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

9 reviews

Every 5 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

2503 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

33% no impact on mood

89% heavier periods

56% no impact

44% no impact

50% no impact on skin

Cycle return

50% in 2 months

32% somewhat negative

45% lighter periods

47% 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

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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

IUB Ballerine  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  18th Sep 24

IUB Ballerine  

Had very heavy periods. Ended up requiring blood transfusion.

Read more

Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

IUB Ballerine  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 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
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  20th May 24

IUB Ballerine  

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

IUB Ballerine  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
35 years old
🇬🇧 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
27 years old
🇬🇧 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
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  20th May 24

IUB Ballerine  

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

2503 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
40 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Microgynon 30 ED pill  

I was automatically put on the pill as soon as i became sexually active, within 6 months of this I was on put on antidepressants, of course I didn’t realise and wasn’t told the possibility of a connection. I conceived my 2nd child whilst on the pill. As I got older and became single again I came off the pill and saw a huge change in myself, I also came off the antidepressants easily and felt healthier mentally, I also felt an increase in libido….Something I lost completely whilst on the pill. I’m now dating again and looking for an alternative contraceptive as I cannot go back to how I was before. I also recently found out that the pill can contribute to the production of gallstones.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Dretine pill  

I’ve been taking this for over a month and I’ve had terrible skin, I’ve never had spots in my life and I’ve got so many. I’ve also rarely ever had thrush, which I have now read is a common side effect. Also some hair loss. Not a great pill at all, have stopped taking completely.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Rigevidon  

Started off on this pill, I'm one of those lucky people who are never sick but while on this pill I would quite regularly feel nauseous a few hours after taking it and on about 5 occasions would vomit aswell, which for me was very unusual but after switching to a different pill these side effects went away.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
40 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Microgynon 30 ED pill  

I was automatically put on the pill as soon as i became sexually active, within 6 months of this I was on put on antidepressants, of course I didn’t realise and wasn’t told the possibility of a connection. I conceived my 2nd child whilst on the pill. As I got older and became single again I came off the pill and saw a huge change in myself, I also came off the antidepressants easily and felt healthier mentally, I also felt an increase in libido….Something I lost completely whilst on the pill. I’m now dating again and looking for an alternative contraceptive as I cannot go back to how I was before. I also recently found out that the pill can contribute to the production of gallstones.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Dretine pill  

I’ve been taking this for over a month and I’ve had terrible skin, I’ve never had spots in my life and I’ve got so many. I’ve also rarely ever had thrush, which I have now read is a common side effect. Also some hair loss. Not a great pill at all, have stopped taking completely.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Rigevidon  

Started off on this pill, I'm one of those lucky people who are never sick but while on this pill I would quite regularly feel nauseous a few hours after taking it and on about 5 occasions would vomit aswell, which for me was very unusual but after switching to a different pill these side effects went away.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Yasmin pill  

I got prescribed the combination pill due to recurring endometrial polyps. I'm pretty happy with this pill, it took me 3 months to adapt to taking it with frequent mood swings, irritation and sore breasts in the beginning, but once I got past that I really saw the benefits. My hair had been progressively thinning for 3 years before I started this medication, let me confirm that as soon as I started taking this it went away like magic. My hair is thicker and my hairline is barely visible now, it's so much thicker and I'm thrilled. No pregnancies on this pill either so it does work. I do still have tender breasts from time to time and some light cramping but I still feel it's worth taking. 9/10 recommend.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Gedarel 30/150 pill  

I originally went on the Gederal 30/150 combined pill because I had irregular periods and acne. This pill was recommended by my doctor to specifically help with acne. I really liked this pill, I didn’t feel like I experienced any side effects and it really helped clear up my skin. I still got the occasional spot but my skin was so much better. I also liked the ease of being able to chose if/when I got my period by continually taking the pill or having a 7 day break. My periods were super regular and would typically start 2 days after starting the 7 day break, and they would last 5 days with 1-2 heavier days in the middle but mostly very light. I didn’t notice any mood changes. Unfortunately, after about 7 years on this pill I had a few migraines with auras and was told by my GP that I had to stop taking this pill due to the risk of Stroke. I am now on the mini-pill which I am experiencing some negative side effects with.


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Yaz pill 🇺🇸  

I decided to go back on COC pills after years of having depo injections. The pills have made my periods lighter and I only get some cramps the day before I have my bleed. No real side effects apart from weight gain and my breasts have increased in size and are more tender (all the time not just when having my period).


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Yasmin pill  

This pill has been awful for me. I went on as had really bad irregular periods but i have seen no change except bleeding in between, extreme abdominal pain and hair loss. I have also seen my skin which is normally clear be breaking out all the time. I am only speaking of my experience


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Microgynon 30 pill  

Apart from the vaginal dryness and loss of sex drive, i’m happy with this pill as it did not have any really negative side effects for me, plus it grew my breasts which i liked.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  20th Oct 24

Marvelon pill  

I was only on this for 2 weeks because my anxiety was sky high. I had panic attacks so bad my chest hurt and I couldn't breathe. At the time, I had nothing to worry about in my life. It is scary because if I had taken Marvelon during the time I was severely depressed, then this pill might've sent me over the edge. GP said it wasn't the pill. However, a few days after stopping Marvelon, the anxiety and panic attacks disappeared. It was definitely Marvelon.


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  18th Oct 24

Microgynon 30 pill  

main thing for me was the super low sex drive. filling this out, interested to also see sweating a lot as an option. As I do sweat a lot, very easily so very interested (and hope) that is a side effect as looking to change/come off.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

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