Contraception Reviews

Hormonal IUD vs Mini pill

Hormonal IUD

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Mini pill

Want to switch birth control?

Overview

Rated 3.6

69 reviews

3 - 8 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.4

34 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

39% no impact on mood

Bleeds

44% stopped periods

Sex drive

41% no impact

Weight

46% no impact

Skin

44% no impact on skin

Cycle return

50% in 1 month

Mood

35% no impact on mood

Bleeds

38% stopped periods

Sex drive

38% no impact

Weight

47% no impact

Skin

38% no impact on skin

Cycle return

57% 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

69 reviews

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Mirena IUD  

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.

Read more

Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  7th Nov 25

Skyla IUD  

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

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  13th Oct 25

Kyleena IUD  

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

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Mirena IUD  

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

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  7th Nov 25

Skyla IUD  

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

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  13th Oct 25

Kyleena IUD  

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


Mini pill reviews

34 reviews

Mini pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
35 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  5 days ago

Norethindrone 0.35 birth control pill  

Worked fine for many years and helped with having much lighter, shorter periods with less cramps, but after briefly switching to the shot and then switching back to the pill I have been having breakthrough bleeding every other week for months now and my periods are no longer lighter or shorter so I'm trialing a different type now.


Top side effects not reported

3 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3rd Dec 25

Mini pill  

No pain


Improved skin

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
32 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  19th Nov 25

Norethindrone 0.35 birth control pill  

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

1 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
35 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  5 days ago

Norethindrone 0.35 birth control pill  

Worked fine for many years and helped with having much lighter, shorter periods with less cramps, but after briefly switching to the shot and then switching back to the pill I have been having breakthrough bleeding every other week for months now and my periods are no longer lighter or shorter so I'm trialing a different type now.


Top side effects not reported

3 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3rd Dec 25

Mini pill  

No pain


Improved skin

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
32 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  19th Nov 25

Norethindrone 0.35 birth control pill  

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

1 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
39 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  10th Oct 25

Slynd birth control pill  

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

1 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  16th Aug 25

Slynd birth control pill  

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

1 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
37 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  15th Aug 25

Slynd birth control pill  

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

1 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  26th May 25

Mini pill  

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

1 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  21st Apr 25

Mini pill  

Best bc pill experience I've had


Worse skin

2 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  16th Apr 25

Slynd birth control pill  

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

Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  31st Mar 25

Slynd birth control pill  

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

Birth control alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Hormonal IUD with other birth control

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