IUB Ballerine vs Combined pill

Had very heavy periods. Ended up requiring blood transfusion.

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.

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.

Good pill, not a lot of mood changes however when I took a break from it for a few months my mood improved so much that I almost didn’t go back. This is my second time trying it so I hope it doesn’t affect me too much

Don't get this contraception if you want to keep your good mental health. It almost ruined my relationship, I turned into a complete monster. The short periods and the clear skin was nice but it really jeopardised my relationship and ruined my mental health. Coming off was the best thing I could've ever done for myself.

I was initially prescribed Yasmin to help with low moods/depression before my period. However, I was then switched to Dretine without explanation and told it was the same as Yasmin. Since taking it, my mood has been all over the place- very sensitive, sad, depression-like feelings, anxiety/overthinking a lot more than usual. I'm switching back to Yasmin as I had a positive experience with it in the first place.

Made the mistake of changing to the Progestogen-only/mini pill 'Desogestrel' August 2023. Caused me to be deeply depressed while on it, and I also experienced serious gastro-related episodes (twice) where I woke in the middle of the night and nearly fainted while on the toilet, with bad stomach aches then following for the next week or so. More relevant now, that pill also caused my skin to break out badly, the worse I'd ever had it (being a person before who had ever only experienced a few spots here and there). These spots were almost always appearing around my mouth around. Once I realised this pill was causing all of these symptoms, I came straight off and was advised to go back on a previous combined I'd been on for years. Depression and the gastro episodes cleared up, but the acne did not. I then experimented with coming off hormonal contraception altogether, hoping my skin would go back to normal. It did not, so I consulted the GP about a pill that was known for clearing up acne effectively. She put me on Yasmin, which I started 25/1/25. In the first month I did experience some feelings of nausea that I have heard people talk about, but that was only in the first few weeks on it. Also had one headache that went on for a couple of days, which is unusual for me, however I had also read that was common and I haven't experienced one since. Regarding my skin, it seemed to get a little worse for the first month, plus maybe a couple of weeks. I am now almost 2 months on this pill (having taken one 4 day break after my first pack, and now in the process of taking 3 packs consecutively) and I am hopeful that the frequency of spots is steadily going down. I also worked with ChatGPT (my very own virtual PA, haha) to create an oil-reducing skincare routine, so that might also be helping. Another positive is that my breasts have gotten larger, but no weight gain other than that! Will update again when I'm at 3 months on.

Went on this pill to try and ease my intense cramps, but it made my periods much much heavier and I’m not sure its worth it.

Little to no side effects, I am glad I am in this pill

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.

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

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.

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