IUB Ballerine vs Combined pill

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IUB Ballerine

Add your IUB Ballerine review

Combined pill

£From £0.16/day

Overview

Rated 3.6

10 reviews

Every 5 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

2610 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

IUB Ballerine ingredients

The Ballerine IUB consists of 17 copper pearls which form a spherical shape. The frame is made from nitinol
is a metal alloy of nickel and titanium
and coated with polyethylene terephthalate.

Combined pill ingredients

Main hormones in Combined pill

progestogen

oestrogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

40% no impact on mood

90% heavier periods

60% no impact

50% no impact

44% no impact on skin

Cycle return

50% in 2 months

31% somewhat negative

47% lighter periods

46% lost sex drive

48% no impact

44% improved skin

Cycle return

36% don’t know impact

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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Add your IUB Ballerine review

Try it now

£From £0.16/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

IUB Ballerine reviews

10 reviews

IUB Ballerine  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  20th Apr 25

IUB Ballerine  

Have had the ballerine iud for 7 months and it’s a great change from my last contraception (bar implant). Wanted something that wasn’t hormonal and this was the best choice. Insertion was painful but cramps were gone after an hour or two. Periods have been very irregular still (late, heavy bleeds & spotting for days after), hoping/expecting for them to go back to normal around now since i’m 6months+ on. Other than that no issues & i recommend this over anything else ive tried.

Read more

Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

IUB Ballerine  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  18th Sep 24

IUB Ballerine  

Had very heavy periods. Ended up requiring blood transfusion.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

IUB Ballerine  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  16th Jul 24

IUB Ballerine  

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

IUB Ballerine  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  20th Apr 25

IUB Ballerine  

Have had the ballerine iud for 7 months and it’s a great change from my last contraception (bar implant). Wanted something that wasn’t hormonal and this was the best choice. Insertion was painful but cramps were gone after an hour or two. Periods have been very irregular still (late, heavy bleeds & spotting for days after), hoping/expecting for them to go back to normal around now since i’m 6months+ on. Other than that no issues & i recommend this over anything else ive tried.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

IUB Ballerine  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  18th Sep 24

IUB Ballerine  

Had very heavy periods. Ended up requiring blood transfusion.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

IUB Ballerine  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  16th Jul 24

IUB Ballerine  

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


Combined pill reviews

2610 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Eloine pill  

I had several fortnight long periods on this pill. My regular periods are horrific so I was initially willing to take any side effects the pill had, and even though my regular level of pain/vomiting/fainting went away, I barely had rests from bleeding, my mood swings and hormonal breakdowns were uncontrollable, I gained a lot of weight, and I still had nausea and cramping. After over 18 months the side effects still had not dialled down so I had to quit.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Microgynon 30 pill  

Nice to stop menstruation but in no way worth it for the awful psychological impacts. Mental breakdowns were indeed had.


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 days ago

Dretine pill  

My boobs have got so much bigger but my skin it completely cleared my awful awful acne and I have the clearest skin now.


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Eloine pill  

I had several fortnight long periods on this pill. My regular periods are horrific so I was initially willing to take any side effects the pill had, and even though my regular level of pain/vomiting/fainting went away, I barely had rests from bleeding, my mood swings and hormonal breakdowns were uncontrollable, I gained a lot of weight, and I still had nausea and cramping. After over 18 months the side effects still had not dialled down so I had to quit.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Microgynon 30 pill  

Nice to stop menstruation but in no way worth it for the awful psychological impacts. Mental breakdowns were indeed had.


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 days ago

Dretine pill  

My boobs have got so much bigger but my skin it completely cleared my awful awful acne and I have the clearest skin now.


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Microlite pill  

Little to no very noticeable side effects, my anxiety definitely heightened but that was a personal predisposition. Overall very happy experience but swapping due to some low moods


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

Yacella pill  

Been on this pill for years and it has treated me well. I have lighter periods and they are a lot less painful. I have suffered very badly with acne over the years and although my skin is not perfect, it has been the most stable on this pill. I don’t find any other side effects to my mood or body that I notice.


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Yasmin pill  

As soon as I started taking it, my first period whist on this pill came after a week and it was the most horrible period I’ve had in my entire life (it was a longer period then I ever had before (with really heavy cramps constantly) that was the first step in the negative journey. After that, I continued taking it and my acne got worse especially on my back. I had thought it would improve but was much worse event at month two. After two months of taking this pill, I’ve also gained weight which I noticed straight away but had put down to temporary water retention but seems to not budge and have had extreme weight fluctuations like never before and been feeling very off and not myself ever since taking it/depressed, also have lost all sex drive. I am at the point where it’s either stick it out for another month to see if symptoms ease up or stop and cut my losses. I’ve decided to stop.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Gedarel 20/150 pill  

This was prescribed to me to help regulate my periods; however did the complete opposite and have made them worse. I have no clue when my periods are going to begin or end now, as well as if the bleeding will be light spotting or extremely heavy. I have become incredibly sensitive to many things that would never have bothered me pre-pill, as well have been bed bound due to negative mood changes that I have no explanation for. I have been sad before, however, these feelings I could not explain or combat so I have decided to switch pill.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Ovranette pill  

My period was ok on it. My acne was very bad cystic nothing would get rid of it. Changed to Yasmin and I haven’t had cystic acne my skin is clearing. Hair thinned on top of my head too. This pill can cause high androgens which can cause bad hormonal acne and hair loss


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Rigevidon  

This sent me nearly insane with my moods. I had no other side effects other than it made me nearly suicidal. I know you could say maybe it wasn’t the pill but I was fine before taking it, happy in myself, then after I had a mental breakdown I stopped taking it and suddenly felt like myself again. I’ve heard a lot of people say it’s been awful for their mood and I’m surprised they haven’t banned it yet


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Combined pill  

I’ve never had Thrush before and went on this pill 2 months ago and got it within the first 20 days of using it. I’ve also felt nauseas everyday since maybe the first week into it. Will symptoms subside? I really hope so. I havent bled but I was on the depo injection for the last year so its normal for it to take a while to bleed again.


Gained weight

0 helpful

1 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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