Contraception Reviews

Hormonal IUD vs Female condom

Hormonal IUD

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Female condom

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Overview

Rated 3.6

65 reviews

3 - 8 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 0.0

0 reviews

During or before sex

Frequency

79% - 95%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Hormonal IUD ingredients

Main hormones in Hormonal IUD

progestin

Female condom ingredients

Female condoms (sometimes referred to as a Femidom) are soft thin pouches that are made of a thin
strong plastic called polyurethane
a substance called nitrile
or latex.

What Lowdown reviewers say

Mood

40% no impact on mood

Bleeds

43% stopped periods

Sex drive

43% no impact

Weight

48% no impact

Skin

45% no impact on skin

Cycle return

50% in 1 month

Mood

Not enough data to say

Bleeds

Not enough data to say

Sex drive

Not enough data to say

Weight

Not enough data to say

Skin

Not enough data to say

Cycle return

Not enough data to say

Benefits: What this birth control can help with

Adenomyosis

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Menopause

Period pain

Protects against STDs

Non-hormonal

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Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Hormonal IUD reviews

65 reviews

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  today

Kyleena IUD  

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.

Read more

Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Hormonal IUD  

I've had horrible bloating. From when I wake up till I go to bed my clothing size changes up to two pant sizes because of the bloating depending on what I eat. As in it's so much worse with things like potatoes. I've had to switch to basically only wearing stretchy clothes because it gets so bad.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  11th Aug 25

Kyleena IUD  

Do not recommend if you’re prone to headaches or migraines loss of appetite from being nauseous


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  today

Kyleena IUD  

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

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Hormonal IUD  

I've had horrible bloating. From when I wake up till I go to bed my clothing size changes up to two pant sizes because of the bloating depending on what I eat. As in it's so much worse with things like potatoes. I've had to switch to basically only wearing stretchy clothes because it gets so bad.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  11th Aug 25

Kyleena IUD  

Do not recommend if you’re prone to headaches or migraines loss of appetite from being nauseous


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments


Female condom reviews

0 reviews

Birth control alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Hormonal IUD with other birth control

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