Mini pill vs Hormonal IUD
Mini pill ingredients
Main hormones in Mini pill
progestin
Hormonal IUD ingredients
Main hormones in Hormonal IUD
progestin
What Lowdown reviewers say
37% no impact on mood
37% stopped periods
37% no impact
42% no impact
37% worse skin
63% don’t know impact
40% no impact on mood
44% stopped periods
42% no impact
48% no impact
43% no impact on skin
50% in 1 month
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Mini pill reviews
41 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 week ago
I have been on this for 2 days, day 1 I had unmanageable migraines that made me want to cry and lower back pain, day 2 I am experiencing migraines and severe abdominal cramps and lower back pain. I dont know if I want to take this another day 😕
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
40 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
I was really hopeful about starting Slynd. My purpose for starting Slynd was not a kit birth control but more about controlling heavy, painful periods, as well as the bodily changes as I entered my 40s. My previous experience with birth control has not been great, however I remained hopeful. Unfortunately, I could only take the side effects from Slynd for a little over 2 months. As a health professional, I understand that these medications require time, but this was making my life more miserable. Here are some of the side effects I experienced: Month 1 through Month 2 Late period (10-12 days late) Prolonged period (over 2 weeks long) then continuous spotting Nausea daily Migraine Pimples (I’ve never experienced this many pimples in my entire life!) Cramping (during missed period & during period) Fatigue (extreme) Back pain By the 3rd pack, I gave up due to increased cramping, back pain with spotting and increased irritability from the pain. At this point, I’ve gone from regular heavy, painful periods to daily, painful spotting. I’m definitely not myself and would like to end this misery! I truly don’t believe in giving up, I understand every woman is different. This birth control is just not for me!
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
i have had really bad headaches on this pill, and i never had headache before taking it. i have also had a large amount of bleeding, i bled for 11 days 2 weeks into taking my first pack and I also had lost part of my uterine lining at the begging of those 11 days. since then i have had spotting which i also have never had before. i am considering taking a new pill but i don't know which one yet.
Worse skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 week ago
I have been on this for 2 days, day 1 I had unmanageable migraines that made me want to cry and lower back pain, day 2 I am experiencing migraines and severe abdominal cramps and lower back pain. I dont know if I want to take this another day 😕
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
40 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
I was really hopeful about starting Slynd. My purpose for starting Slynd was not a kit birth control but more about controlling heavy, painful periods, as well as the bodily changes as I entered my 40s. My previous experience with birth control has not been great, however I remained hopeful. Unfortunately, I could only take the side effects from Slynd for a little over 2 months. As a health professional, I understand that these medications require time, but this was making my life more miserable. Here are some of the side effects I experienced: Month 1 through Month 2 Late period (10-12 days late) Prolonged period (over 2 weeks long) then continuous spotting Nausea daily Migraine Pimples (I’ve never experienced this many pimples in my entire life!) Cramping (during missed period & during period) Fatigue (extreme) Back pain By the 3rd pack, I gave up due to increased cramping, back pain with spotting and increased irritability from the pain. At this point, I’ve gone from regular heavy, painful periods to daily, painful spotting. I’m definitely not myself and would like to end this misery! I truly don’t believe in giving up, I understand every woman is different. This birth control is just not for me!
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
i have had really bad headaches on this pill, and i never had headache before taking it. i have also had a large amount of bleeding, i bled for 11 days 2 weeks into taking my first pack and I also had lost part of my uterine lining at the begging of those 11 days. since then i have had spotting which i also have never had before. i am considering taking a new pill but i don't know which one yet.
Worse skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Hormonal IUD reviews
77 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 days ago
The insertion did cause me a great deal of pain, and the following days after I was cramping constantly. I am on my 2nd month of Kyleena and I do still experience some cramping in my day to day. It has made my period lighter but I have been bleeding for 22days.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
No major changes but i started to have ovarian hemorrhagic cyst 3 times in the last 3 years. Got scared and now i am focusing on family planning technique, specifically measuring Basal Body Temperature (BBT). So super excited with this. Also using this amazing app called Cosia where I am not only tracking but also getting practical lifestyle tips to make my hormonal balance settle.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
41 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
Absolutely loved my Mirena IUDs (I've had 3) compared to the other forms of birth control I've used. I did develop irritable bowel and didn't realize it was because of the IUD until I removed it and it went away (my doctor's also never suspected the IUD so I spent a lot of money and time with specialists only to find out it's a listed side effect in the insert). I've also had a steep decrease in migraines since removing my IUD, but besides the migraines and IBS, it was great!
Worse skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 days ago
The insertion did cause me a great deal of pain, and the following days after I was cramping constantly. I am on my 2nd month of Kyleena and I do still experience some cramping in my day to day. It has made my period lighter but I have been bleeding for 22days.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
No major changes but i started to have ovarian hemorrhagic cyst 3 times in the last 3 years. Got scared and now i am focusing on family planning technique, specifically measuring Basal Body Temperature (BBT). So super excited with this. Also using this amazing app called Cosia where I am not only tracking but also getting practical lifestyle tips to make my hormonal balance settle.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
41 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
Absolutely loved my Mirena IUDs (I've had 3) compared to the other forms of birth control I've used. I did develop irritable bowel and didn't realize it was because of the IUD until I removed it and it went away (my doctor's also never suspected the IUD so I spent a lot of money and time with specialists only to find out it's a listed side effect in the insert). I've also had a steep decrease in migraines since removing my IUD, but besides the migraines and IBS, it was great!
Worse skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
36 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3rd Mar 26
Side affects can change as time passes. I noticed more side effects the longer I was on it.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 22nd Feb 26
Better than copper IUD. Similar in side effects to birth control ring except less effect on sex drive.
Increased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 6th Feb 26
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
34 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 23rd Jan 26
I initially thought I was having a positve experience, but after 3 months was diagnosed with Sebohrreic Dermatitis with an extremely itchy scalp and bumps on jawline. Within 5 months I started having noticeable hair loss. I have lost at least 50% density. It is now 11 months from insertion and still shedding drastically. 8 months after insertion, I started having cystic acne which Ive never experienced before. I use to have the Paraguard IUD and didnt have these symptoms
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 9th Jan 26
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
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 7th Nov 25
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
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