The Lowdown, a Vira Health company

Mini pill vs Copper IUD

Mini pill

Want to switch birth control?

Copper IUD

Want to switch birth control?

Overview

Rated 3.2

50 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.3

26 reviews

5 - 10 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Mini pill ingredients

Main hormones in Mini pill

progestin

Copper IUD ingredients

Copper coils are made of a T-shaped frame of polyethylene (plastic) and barium sulphate. Copper wire is wound around the vertical arm.

What Lowdown reviewers say

Mood

32% no impact on mood

Bleeds

42% spotting

Sex drive

40% lost sex drive

Weight

38% no impact

Skin

36% no impact on skin

Cycle return

56% don’t know impact

Mood

35% no impact on mood

Bleeds

73% heavier periods

Sex drive

58% no impact

Weight

69% no impact

Skin

69% no impact on skin

Cycle return

43% in 1 month

Benefits: What this birth control can help with

Period pain

Heavy menstrual bleeding

There are no benefits that are recognised in scientific research or guidelines for this birth control

Try it now

Want to switch birth control?

Try it now

Want to switch birth control?

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Mini pill reviews

50 reviews

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  today

Slynd birth control pill  

I can't tell if this birth control is helping me or not and its so frustrating because i have endometriosis and i smoke so i have to be on a progesterone only pill but ever since i started taking this pill i've had a heat intolerance which they say is not a side effect but it 100% started when i started taking the pill, and they told me my goal is to not have a period and im 2 months in and still am getting my period and ovulating and experiencing breakthrough bleeding and cramps.

Read more

Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
39 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Slynd birth control pill  

Lots of spotting in the beginning and some of my periods are coming while on active pills. Very depressed for the first 1-2 months but that has subsided. The biggest side effect is a large increase in sweating while active. Like dripping from my head and face.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  27th Jul 26

Slynd birth control pill  

terrible experience, dry mouth 24/7, dehydrated, nausea, throat irritated from this pill drying me and heavy diuretic component. made me so tired and depressed and ill caused acne


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  today

Slynd birth control pill  

I can't tell if this birth control is helping me or not and its so frustrating because i have endometriosis and i smoke so i have to be on a progesterone only pill but ever since i started taking this pill i've had a heat intolerance which they say is not a side effect but it 100% started when i started taking the pill, and they told me my goal is to not have a period and im 2 months in and still am getting my period and ovulating and experiencing breakthrough bleeding and cramps.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
39 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Slynd birth control pill  

Lots of spotting in the beginning and some of my periods are coming while on active pills. Very depressed for the first 1-2 months but that has subsided. The biggest side effect is a large increase in sweating while active. Like dripping from my head and face.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  27th Jul 26

Slynd birth control pill  

terrible experience, dry mouth 24/7, dehydrated, nausea, throat irritated from this pill drying me and heavy diuretic component. made me so tired and depressed and ill caused acne


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments


Copper IUD reviews

26 reviews

Copper IUD  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 day ago

Copper IUD  

Using Nova-T copper IUD. Haven't had this before having my IUD put in. Might be a coincidence I guess. Since having the IUD put in I feel very anxious and cry easily/ generally have trouble regulating my emotions for the first 3-4 days around the beginning of my period. During more stressful points in my life I would get insomnia around this time (and only this time) due to anxiety. One night I could not sleep at all, for several (probably ~10 more or less) I could only sleep for 3-4 hours. I would feel paranoid that my partner doesn't love me. My periods have also increased in length from ~5-6 days (including spotting I think) to 9 days (not including spotting) or 12-14 days including spotting. Apart from that no other symptoms, but the emotional changes are difficult.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper IUD  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
35 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  7th Jun 26

Paragard IUD  

The worst experience ever and highly disappointed that no one actually says the truth about this apart of people who used it. No doctor says about those secondary effects and it’s criminal.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  29th Jan 26

Paragard IUD  

So, I’ve had this IUD placed twice. The first time, I had an expulsion and had no clue. Didn’t feel anything. Went for a follow up and she said it was hanging out, to my surprise. I have had it placed again and so far so good. No pain on insertion either time since my provider used Lidocaine. The only issue I find is that my sex drive basically disappears for some reason. Other than that, no complaints.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper IUD  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 day ago

Copper IUD  

Using Nova-T copper IUD. Haven't had this before having my IUD put in. Might be a coincidence I guess. Since having the IUD put in I feel very anxious and cry easily/ generally have trouble regulating my emotions for the first 3-4 days around the beginning of my period. During more stressful points in my life I would get insomnia around this time (and only this time) due to anxiety. One night I could not sleep at all, for several (probably ~10 more or less) I could only sleep for 3-4 hours. I would feel paranoid that my partner doesn't love me. My periods have also increased in length from ~5-6 days (including spotting I think) to 9 days (not including spotting) or 12-14 days including spotting. Apart from that no other symptoms, but the emotional changes are difficult.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper IUD  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
35 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  7th Jun 26

Paragard IUD  

The worst experience ever and highly disappointed that no one actually says the truth about this apart of people who used it. No doctor says about those secondary effects and it’s criminal.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  29th Jan 26

Paragard IUD  

So, I’ve had this IUD placed twice. The first time, I had an expulsion and had no clue. Didn’t feel anything. Went for a follow up and she said it was hanging out, to my surprise. I have had it placed again and so far so good. No pain on insertion either time since my provider used Lidocaine. The only issue I find is that my sex drive basically disappears for some reason. Other than that, no complaints.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper IUD  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
46 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  6th Jan 26

Paragard IUD  

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

Copper IUD  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
47 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  6th Aug 25

Paragard IUD  

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

Copper IUD  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
29 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  17th Jul 25

Paragard IUD  

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

Copper IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  14th Jul 25

Paragard IUD  

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

Copper IUD  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
44 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  30th Apr 25

Copper IUD  

My Periods are very strong and I sometimes have to change my pad every 30minutes


Very negative mood

11 helpful

0 comments

Copper IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  23rd Mar 25

Copper IUD  

Weight gain


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper IUD  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  20th Feb 25

Copper IUD  

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

Birth control alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Mini pill with other birth control

Don’t keep it on the DL.Put it on the LD.

Slide into our DMs

hello@thelowdown.com

Sitemap

©The Lowdown 2026