IUB Ballerine vs Progestogen-only / Mini pill

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IUB Ballerine

Add your IUB Ballerine review

Progestogen-only / Mini pill

£From £0.22/day

Overview

Rated 3.6

10 reviews

Every 5 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.7

1403 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 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.

Progestogen-only / Mini pill ingredients

Main hormones in Progestogen-only / Mini pill

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

31% somewhat negative

44% stopped periods

49% lost sex drive

44% no impact

46% no impact on skin

Cycle return

38% 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

Period pain

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£From £0.22/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


Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews

1403 reviews

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Desogestrel pill  

Ok but not a fan of the hair loss and continuous spotting


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Slynd pill  

Compared to other mini pills ive tried, this one has the least side effects by far. The side effects I do get include slightly reduced sex drive, very sore breasts and I cry more easily. All of them are managable though.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
40 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Noriday pill  

Ive been on this pill for a few years..Mood okay most of month but then after my period it seems to drop quite alot to low levels..which concerned me when im not depressed.. sore breasts at times .bleeding very little .no spotting.. but that could be my age. Sex drive okay. Skin seems okay- normal acne. I'm might try cerazette see if it helps mood issue.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Desogestrel pill  

Ok but not a fan of the hair loss and continuous spotting


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Slynd pill  

Compared to other mini pills ive tried, this one has the least side effects by far. The side effects I do get include slightly reduced sex drive, very sore breasts and I cry more easily. All of them are managable though.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
40 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Noriday pill  

Ive been on this pill for a few years..Mood okay most of month but then after my period it seems to drop quite alot to low levels..which concerned me when im not depressed.. sore breasts at times .bleeding very little .no spotting.. but that could be my age. Sex drive okay. Skin seems okay- normal acne. I'm might try cerazette see if it helps mood issue.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Desogestrel pill  

i’m not sure if it is normal but i have been on this pill for 3 months. a week into the taking the pill my period finally came back after around 100 days. since then ive had very irregular periods often bleeding for extended periods of time and also spotting more often with the periods being closer together. i have also experienced much more mood changes as i have felt somewhat more depressed on this pill. this might just be my experience and might also be influenced by the fact i am still going through pubity as i’m 16 yet i still can’t stop thinking that something is wrong .


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

Desogestrel pill  

I’m was happy with the mini pill as I took it while breastfeeding my son, however as soon as I weaned him my periods came back but they were all over the place. I bled for nearly 2 weeks straight then it finally stopped, but only for 3 days then it started again. If it wasn’t for this issue I’d have kept using the mini pill but I couldn’t deal with it anymore as it was preventing me from living my life normally


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Zelleta pill  

Started this purely to help my skin after experiencing constant hormonal breakouts, which it did clear up and meant I could eat however I wanted basically with no consequences on my skin (sugar and fatty foods). However I feel as thought the pill has really dampened my mood making me low level depressed all the time. Also experienced a decreased sex drive and lots of hair loss - but still unsure whether these are directly related.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Desogestrel pill  

After coming off a combined pill (Yasmin) that I was on for 14 years - I am now on Desogestrel, within a week I suffered a mild acne rash/breakout on chin and neck but some gel from my GP quickly sorted that. I am now 2 days late to what would have been a bleed/period and my lower back and period cramps are quite severe and prolonged - my breasts are bigger and tender to touch - hoping these symptoms begin to decrease if I get my bleed or not! Saw GP today to discuss and they’re just general side effects whilst my hormones adjust (I’m told to allow >3 months to review) - general mood has decreased a bit and I feel a bit numb emotionally but started feeling better today so fingers crossed I’m on the up!


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Desogestrel pill  

Switched eventually to an implant because of having to remember to bring them everywhere each day. Overall a positive experience though - a reduction in headaches, and usually say it 'flattened' my mood. Whereas before there would be some very low mood points in my cycle, this greatly reduced those. Sometimes it felt a little dull as it seemed to also reduce some of the good spikes, but this was worth it to me to not have to deal with such mood swings.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Cerelle pill  

Got pregnant on it because I wasn’t taking it properly, since having my son and ensuring to take it regularly I have had no issues


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  28th Jun 25

Cerazette pill  

I really wanted to write about my positive experience as most people write reviews when they have a negative experience, for me the Cerazette has been really good, it improved my feeling of being in balance and lessened mood swings, it did not effect my libido, in fact in the beginning I noticed a higher libido, but most importantly I suffer from migraines with aura and since I started taking this a month ago I didn’t have an intense migraine, just one or two mild days and I normally have 2/3 days per week so in a month 8 at least. The only negative things are not too bad: I have very tender breasts which became a bit bigger but I heard this might go away after 3 months or so and I got a little bit of acne but nothing too crazy and this also usually settles after taking it consistently for a few month. All in all for me it’s truly been life changing.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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