Contraception Reviews

Withdrawal or pull out method vs Hormonal IUD

Withdrawal or pull out method

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Hormonal IUD

Want to switch birth control?

Overview

Rated 2.8

5 reviews

During or before sex

Frequency

80% - 96%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.6

46 reviews

3 - 8 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Withdrawal or pull out method ingredients

The withdrawal method (also known as the pull out method) relies on the penis being all the way out of the vagina before ejaculation and ejaculation occurring away from the vagina or vulva.

Hormonal IUD ingredients

Main hormones in Hormonal IUD

progestin

What Lowdown reviewers say

Mood

40% no impact on mood

Bleeds

60% no change

Sex drive

60% no impact

Weight

80% no impact

Skin

80% no impact on skin

Cycle return

Not enough data to say

Mood

41% no impact on mood

Bleeds

50% stopped periods

Sex drive

41% no impact

Weight

50% no impact

Skin

39% 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

Withdrawal or pull out method reviews

5 reviews

Withdrawal or pull out method  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  28th Sep 24

Withdrawal or pull out method  

Annoying to have to fuss with putting the condom on, and I don’t enjoy the change in sensation while using a condom. But I feel protected against pregnancy. I occasionally rely on pull out method, and the anxiety over my partner accidentally not timing this correctly (ie not pulling out soon enough) negatively affects my sexual experience.

Read more

Very positive mood

1 helpful

0 comments

Withdrawal or pull out method  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  20th Jun 24

Withdrawal or pull out method  

Still can get pregnant with pull out method or anal


Very negative mood

3 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Withdrawal or pull out method  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  20th May 24

Withdrawal or pull out method  

I get pretty sick on the pill and with same partner 3.5 yrs no issues but recognize not most effective practice.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Withdrawal or pull out method  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  28th Sep 24

Withdrawal or pull out method  

Annoying to have to fuss with putting the condom on, and I don’t enjoy the change in sensation while using a condom. But I feel protected against pregnancy. I occasionally rely on pull out method, and the anxiety over my partner accidentally not timing this correctly (ie not pulling out soon enough) negatively affects my sexual experience.


Very positive mood

1 helpful

0 comments

Withdrawal or pull out method  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  20th Jun 24

Withdrawal or pull out method  

Still can get pregnant with pull out method or anal


Very negative mood

3 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Withdrawal or pull out method  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  20th May 24

Withdrawal or pull out method  

I get pretty sick on the pill and with same partner 3.5 yrs no issues but recognize not most effective practice.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments


Hormonal IUD reviews

46 reviews

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

Mirena IUD  

I’ve had it for 6 months and I have my period twice a month and the pain is pretty consistent day to day.


Worse skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  6 days ago

Mirena IUD  

My first IUD placement (Mirena) was without numbing shots, and it really was quite painful. The immediate pain lasted only a few seconds, but I had hot flashes for a few minutes afterwards. The next week, I got the heaviest period of my life, followed by about 4 months of light bleeding. After that, I lost my period completely for about 3 years, and then very light and irregular periods until I had it replaced. My period used to cause painful acne and very frustrating mood swings, which I was quite happy to go without. I did have some discomfort during sex, but only with larger partners and only in certain positions. My second IUD was the Kyleena. I did have numbing shots for the placement, and it was much more comfortable - similar to getting a pap smear. My period has gone away again, and I haven't noticed any pain during sex (Kyleena is a little smaller). My only real concern about the IUD is that if I were to become pregnant while the IUD is in place, it is very likely to be ectopic. I do take a pregnancy test every couple of months, so if it does happen I can get the care I need. I live in a state with very good and safe abortion care, so I would be able to get help right away, but it's still something to keep in mind. All that being said, I would 100% recommend an IUD. I have been nearly period-free since 2018, which is well worth the pain of insertion. I really appreciate being able to avoid the acne, pain, and mood swings I used to get with my period, and I really really appreciate that I have an incredibly effective form of birth control that I only have to think about once every 8 years. I love my IUD so much, and I am probably going to use IUDs as my primary form of birth control for the rest of my life.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
17 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Mirena IUD  

If you are considering the hormonal IUD route, I highly encourage you to read this! I primarily chose to switch over to the Mirena due to the weight gain I experienced while on the pill. To preface, I never had any issues with vaginal dryness prior to the switch. Following the insertion, I have been almost completely unable to get wet. As I stated before, this was never a problem for me regardless of arousal. It has been over a year, and without using an external lubricant, I physically cannot have sex due to the severity of this issue. It can be humiliating if the person i’m getting with isn’t aware of the causation. Just wanted to make it known, because it’s impacted my life pretty significantly.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mirena IUD  

I’ve had it for 6 months and I have my period twice a month and the pain is pretty consistent day to day.


Worse skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  6 days ago

Mirena IUD  

My first IUD placement (Mirena) was without numbing shots, and it really was quite painful. The immediate pain lasted only a few seconds, but I had hot flashes for a few minutes afterwards. The next week, I got the heaviest period of my life, followed by about 4 months of light bleeding. After that, I lost my period completely for about 3 years, and then very light and irregular periods until I had it replaced. My period used to cause painful acne and very frustrating mood swings, which I was quite happy to go without. I did have some discomfort during sex, but only with larger partners and only in certain positions. My second IUD was the Kyleena. I did have numbing shots for the placement, and it was much more comfortable - similar to getting a pap smear. My period has gone away again, and I haven't noticed any pain during sex (Kyleena is a little smaller). My only real concern about the IUD is that if I were to become pregnant while the IUD is in place, it is very likely to be ectopic. I do take a pregnancy test every couple of months, so if it does happen I can get the care I need. I live in a state with very good and safe abortion care, so I would be able to get help right away, but it's still something to keep in mind. All that being said, I would 100% recommend an IUD. I have been nearly period-free since 2018, which is well worth the pain of insertion. I really appreciate being able to avoid the acne, pain, and mood swings I used to get with my period, and I really really appreciate that I have an incredibly effective form of birth control that I only have to think about once every 8 years. I love my IUD so much, and I am probably going to use IUDs as my primary form of birth control for the rest of my life.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
17 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Mirena IUD  

If you are considering the hormonal IUD route, I highly encourage you to read this! I primarily chose to switch over to the Mirena due to the weight gain I experienced while on the pill. To preface, I never had any issues with vaginal dryness prior to the switch. Following the insertion, I have been almost completely unable to get wet. As I stated before, this was never a problem for me regardless of arousal. It has been over a year, and without using an external lubricant, I physically cannot have sex due to the severity of this issue. It can be humiliating if the person i’m getting with isn’t aware of the causation. Just wanted to make it known, because it’s impacted my life pretty significantly.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  5th Jan 25

Mirena IUD  

I took this for endometriosis and it dialed my pain and symptoms down from a 9 to a 2-3, for a whole year. Unfortunately after a year I felt the pain begin to creep back in, a little more intense every month after that year mark, so I decided to pursue excision surgery as a more permanent solution. If you’re not ready for surgery but want endo relief, definitely encourage you to give Mirena a try!


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
46 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  4th Jan 25

Kyleena IUD  

I just had it inserted yesterday.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  20th Dec 24

Mirena IUD  

Just got this inserted early November. It's December and Im experiencing a month of bleeding, cramps, irritability, nausea, headaches, dizziness, feeling unwell everyday.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

3 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  7th Nov 24

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

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  29th Jul 24

Mirena IUD  

Great experience, insertion cramping was minimal. Got pregnant 4 months after removal.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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