IUB Ballerine vs Combined pill
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Overview
Rated 3.6
9 reviews
Every 5 years
Frequency
Over 99%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.8
2535 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
IUB Ballerine ingredients
Combined pill ingredients
Main hormones in Combined pill
progestogen
oestrogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with
There are no benefits that are recognised in scientific research or guidelines for this contraceptive
Acne or bad skin
Heavy periods
PMS and PMDD
PCOS symptoms
Period pain
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£From £0.16/day
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
IUB Ballerine reviews
9 reviews
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 18th Sep 24
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 16th Jul 24
I had my IUB inserted in March 2019. I didn't have any pregnancies before. The insertion of the device was the most painful experience of my life, almost passed out and threw up at the doctor's office, it was a really intense sharp pain. I also had very intense cramps for 2 days after insertion, no pain killers helped. I suppose that's what being in labor feels like, I constantly had an urge to push. After this, everything was fine, the device is reliable and comfortable; and I am using it for more than 5 years now (obgyn said I can use it up to 6 years if it works well). During these five years I had increased bloodflow and sometimes mid-cycle spotting because of the device, but nothing too bad. Overall, I would recommend.
Top side effects not reported
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 20th May 24
The IUB has had a positive effect on me and I would recommend if anyone is looking for a non-hormonal contraception. Bleeding has been heavier but after 6 months it is mainly heavy on days 1,2,3 and gone by day 5. Overall, I would recommend as it hasn’t affected my body majorly.
Somewhat positive mood
1 helpful
1 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 18th Sep 24
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 16th Jul 24
I had my IUB inserted in March 2019. I didn't have any pregnancies before. The insertion of the device was the most painful experience of my life, almost passed out and threw up at the doctor's office, it was a really intense sharp pain. I also had very intense cramps for 2 days after insertion, no pain killers helped. I suppose that's what being in labor feels like, I constantly had an urge to push. After this, everything was fine, the device is reliable and comfortable; and I am using it for more than 5 years now (obgyn said I can use it up to 6 years if it works well). During these five years I had increased bloodflow and sometimes mid-cycle spotting because of the device, but nothing too bad. Overall, I would recommend.
Top side effects not reported
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 20th May 24
The IUB has had a positive effect on me and I would recommend if anyone is looking for a non-hormonal contraception. Bleeding has been heavier but after 6 months it is mainly heavy on days 1,2,3 and gone by day 5. Overall, I would recommend as it hasn’t affected my body majorly.
Somewhat positive mood
1 helpful
1 comments
Combined pill reviews
2535 reviews
Used for 3 - 6 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
Prescribed for pcos. I no longer have pelvic and abdominal pain :) and my mood is better as I do not have pms anymore, it helped my hormonal alopecia. I also notice my face looks different like it’s less chubby or puffy. The negatives are it gave me a phase of acne which eventually cleared and headaches, the first break I took on it was a really bad headache where I had to stay in a lot so I could be in dark to relieve the pain.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Positives - Balanced mood, bigger boobs, great skin and generally little to no side effects Negatives - Bad nausea once you first start taking it (1-2 weeks worth), severe headaches on the pill break I went on this pill as had heard it may help my PMS symptoms. The week before my period I was experiencing low moods and emotional sensitivity. This pill CHANGED that. I now have a balanced mood throughout the whole month. The only time I notice pms like symptoms is when I have taken a few packets back to back - your body defo tells you you need a pill break. Overall, would recommend
Very positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
I started taking Regivedon combined pill in order to have periods as a peace of mind I wasn’t pregnant, as my mini pill I was taking (cerazette) stopped them. The first week was a massive rollercoaster of emotions and by the end of the week I was exhausted, but this was fairly normal (not usually this extreme) as my body has to adapt. Afterwards it was a general downward slope of mood swings with very negative episodes lasting longer and longer and eventually came off it after realising. I felt like a weight had come off. Everyone is different though, they say mini pill affects mood more but for me combined was hell! Pre warning though I have had past experience with very low mood and depression so I am probably more susceptible.
