Contraception Reviews

Vasectomy vs Hormonal IUD

Vasectomy

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Hormonal IUD

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Overview

Rated 5.0

1 reviews

Permanent

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

Permanent

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.6

65 reviews

3 - 8 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Vasectomy ingredients

Vasectomy is a surgical procedure to cut or seal the tubes that carry a man’s sperm. It prevents pregnancy by stopping sperm getting into a man’s semen which is then ejaculated during sexual intercourse.

Hormonal IUD ingredients

Main hormones in Hormonal IUD

progestin

What Lowdown reviewers say

Mood

100% no impact on mood

Bleeds

100% can't tell

Sex drive

100% no impact

Weight

100% no impact

Skin

100% no impact on skin

Cycle return

Not enough data to say

Mood

40% no impact on mood

Bleeds

43% stopped periods

Sex drive

43% no impact

Weight

48% no impact

Skin

45% no impact on skin

Cycle return

50% in 1 month

Benefits: What this birth control can help with

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

Adenomyosis

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Menopause

Period pain

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Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Vasectomy reviews

1 reviews

Vasectomy  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  16th Oct 24

Vasectomy  

Essentially painless procedure. Had a few aches here and there. Haven't gotten anyone pregnant.

Read more

Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Vasectomy  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  16th Oct 24

Vasectomy  

Essentially painless procedure. Had a few aches here and there. Haven't gotten anyone pregnant.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments


Hormonal IUD reviews

65 reviews

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  today

Kyleena IUD  

I'm almost 28 years old, have had periods for the last decade and a half. They have always been regular and heavy to the point that if I didn't take iron supplements 5x a week and tranexamic acid during my periods, I'd have anemia. So I got Kyleena in December 2024. Insertion was fine, some cramping but nothing too serious. I had cramping on and off during the times my periods were supposed to come and some spotting/bleeding, but it was usually what I saw towards the beginning of my cycle. I had one reduced-level period in mid-August. I have had to go from 36D to 36DD to 36DDD/38DD bras over the span of a few months. At first I thought it was just weight gain (went from 170 to 195lb), but I have been almost 200lb before and my breast size increased this much this quickly. Even after losing 10 pounds my breast size has shown little to no decrease. I hate it. I also suspect that the IUD influenced my sciatica in my lumbar spine, which began in February 2025 and has taken several weeks of PT and a round of oral steroids to resolve. I am still not up to 100% all these months later. Overall a 2/5. The decreased period length, flow, and frequency is almost not enough to justify having this torture device in. If I get pregnant w/this in, I'll be so angry.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
36 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Hormonal IUD  

I've had horrible bloating. From when I wake up till I go to bed my clothing size changes up to two pant sizes because of the bloating depending on what I eat. As in it's so much worse with things like potatoes. I've had to switch to basically only wearing stretchy clothes because it gets so bad.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  11th Aug 25

Kyleena IUD  

Do not recommend if you’re prone to headaches or migraines loss of appetite from being nauseous


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  today

Kyleena IUD  

I'm almost 28 years old, have had periods for the last decade and a half. They have always been regular and heavy to the point that if I didn't take iron supplements 5x a week and tranexamic acid during my periods, I'd have anemia. So I got Kyleena in December 2024. Insertion was fine, some cramping but nothing too serious. I had cramping on and off during the times my periods were supposed to come and some spotting/bleeding, but it was usually what I saw towards the beginning of my cycle. I had one reduced-level period in mid-August. I have had to go from 36D to 36DD to 36DDD/38DD bras over the span of a few months. At first I thought it was just weight gain (went from 170 to 195lb), but I have been almost 200lb before and my breast size increased this much this quickly. Even after losing 10 pounds my breast size has shown little to no decrease. I hate it. I also suspect that the IUD influenced my sciatica in my lumbar spine, which began in February 2025 and has taken several weeks of PT and a round of oral steroids to resolve. I am still not up to 100% all these months later. Overall a 2/5. The decreased period length, flow, and frequency is almost not enough to justify having this torture device in. If I get pregnant w/this in, I'll be so angry.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
36 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Hormonal IUD  

