Hormonal IUD vs Copper IUD
Hormonal IUD ingredients
Main hormones in Hormonal IUD
progestin
Copper IUD ingredients
What Lowdown reviewers say
39% no impact on mood
44% stopped periods
41% no impact
46% no impact
44% no impact on skin
50% in 1 month
35% no impact on mood
74% heavier periods
61% no impact
70% no impact
70% no impact on skin
43% in 1 month
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Hormonal IUD reviews
69 reviews
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 4 days ago
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
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 7th Nov 25
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
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 13th Oct 25
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 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 4 days ago
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
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 7th Nov 25
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
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 13th Oct 25
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
Copper IUD reviews
23 reviews
Used for 3 - 5 yr
46 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 week ago
It worked and I didn’t have to worry. Only issue was my periods were soooooo heavy it made me severely anemic. After about 3-4 years I had to take it out and my periods were lighter and my anemia got better
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
47 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 6th Aug 25
Cooper IUD is very effective for me, i experienced a lot of virginal discharge at first, then reduced after some years and then it increased again sometimes thick and yellow though at checking, I don't have any infection. I have also stopped periods in the last few months, may be it is menopause since I am 48.
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
29 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 17th Jul 25
I have had the Paraguard IUD for 7 months, it is effective but there are still many side effects that I feel may not be explained upfront. I experience cramps so much worse, a few days of the month the pain magnitude is so bad it affects my normal functioning and focus. I have experienced late appendicitis pain and these cramps are consistently quite a bit worse. I also developed pre-menstrual cramps a week before menstruation, which are also quite bad. Aside from this, I developed some acne around my chin and jaw that I did not have issues with before. The cramps have not gotten any better in the 7 months I have had it since insertion.
Worse skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
46 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 week ago
It worked and I didn’t have to worry. Only issue was my periods were soooooo heavy it made me severely anemic. After about 3-4 years I had to take it out and my periods were lighter and my anemia got better
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
47 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 6th Aug 25
Cooper IUD is very effective for me, i experienced a lot of virginal discharge at first, then reduced after some years and then it increased again sometimes thick and yellow though at checking, I don't have any infection. I have also stopped periods in the last few months, may be it is menopause since I am 48.
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
29 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 17th Jul 25
I have had the Paraguard IUD for 7 months, it is effective but there are still many side effects that I feel may not be explained upfront. I experience cramps so much worse, a few days of the month the pain magnitude is so bad it affects my normal functioning and focus. I have experienced late appendicitis pain and these cramps are consistently quite a bit worse. I also developed pre-menstrual cramps a week before menstruation, which are also quite bad. Aside from this, I developed some acne around my chin and jaw that I did not have issues with before. The cramps have not gotten any better in the 7 months I have had it since insertion.
Worse skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 14th Jul 25
Painful insertion. Worst period of my life the month after insertion. Puked 3 times and lightheaded due to how much i was bleeding. Overly emotional, cramping, exhausted, and nauseous but hey my acne is better after switching from nexplanon to copper iud.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
44 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 30th Apr 25
My Periods are very strong and I sometimes have to change my pad every 30minutes
Very negative mood
11 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 23rd Mar 25
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 20th Feb 25
This birth control contributed to me getting BV and frequent yeast infections AND it was placed way too low and cause sex to be painful and my IUD was oxidizing inside of me and when I got it out, the IUD was literally falling apart I would not recommend this birth control
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 26th Nov 24
The insertion was unbelievably painful and I will not be getting it put back in after three months. 2 days in I nearly went back to get it taken out but decided to push through. The pain subsided however I occasionally get the most awful pains randomly which will last 3+ days sporadically with no period to go with it.
Top side effects not reported
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 3rd Oct 24
I’ve had it for over a year, I’m happy with it since it’s been effective in preventing pregnancy but I’ve all the sudden been getting weird side effects and hormone imbalances and bloating.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Popular birth control
Combination pillImplantShotThe legal stuff
Terms of usePrivacy & cookieContent policy©The Lowdown 2026