Very negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
Prescribed for pcos. I no longer have pelvic and abdominal pain :) and my mood is better as I do not have pms anymore, it helped my hormonal alopecia. I also notice my face looks different like it’s less chubby or puffy. The negatives are it gave me a phase of acne which eventually cleared and headaches, the first break I took on it was a really bad headache where I had to stay in a lot so I could be in dark to relieve the pain.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Positives - Balanced mood, bigger boobs, great skin and generally little to no side effects Negatives - Bad nausea once you first start taking it (1-2 weeks worth), severe headaches on the pill break I went on this pill as had heard it may help my PMS symptoms. The week before my period I was experiencing low moods and emotional sensitivity. This pill CHANGED that. I now have a balanced mood throughout the whole month. The only time I notice pms like symptoms is when I have taken a few packets back to back - your body defo tells you you need a pill break. Overall, would recommend
Very positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
I started taking Regivedon combined pill in order to have periods as a peace of mind I wasn’t pregnant, as my mini pill I was taking (cerazette) stopped them. The first week was a massive rollercoaster of emotions and by the end of the week I was exhausted, but this was fairly normal (not usually this extreme) as my body has to adapt. Afterwards it was a general downward slope of mood swings with very negative episodes lasting longer and longer and eventually came off it after realising. I felt like a weight had come off. Everyone is different though, they say mini pill affects mood more but for me combined was hell! Pre warning though I have had past experience with very low mood and depression so I am probably more susceptible.
Very negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
I was on this pill just shy of a month. I was bloating on the first day of use. I noticed the first week my mental state was horrible very agitated, flat and no energy. I did notice after the first few weeks my skin was definitely clearing up. I get hormonal acne. I had reduced hair loss (from endometriosis) and no ovulation pain. 3rd week in I started to get a sharp pain in the calf. Subsided then came back worse. So decided to stop taking it all together because leg pain wasn't worth the possibility of a blood clot. Three days off the pill the leg pain completely disappeared. Definitely was not the pill for me. Cons- Low mood Low sex drive Joint pain Sore lower back Constant bloating Extreme calf pain Insomnia Nausea Chest hypertension Pros- Clearer skin Less hair loss No ovulation pain
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
This was the first pill I was put on and for a long time I used this and thought I was fine but ultimately it made me very low and negative. And even had suicidal thoughts which I’d never had before taking Ovranette. I lost my sex drive but it made my periods lighter but last longer. As soon as I came off this I instantly felt like a cloud had lifted and felt happy and positive again it was amazing coming off this pill for me.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I have been on Gederal coming up to a year now and it’s been great so far. Moods have been positive, if anything it’s lifted my mood and cleared my skin completely. Periods are regular and period cramps are very light. Only negative I’ve noticed is it’s made me slightly more anxious around my period and possibly put a bit of weight on but can’t 100% tell on that.
Very positive mood
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I didn’t realise until I came off this but Overanette made me feel very low, and it was hard to get out of the negative hole I was in, where as before taking this I was very positive and never had any suicidal thoughts which I had on this pill. I was on this for a while thinking it was just how I was, down a lot and not motivated. Lost my sex drive completely. I came off and instantly it was like a cloud lifted and I felt so much better.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
1 helpful
1 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
15 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
i haven't been taking this pill for too long, but my hormones feel much more balanced and i feel overall more positive. the only thing is that my skin has started to breakout, but this could be because of stress as it's only on my forehead.
Somewhat positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
55 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I started taking drovelis on day one of my last period, and since then I haven't stopped bleeding, it is not spotting, I am leading every day like I'm on my period (or more). I actually was searching for the opposite, lighter easier periods. I have read in other forums it should stop after few months! I will give it a try but I am going crazy now. Other effects I have noticed: period-like cramps, tender breasts and in general I have the feeling I changed from having a horrible period week, to a 3 week period!
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Was recommended the pill to help with my mental health, however it left me feeling miserable. have more mood swings and awful cramps daily. I would never recommend this option to anyone
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
1 comments

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