Combined pill vs Hormonal coil (IUS)

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.

Never having to worry about condoms is such a great plus. I had a lot of pain in the first six months and three 11+ day periods. Afterwards, my periods have stopped totally and I only get the occasional cramp, akin to an ovulation cramp. My libido has decreased slightly and my breast have gotten bigger. Overall it’s been a great help in my sex life

At first all the skin problems I got from it scarred me. But I first started Jaydesss becuse of extremely painfull periods. This absolutely helped, I mostly lost my period which I thought I will never be lucky enough to experience in my life. The skin problems got a bit less annoying and extreme after I lost my periods. But at first I had really painfull pimples all over me - my face, chest, back, especially back on y neck and under my hair - on my head (i never had that before ever). Later I only experienced a few shoulder and face pimples. Since my period is gone, my back pain and cramps are gone completely. I am so happy and I feel like I no longer have to fight a battle with my body every month. I am a happier person, I feel mentally healthier. Before that I was scarred what the month will bring with body pain and how I will hide blood stain that was everywhere, ruining my clothes, bedsheets, even towels. There was so much blood and now there is none and I feel lucky :)

Got on really well for first few years but after year 5 the side effects seem to have become more frequent/worse.

I used an Mirena coil over 12 years, having 3 inserted over that time. The first one was great, I was really pleased with it. Periods basically stopped and no real side effects. With the 2nd one there was sometimes period pain aches after sex but not always. However when it came to have it replaced nearly 6 years later it had moved and took some finding. At the time I just had the new one immediately put in but I was worried about it moving again and didn't relax so have had it taken out after only a year. As I am now 48 I do not know if things like my mood, no sex drive, random spotting, or anything else was linked to the Mirena or peri-menopause, so have not listed them as side effects for this (as more likely peri at this age)

I've always had painful periods and the month before I got my coil, my period hurt so much I actually threw up and that's when I decided I would do something about it. I've been on the pill before (rigevidon/microgynon) but it negatively affected my mood, I had terrible anxiety and generally felt horrible all the time so I stopped. When I got the coil, the sexual health clinic I went to used spray anaesthesia, but it still really hurt. The thing is, it only hurt for about a couple seconds, where it basically felt like your insides are being crushed and you're having the worst possible cramps ever (x10). Afterwards, I had normal (period-like) cramping for the rest of the day but they gave me a heat pack which really helped. I had spotting for about 3 months afterwards (yes, every single day) but it was fine and after a while I got used to just wearing a pantyliner every day. I'm really glad my periods are very light now (I've missed it once only) but it's still there. I don't know whether it will disappear or not, but one of the reasons I chose kyleena over mirena is in hopes my periods won't completely disappear, just for peace of mind that I'm not pregnant lol. I have terrible breast tenderness sometimes, like it hurts to even touch, I can't tell if it's before I get my period or during ovulation, but it definitely appears once every month or so. My breasts didn't grow though so that's a bit of a disappointment compared to the pill.... All in all, I haven't noticed any mood changes, I'm still definitely very attracted to my partner, and he doesn't feel it during sex. There were a few times early on when he thought he did, but I got it checked and it was all good, I think he just had it in his head.

First few month I havent notice any side effects at all, but after like 4 months time it does get worst day by day with all the symptoms mentioned above, especially lower back pain. I always had a pain in there before coil but it was somehow managable but now not possible even rolling on bed to another side causing me a lot of pain. Plus the endo is still growing back and having full on period, I did agree to have this coil to stopthese 2 major symptoms of my endo but the the inflamaction in my body is still high with estrogen levels sky high so there is not reason for me to keep it in,the coil definetly didnt work on my stage 4 endo and adenomyosis and will be removed today after 9 months. Hope it will help to other people everyone body works differently It does seem synthetic hormones doesnt agree with me Had the same with birth control, had to come off due heavy period while on pills and pain was still present with huge side effects. Lasted on pills 3 years.

The lack of periods has been nice. But I experiences a dramatic decrease in sex drive from the moment it was put it and it takes a lot to turn me on. 12 months in, I noticed a lot of hairs drop happening and now my hair is notably thinner with a lot of breaks - I'm considering whipping it out.

I had the Kyleena twice. It worked very well for me in regulating and making my heavy periods lighter. It probably masked my symptoms of endometriosis for years, which was diagnosed after removing the coil and going hormone free for a while. A few months after having replaced the first IUD for the second one as it had nearly been five years, my relationship broke down and I no longer needed contraception. When I went to have the coil removed, my doctor saw that it had been dislodged, had moved downwards, and would have not protected against pregnancy. I had heavy cramps at the time which I did not link to the IUD until I learned about this. Due to endometriosis and not being able to take the pill anymore, I have recently gone for the Mirena. I hope that without period cup use this will stay in place. In terms of side effects, the Kyleena gave me adult acne but this was managed with prescription cremes. I also had hair loss for about a year with the onset of this side effect around month seven after insertion. While I lost a few kilograms following the insertion I also gained them back so I cannot judge whether it affected my overall weight. Other than that this method worked very well for me. While I feel slightly ambivalent after having dislodged a coil, I really hope that the Mirena will work just as well for me as the first Kyleena did.

Jaydess is okay but not for me I’d say. It was painful to put in and I bled for 5 months straight, I bled heavily until I was taken for a scan and it did stop a week before the scan. But the scan then disturbed my uterus and I started bleeding again for around a month. Since then I have gained over 10kg, I don’t get period at all but I do get the PMS symptoms. No spots but I do get abdominal pain here and there. Whenever I have stomach pains they are 5 times as worse due to the coil. I never had these problems before… I am scared to have it taken out because I know it will hurt lol but otherwise it is effective and prevents pregnancy just not a fan of the other health problems I now have because of it.

Insertion was incredibly painful and had cramping for 3-4 days following. It's mostly been fine and no massive changes apart from excessive bloating and nausea. Since going on the coil I've been diagnosed with IBS which I didn't have symptoms for before so I wonder if it's linked. I had no periods for 5 months and now just really light or spotting for a few days.