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

2617 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

2617 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Levest pill  

Since taking this pill it has regulated my period , I take it 21 days then have a 7 day break , i stop on a Saturday then I come on , on the Thursday and I finish on the Wednesday. It’s like that every month , but when I do stop taking them I get cramps and a bellyache and also runny stools , but soon as I start them again the pains subside and my stools become harder . I am finding a little more discharge than usual but I’ve heard that’s normal because of the hormonal changes . But overall I’d definitely recommend to anyone who fits the criteria 🙂


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 days ago

Lucette pill  

Lucette has worked well for me for managing period cramps and acne. However since starting it I've had an increase in back pain, a flare up of eczema that I've never had before, and I can't have caffeine without having a bad reaction. My sex drive has also decreased a lot.


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Rigevidon  

This contraception changed my personality. It made me very angry, easily frustrated and issues that should be small seemed huge in my mind. Since changing contraception to the Yasmin pill, I honestly feel like a different person. I am quite upset that most of my twenties were spent in this state of constant anger. I thought it was just my personality but since changing pill I can now see that it was the contraception. I also got severe withdrawal headaches when I took the 7 day break.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Levest pill  

Since taking this pill it has regulated my period , I take it 21 days then have a 7 day break , i stop on a Saturday then I come on , on the Thursday and I finish on the Wednesday. It’s like that every month , but when I do stop taking them I get cramps and a bellyache and also runny stools , but soon as I start them again the pains subside and my stools become harder . I am finding a little more discharge than usual but I’ve heard that’s normal because of the hormonal changes . But overall I’d definitely recommend to anyone who fits the criteria 🙂


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 days ago

Lucette pill  

Lucette has worked well for me for managing period cramps and acne. However since starting it I've had an increase in back pain, a flare up of eczema that I've never had before, and I can't have caffeine without having a bad reaction. My sex drive has also decreased a lot.


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Rigevidon  

This contraception changed my personality. It made me very angry, easily frustrated and issues that should be small seemed huge in my mind. Since changing contraception to the Yasmin pill, I honestly feel like a different person. I am quite upset that most of my twenties were spent in this state of constant anger. I thought it was just my personality but since changing pill I can now see that it was the contraception. I also got severe withdrawal headaches when I took the 7 day break.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Rigevidon  

i have PCOS this pill was amazing for the first 3 1/2 years, it made me lose 10 pounds in two weeks from me changing nothing to my active levels and diet, my skin cleared up, i had lighter and regular periods, had a high sex drive until i started having very irregular periods in the last 6 months. including periods happening every other week and spotting between it even when taking it correctly so i decided to change contraception but this may be because of my PCOS


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Yaz pill 🇺🇸  

Amazing contraceptive method except for the pigmentation


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Rigevidon  

For the first 2 years it was great. Then it got progressively worse, it severely affected my mental health and physical qualities of life too. Periods are so unpredictable by both pain and flow. As a contraceptive however, it works very well.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Rigevidon  

Intended purpose is great- it’s stopped my debilitating periods and I can now carry on with my day when I first start my period, however I have experienced acid reflux and a lot of nausea specifically in the morning even after 8 months on this pill.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the IUB Ballerine with other contraceptives

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