Hormonal IUD vs Mini pill
Hormonal IUD ingredients
Main hormones in Hormonal IUD
progestin
Mini pill ingredients
Main hormones in Mini pill
progestin
What Lowdown reviewers say
40% no impact on mood
44% stopped periods
41% no impact
47% no impact
44% no impact on skin
50% in 1 month
31% no impact on mood
38% stopped periods
41% no impact
47% no impact
38% no impact on skin
57% don’t know impact
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Hormonal IUD reviews
68 reviews
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
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 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 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
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 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
Mini pill reviews
32 reviews
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
32 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 week ago
I have had no issues with Norethindrone! I have been on it for two years with no weight gain, irregular periods, or acne. I have noticed that I get a little bit more emotional the week before my period that I did not use to have, and sometimes I feel a little nauseous in the mornings. Neither of which have caused any major discomfort or problems. Norethindrone has been great!
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
39 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 10th Oct 25
I gained weight on slynd when I stopped nursing my baby. I gained weight in areas I normally don't gain weight in despite dieting and intense workouts. Weight is not really coming off despite being off the birth control.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 16th Aug 25
i was on the traditional mini pill for almost a year before switching to slynd. slynd fixed all of the issues I had on the other POP. I did not have breakthrough bleeding, irregular periods or a depressed mood with Slynd. it was a major win-at first. I suddenly noticed I was gaining weight, by month two on slynd I had gained 3-4 pounds, and by the time I quit in month 5 I had gained 11 pounds. 11 pounds in 5 months is insane! I did not change my eating or workouts, so I believe it really was this pill.
Improved skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
32 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 week ago
I have had no issues with Norethindrone! I have been on it for two years with no weight gain, irregular periods, or acne. I have noticed that I get a little bit more emotional the week before my period that I did not use to have, and sometimes I feel a little nauseous in the mornings. Neither of which have caused any major discomfort or problems. Norethindrone has been great!
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
39 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 10th Oct 25
I gained weight on slynd when I stopped nursing my baby. I gained weight in areas I normally don't gain weight in despite dieting and intense workouts. Weight is not really coming off despite being off the birth control.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 16th Aug 25
i was on the traditional mini pill for almost a year before switching to slynd. slynd fixed all of the issues I had on the other POP. I did not have breakthrough bleeding, irregular periods or a depressed mood with Slynd. it was a major win-at first. I suddenly noticed I was gaining weight, by month two on slynd I had gained 3-4 pounds, and by the time I quit in month 5 I had gained 11 pounds. 11 pounds in 5 months is insane! I did not change my eating or workouts, so I believe it really was this pill.
Improved skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
37 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 15th Aug 25
I am on Slynd for heavy period and clotting. It stopped the heaviness and clotting. I do have some dryness in my mouth and apparently my vagina. It may have contributed to acne but not sure.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 26th May 25
I lost so much hair. I’m done using this. My periods are more painful, I’m so tired now
Improved skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 16th Apr 25
Really love it! I can skip my periods, don't experience migraines and my acne cleared up!
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 31st Mar 25
I gained 30 pounds after starting this birth control. Could not figure out what was going on with my body until I found a reddit thread where other people were experiencing the same.
Worse skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 21st Feb 25
I’m hoping it gets better. Switched from Errin to Slynd 6 months ago. Hair loss stopped. Acne got better. Those were an immediate win. Month 1 - bled for 1 week. Month 2 - bled for 3 weeks. Month 3 - bled for 2.5 weeks. Month 4 - bled for 2 weeks. Month 5 - bled for 1.5 weeks. Month 6 - bled for 1 week. I naturally have a short cycle, and in the process of trying to force my cycle into a 30 day cadence, I’ve gotten 1-2 days per month of severe headaches before my period (thought my head would blow off without Tylenol) and minor dull headaches for ~1 week before each period. The headaches didn’t happen with Errin - but they are happening with Slynd (and also happened a few year back when I took the combo pill).
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 15th Feb 25
It does what it needs to do, pregnancy prevention. Intense emotional fluctuations following the “usual” postpartum journey is definitely a downside
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
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