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 3.7

53 reviews

3 - 8 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.3

107 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

42% no impact on mood

Bleeds

47% stopped periods

Sex drive

45% no impact

Weight

49% no impact

Skin

40% no impact on skin

Cycle return

50% in 1 month

Mood

28% no impact on mood

Bleeds

32% lighter periods

Sex drive

39% lost sex drive

Weight

42% no impact

Skin

40% improved skin

Cycle return

41% 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

53 reviews

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Mirena IUD  

Best decision ever made!

Read more

Top side effects not reported

10 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Kyleena IUD  

I got the Kyleena prescribed off-label to me after suffering from ridiculously heavy periods in my teens. I used to bleed 200mls+ on some periods and even Tranexamic acid didn’t help. This IUD has been an absolute life-saver and my periods are so much lighter. I will admit I have experienced some side effects - I used to have clear skin 95% of the time, however since the IUD I permanently have 1 or 2 pimples around my jawline which can be quite annoying. My periods are often very long now (7-11 days) despite being light which also gets frustrating. Those are the two main side effects I’ve experienced, but overall it’s been a positive experience.


Worse skin

10 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Kyleena IUD  

I got the Kyleena prescribed off-label for my heavy menstrual bleeding. I used to bleed sometimes over 200ml per period, even Tranexamic acid didn’t help. This IUD has been a life saver - my periods are so much lighter. Overall it’s been a positive experience. I won’t pretend it doesn’t have other side effects though. My periods are now way longer than they used to be (7-11 days) although not heavy at all. I also had clear skin 95% of the time prior to the IUD but now I permanently have one or two pimples around my jawline which can be pretty annoying.


Worse skin

11 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Mirena IUD  

Best decision ever made!


Top side effects not reported

10 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Kyleena IUD  

I got the Kyleena prescribed off-label to me after suffering from ridiculously heavy periods in my teens. I used to bleed 200mls+ on some periods and even Tranexamic acid didn’t help. This IUD has been an absolute life-saver and my periods are so much lighter. I will admit I have experienced some side effects - I used to have clear skin 95% of the time, however since the IUD I permanently have 1 or 2 pimples around my jawline which can be quite annoying. My periods are often very long now (7-11 days) despite being light which also gets frustrating. Those are the two main side effects I’ve experienced, but overall it’s been a positive experience.


Worse skin

10 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Kyleena IUD  

I got the Kyleena prescribed off-label for my heavy menstrual bleeding. I used to bleed sometimes over 200ml per period, even Tranexamic acid didn’t help. This IUD has been a life saver - my periods are so much lighter. Overall it’s been a positive experience. I won’t pretend it doesn’t have other side effects though. My periods are now way longer than they used to be (7-11 days) although not heavy at all. I also had clear skin 95% of the time prior to the IUD but now I permanently have one or two pimples around my jawline which can be pretty annoying.


Worse skin

11 helpful

0 comments


Combination birth control pill reviews

107 reviews

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
36 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 days ago

Combination birth control pill  

Not pleasant. Slynd seems to yes, decrease my flow, but the side effects are horrendous


Worse skin

1 more effect

12 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  5 days ago

Loryna birth control pill  

Began experiencing yeast infections almost immediately after beginning medications, even though I’ve had zero history of yeast infections in the past. Also experienced increase vaginal dryness with painful intercourse. Last but not least, I feel like my depression has been worse.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

12 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Yasmin birth control pill  

.


Improved skin

12 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
36 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 days ago

Combination birth control pill  

Not pleasant. Slynd seems to yes, decrease my flow, but the side effects are horrendous


Worse skin

1 more effect

12 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  5 days ago

Loryna birth control pill  

Began experiencing yeast infections almost immediately after beginning medications, even though I’ve had zero history of yeast infections in the past. Also experienced increase vaginal dryness with painful intercourse. Last but not least, I feel like my depression has been worse.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

12 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Yasmin birth control pill  

.


Improved skin

12 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
30 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Hailey Fe 1/20 birth control pill  

So far, I have not had the great experience. I keep spotting a lot after my period ended and seems like it’s never ending so far no cramping, but never experienced this before.


Very positive mood

11 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
44 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Nikki birth control pill  

Headaches when using placebo pills. Improved when taken continuously but then had weeks of spotting. Thighs noticeably bigger. Weight increase 2-3 pounds over 3 months. Previously on Yaz in my late 20s and early 30s - loved it. This one did not work for me in my mid 40s


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

3 helpful

0 comments

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

Mili birth control pill  

No see drive. Gained 15 pounds over 6 years, mostly at the start. Can't seem to lose weight. It's the only bc pill that doesn't seem to affect my heart arrhythmia. Got pregnant twice on this stuff though!


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

3 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Estarylla birth control pill  

I actually really enjoyed the effect Estarylla had on my mood. It helped me through PPD (in combination with prenatals and exercise). However, it gave me nasty cystic acne, so I had to switch. Other birth controls have messed with my mood negatively, so I was really bummed to give this one up after the positive effect it had. The sex was good, too.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
43 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Combination birth control pill  

Not at all


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  4th Apr 25

Vienva birth control pill  

I don’t know so I can’t tell you


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
43 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  23rd Mar 25

Loryna birth control pill  

The only negative is loss of sex drive, other than that it has helped my mood


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Hormonal IUD with other birth control

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