Contraception Reviews

Hormonal IUD vs Mini pill

Hormonal IUD

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Mini pill

Want to switch birth control?

Overview

Rated 3.6

40 reviews

3 - 8 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.5

20 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Hormonal IUD ingredients

Main hormones in Hormonal IUD

progestin


Mini pill ingredients

Main hormones in Mini pill

progestin

What Lowdown reviewers say

Mood

45% no impact on mood

Bleeds

53% stopped periods

Sex drive

40% no impact

Weight

48% no impact

Skin

43% no impact on skin

Cycle return

50% in 1 month

Mood

25% very positive

Bleeds

35% stopped periods

Sex drive

35% no impact

Weight

50% no impact

Skin

45% no impact on skin

Cycle return

50% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this birth control can help with

Adenomyosis

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Menopause

Period pain

Period pain

Heavy menstrual bleeding

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Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Hormonal IUD reviews

40 reviews

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Hormonal IUD  

Caused increased anxiety, extreme cystic acne that did not respond to prescription acne treatments, and severe hair loss. Made my periods longer and heavier at first, then they finally started getting lighter but I was still spotting almost every day. Gave me hot flashes badly.

Read more

Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  23rd Oct 24

Kyleena IUD  

Didn't use it long enough to really form an opinion yet, but the reason I got it in the first place was because of very heavy periods and cramps. It has helped with that.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  4th Aug 24

Mirena IUD  

After 14 months I pretty much don't have a period, but I still have light to moderate cramping a couple of times a month.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Hormonal IUD  

Caused increased anxiety, extreme cystic acne that did not respond to prescription acne treatments, and severe hair loss. Made my periods longer and heavier at first, then they finally started getting lighter but I was still spotting almost every day. Gave me hot flashes badly.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  23rd Oct 24

Kyleena IUD  

Didn't use it long enough to really form an opinion yet, but the reason I got it in the first place was because of very heavy periods and cramps. It has helped with that.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  4th Aug 24

Mirena IUD  

After 14 months I pretty much don't have a period, but I still have light to moderate cramping a couple of times a month.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments


Mini pill reviews

20 reviews

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Norethindrone 0.35 birth control pill  

started taking it about a week and a half ago. i missed a day on sunday, so i took two on monday. today is tuesday and im having terrible cramps. other than that, emotionally its better than the combination pill.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  2nd Nov 24

Norethindrone 0.35 birth control pill  

This pill improved my sex drive which had been very reduced by the combination pill. It allowed me to put on more muscle too! The weight gain was mostly muscle, which I was so happy about. It was just hard to take the same exact time everyday.


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  31st Oct 24

Slynd birth control pill  

Much better than other mini pills


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Norethindrone 0.35 birth control pill  

started taking it about a week and a half ago. i missed a day on sunday, so i took two on monday. today is tuesday and im having terrible cramps. other than that, emotionally its better than the combination pill.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  2nd Nov 24

Norethindrone 0.35 birth control pill  

This pill improved my sex drive which had been very reduced by the combination pill. It allowed me to put on more muscle too! The weight gain was mostly muscle, which I was so happy about. It was just hard to take the same exact time everyday.


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  31st Oct 24

Slynd birth control pill  

Much better than other mini pills


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  26th Sep 24

Slynd birth control pill  

10/10 highly recommend. Stopped my periods which increased my quality of life!


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  30th Aug 24

Mini pill  

I just feel as if Norinthdrone isn’t agreeing with me but this is my second time being prescribed this particular birthcontrol for my Endo since it’s progestin only and I’m trying to make it work to be healthy and no get pregnant but it’s really taking a toll on me and my new marriage…I don’t know if I should stay and deal with the side effects and Endo or get off of it and deal with Endo pain and maybe a pregnancy.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  3rd Aug 24

Mini pill  

I’m on Desorex and I’ve had no changes to my body at all or no life threatening things (e.g. blood clots). I feel the same and i’d definitely recommend if you’ve spoken to your GP or sexual health clinic about family history!


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  18th Jul 24

Slynd birth control pill  

I was on this pill for about 4-5 months. I’m just going to try to sum this up the best way I can; No change with boobs, no change with weight, acne cleared up, no change with hair growth or loss. Dizziness, several headaches a week. Fatigue, low mood and feeling numb. First 3 months was constant spotting and bleeding with about a week to week and half of nothing in between. Then I stopped taking placebos and zero bleeding or spotting for two months. Also around this time I experienced a huge drop in libido, barely able to get turned on and unable to get wet. The few times I tried to have sex I kept getting a perineal tear in the same spot and this was with a significant amount of lube. Finally found a doctor who told me this was because of my birth control. It impacted my hormones and changed my hormones down there to the point I was unable to have sex. My lips also looked like a prune and were wrinkly. I’ve been off the pill for over a week and my lips are pink, full and plush, and I was able to get wet when kissing my husband which had not happened in months. I feel like I’m coming alive again. Personally done with hormones, we are doing nfp and condoms. I don’t want to scare anyone but this was my experience if you happen to go through the same it may be this pill causing the tearing issue and other sexual function issues (which is listed as a side affect)


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  25th Jun 24

Norethindrone 0.35 birth control pill  

I like it, helps me a lot with my cramps


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  5th Jun 24

Norethindrone 0.35 birth control pill  

Had a terrible experience with a combined BC pill (depression, exhaustion, weight gain), the mini-pill has been GREAT. I get my period only twice a year, and the only side effects are some breast tenderness an occasionally ovarian cysts before my period, but never serious. No mood side effects.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  28th May 24

Mini pill  

Took OPill after pregnancy, to fill the gap before going back to IUD. Ease of access is a big plus (picked up at grocery store, no prescription needed). First period was weird: started spotting at around the normal time of month, but just stayed like that for about a week before starting "in earnest", at which point it was fairly normal. Feeling a reduction in libido and sexual sensitivity, but could also be related to post-pregnancy hormone fluctuations.


Decreased sex drive

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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