.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 18th Sep 25
I'm almost 28 years old, have had periods for the last decade and a half. They have always been regular and heavy to the point that if I didn't take iron supplements 5x a week and tranexamic acid during my periods, I'd have anemia. So I got Kyleena in December 2024. Insertion was fine, some cramping but nothing too serious. I had cramping on and off during the times my periods were supposed to come and some spotting/bleeding, but it was usually what I saw towards the beginning of my cycle. I had one reduced-level period in mid-August. I have had to go from 36D to 36DD to 36DDD/38DD bras over the span of a few months. At first I thought it was just weight gain (went from 170 to 195lb), but I have been almost 200lb before and my breast size increased this much this quickly. Even after losing 10 pounds my breast size has shown little to no decrease. I hate it. I also suspect that the IUD influenced my sciatica in my lumbar spine, which began in February 2025 and has taken several weeks of PT and a round of oral steroids to resolve. I am still not up to 100% all these months later. Overall a 2/5. The decreased period length, flow, and frequency is almost not enough to justify having this torture device in. If I get pregnant w/this in, I'll be so angry.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 1 month ago
It's ok. No unplanned pregnancy but my periods last for 2-3 weeks and I gained 25lbs in 2 years with no changes to eating habits.
Improved skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 3rd Oct 25
Went on the IUD bc I had super painful periods. Modena stopped my period and once a month now I’ll have just a little bit of phantom cramps—but none that ever pose an issue. The first month was quite painful adjusting to the IUD, but COMPLETELY worth it in the end. Only negative side effect I’m experiencing is vaginal dryness. Vaginal discharge has decreased and when I’m with my partner, no matter how aroused I am, I’m still pretty dry.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 18th Sep 25
I'm almost 28 years old, have had periods for the last decade and a half. They have always been regular and heavy to the point that if I didn't take iron supplements 5x a week and tranexamic acid during my periods, I'd have anemia. So I got Kyleena in December 2024. Insertion was fine, some cramping but nothing too serious. I had cramping on and off during the times my periods were supposed to come and some spotting/bleeding, but it was usually what I saw towards the beginning of my cycle. I had one reduced-level period in mid-August. I have had to go from 36D to 36DD to 36DDD/38DD bras over the span of a few months. At first I thought it was just weight gain (went from 170 to 195lb), but I have been almost 200lb before and my breast size increased this much this quickly. Even after losing 10 pounds my breast size has shown little to no decrease. I hate it. I also suspect that the IUD influenced my sciatica in my lumbar spine, which began in February 2025 and has taken several weeks of PT and a round of oral steroids to resolve. I am still not up to 100% all these months later. Overall a 2/5. The decreased period length, flow, and frequency is almost not enough to justify having this torture device in. If I get pregnant w/this in, I'll be so angry.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Combination birth control pill reviews
129 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• today
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
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 6 days ago
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
Used for 3 - 5 yr
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• today
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
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 6 days ago
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
Used for 3 - 5 yr
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
18 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 27th Sep 25
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
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
44 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 16th Sep 25
Decreased sex drive
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
50 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 8th Sep 25
Very negative mood
2 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 24th Aug 25
Made my chin area have uncontrollable hormonal acne. Breakthrough bleeding from intimacy and pretty bad PMS symptoms for days before.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 24th Aug 25
Went on Yasmin for helping acne and breakthrough bleeding. Completely cleared my skin. I did have a full heavy period for 3 weeks out of 4. Waited out incase it would go away. It did not
Improved skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
48 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3rd Aug 25
I loved this for helping prevent migraines (taking continuously) and helping even out my moods. But I just realized it is probably what is causing my hair loss. Looking to change to a lower androgen pill like Yasmin
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
23 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2nd Aug 25
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
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