IUB Ballerine vs Implant

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IUB Ballerine

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Implant

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Overview

Rated 3.6

10 reviews

Every 5 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

640 reviews

Every 5 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

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.

Implant ingredients

Main hormones in Implant

progestogen

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

36% somewhat negative

49% irregular periods

48% lost sex drive

40% gained weight

55% no impact on skin

Cycle return

31% in 1 month

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

There are no benefits that are recognised in scientific research or guidelines for this contraceptive

Heavy periods

Ovulation pain

Period pain

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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


Implant reviews

640 reviews

Implant  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Nexplanon implant  

At first, my experience with the implant wasn't too bad as I was still 'wet' and moist, but over time my natural moisture has completely dwindled down to nearly nothing. This severe dryness is driving me absolutely insane because it honestly makes me feel like I have a post-menopausal vagina. Because of this, I am now changing back to the generic Desogestrel mini-pill, as I know from previous use that I at least had a normal, healthy white and milky discharge on that method. I am just stating my own personal experience here, and I still think that other people should definitely try the implant if they fancy a different form of birth control, because everyone's body reacts differently to the hormones. so yeah, thank u, next with the implant.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Nexplanon implant  

Been on the implant for 6 years now, initially I was spotting for 6 months before it finally settled. Now much more lighter periods so I can cope better as previously really heavy and needed tranexamic acid to manage, mood is more level now also, very rarely get cramps which is a bonus, have gained a little weight and body hair, overall happy with it


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Nexplanon implant  

I gain weight and got chronic fatigue. It was awful.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Nexplanon implant  

At first, my experience with the implant wasn't too bad as I was still 'wet' and moist, but over time my natural moisture has completely dwindled down to nearly nothing. This severe dryness is driving me absolutely insane because it honestly makes me feel like I have a post-menopausal vagina. Because of this, I am now changing back to the generic Desogestrel mini-pill, as I know from previous use that I at least had a normal, healthy white and milky discharge on that method. I am just stating my own personal experience here, and I still think that other people should definitely try the implant if they fancy a different form of birth control, because everyone's body reacts differently to the hormones. so yeah, thank u, next with the implant.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Nexplanon implant  

Been on the implant for 6 years now, initially I was spotting for 6 months before it finally settled. Now much more lighter periods so I can cope better as previously really heavy and needed tranexamic acid to manage, mood is more level now also, very rarely get cramps which is a bonus, have gained a little weight and body hair, overall happy with it


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Nexplanon implant  

I gain weight and got chronic fatigue. It was awful.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
42 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Nexplanon implant  

This i my first time, I discovered skin heat rash at the initial stage, presently loosing weight and loosing hair.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Jun 26

Nexplanon implant  

I am so far very happy with the nexplanon implant. I had tried iuds prior, first the copper T, which did not work for me at all, and then mirena, which was good, but I did experience some pelvic pain and discomfort during intimacy. With the nexplanon, my periods stopped for the first year and a half, maybe closer to 2 years. And then was just very light spotting for awhile after that. I am at about 2 years and 6 months, and my period has come back fully, and I am starting to have hormonal acne and mood changes, so I opted to have it replaced, just in case these symptoms are due to the hormones tapering off. I just had it replaced today, so I am not sure whether it will fix the issue, but will keep ypu posted.


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1st Jun 26

Nexplanon implant  

It cause me to have my period for 145 days straight starting two weeks after getting it. The first month was honestly horrible with severe cramping and lower back pain while passing relatively big clots. It also made my mental health decline significantly during this time but after the five month mark I am feeling great and not pregnant!


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  7th May 26

Nexplanon implant  

I was on it for coming up to 8 years overall obviously great to not get pregnant and I was on contraception before where I had an accident so it was really easy and really quick to not have to think about this. It did really impact my moods and I eventually ended up having PMDD because of the severe mood swings. I would also bleed twice a month instead of just a once And it caused a really bad loss of libido and federal dryness. But these are all things that would probably happen if I was pregnant anyway.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th May 26

Nexplanon implant  

My mood was completely changed on this contraception about 2 weeks in. I started getting really angry at everything/everyone very fast, I had a short temper, I felt sad all the time and like everyone was against me. Overall I felt I was going crazy and could not control my emotions at all. Also I had a constant heavy period for 3 months


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  16th Apr 26

Nexplanon implant  

Used for 5 years so far. No complaints really. I didnt feel much change to myself till recently. This has been mood swings and irritability but ive been on it 5 years and this only just started. Never fell pregnant. Little to no periods. Would recommend


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2nd Apr 26

Nexplanon implant  

I originally had the implant inserted in May 2025, but I had a difficult experience with heavy bleeding. I had it removed and switched back to the mini-pill, which has always worked well for me. I decided to try the implant again and had it re-inserted around August 18, 2025. Here is the updated timeline of my experience: Initial Recovery (August 2025) • Wound Care: I removed the bandage and plaster early to let the area breathe. I applied a new plaster on the second day, eventually removing it once I was sure the insertion site had finished bleeding. • Healing: There was some minor bruising around the site, but nothing too bad. • Early Symptoms: I noticed some clear, yellowish vaginal discharge shortly after insertion, but no spotting or bleeding during this initial stage. Follow-up Symptoms (A few months later) After I had the implant in for a few months, I began experiencing some changes: • Spotting: I had spotting/light bleeding for a few days. • Discharge: This was followed by a period of reddish and brown discharge that lasted for a few weeks. Current Status Aside from that specific window of spotting and colored discharge a few months in, I have had no other issues. It has been working well since then, and I’m hopeful it stays this way!


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

2 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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