I've had horrible bloating. From when I wake up till I go to bed my clothing size changes up to two pant sizes because of the bloating depending on what I eat. As in it's so much worse with things like potatoes. I've had to switch to basically only wearing stretchy clothes because it gets so bad.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  11th Aug 25

Kyleena IUD  

Do not recommend if you’re prone to headaches or migraines loss of appetite from being nauseous


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  22nd Jul 25

Mirena IUD  

This is my second hormonal IUD, I like the effectiveness of not getting pregnant, I’ve been lucky how effective it is. however I’ve been getting horrible cystic acne all over my face. It’s constantly, almost 2 times a month. It was never like this before until I reached my thirties. I constantly eat healthy, exercise, drink plenty of fluids, take vitamins. I no longer smoke cigarettes and no longer binge drink alcohol (occasionally). I am constantly switching my facial topicals, using peels, masks, LED therapy, electric facial brushes and using hydrafacial. I started taking supplements for acne. Nothing seems to work . I spoke to my PCP about this and she suggests following up to get me prescribed with oral anti acne meds. Still debating about taking oral anti acne pills, since it’s either antibiotics or a diuretic. But I’ve had it with the hormonal acne on my face. It always happens when my body is on the cycle, invisible period, but with slight cramps, PMS mood, breast tenderness, oily skin, and acne, plus the craving of sweets. Without bleeding has been a godsend, but the PMS symptoms especially the acne is taking a toll on me.


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

1 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  13th Jul 25

Mirena IUD  

So far i’m loving mine! The spotting for the first month has been very annoying but nothing horrible. Cramping went away in four days, only negative so far is i’ve had a lower heat tolerance and (i’m blonde) my leg hair has gotten DARK. I have been consistently loosing weight since starting and plus, in my opinion, my sex drive is way up. My partner is on testosterone therapy so i’m finally able to keep up with him and we love it! I highly recommend so far!


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  9th Jul 25

Kyleena IUD  

TLDR: -If you struggle with PMS already, please ask your doctor about the effects progesterone only birth control can have. I wish I had known that it can make it worse. -Expect new kinds of cramps. For me it was lightning rectum pain


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
15 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  8th Jul 25

Mirena IUD  

So far I've had this for about a month and some change and I love it! Made my period significantly less painful this time around ❤️


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
23 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  7th Jul 25

Mirena IUD  

Honestly, the Mirena in my opinion isn’t bad at all. I have increased migraines but with OTC pain meds like Tylenol or ibuprofen, it helps a lot! I highly recommend this IUD just for the fact that it did lighten my period and lessen the cramps BUT I will add, it’s been continuous spotting since I’ve gotten it which isn’t a huge deal, just very annoying. Then I don’t know about yall, but the sweating…and over heating is crazy. This 4th of July I had to be taken by ambulance to the ER because I overheated so bad I passed out for over two hours, completely unresponsive BUT good vitals. I’m a very healthy 23 year old so that was completely unusual for me, I live in the Midwest so the heat can be a killer but it’s never EVER made me pass out or even dizzy, let alone unresponsive. So following with that, I wouldn’t say it’s a bad IUD, minus all the inconveniences. I haven’t gotten pregnant at least! Oh and to add, my sex drive is annoying my partner, he threatened to give me an ice bath last night to be exact😅


Increased sex drive

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  24th Jun 25

Mirena IUD  

I have been on the marina for almost a year and every time I get my period I am in severe pain….. when I’m driving I have to pull over on the side of the road to spit up and hold my stomach. Today it was so bad. I had to call in early. I throw up most times…… moral of the story I’m getting it taken out


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

1 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  21st Jun 25

Skyla IUD  

I got the IUD put in and since then I have experienced intense nausea and frequent headaches.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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