IUB Ballerine

Cap or diaphragm

Combined pill

Expert advice about your contraception 

Our doctors are here to help

Copper coil (IUD)

Female condom

Fertility awareness methods (FAM)

Gynefix

Expert advice about your contraception

Hormonal coil (IUS)

Implant

Injection

Male condom

Vasectomy

Morning after pill

Patch

Progestogen-only / Mini pill

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)

Vaginal ring

Withdrawal or pull out method

After being pill free for years and managing severe PMS in other ways, I decided to go back on the pill as I was in a new relationship. 

I experienced low moods towards the end of my cycle when I will pill free but also experienced real highs and pangs of high sex drive. 

This pill really does “flatten” my mood. I still get a little down, tired, achy with brain fog toward end of cycle. But I don’t get any highs or sex drive. I’m very flat on this pill, I could take or leave most things. 

I tried to come off this pill, but the breast pain and nipple soreness was outrageous so went back on!

Eloine pill-review-id-e77cf227-8f0d-43d1-ad09-e382a083d2d2

Was on it consistently for 4 years (16yr-20yrs), took a 6 month break to see what would happen. I lost weight, felt happier, libido returned, no more brain fog, no more bloat and digestive issues, no change in skin (I have always had fairly good skin though), no change in body hair (I'm a little hairier than most). Estelle did not affect my skin or hair. I went back on it and my digestive troubles returned, I gained 3kg despite an increase in exercise, and feel so much more lethargic and am now dealing with dryness and loss of desire. The symptoms are manageable but really not ideal

Dianette pill-review-id-68297a3d-feff-4d0f-a721-54bea84e58a5

I was recommended to go on this pill due to major mood swings around my period. It has improved my mood swings & mental health exponentially, I feel I can now function properly for the whole month. It’s a bonus that it’s cleared up my spots. The only negative side effects I’ve got is a decreased libido & dryness which personally don’t bother me.

Millinette 30/75 pill-review-id-23931519-5362-4222-8a00-ad8bfe013f99

I used this pill since I was 16 with the odd breaks until I wanted to get pregnant

Millinette 20/75 pill-review-id-79d3c739-11ef-42f8-97c2-9dad82fc740d

This is the best pill I’ve been on (aside from Dianette) and it doesn’t adversely affect my mood as much as other pills I’ve been on. 

Gedarel 30/150 pill-review-id-c9ff45b0-f3dd-4dec-9ba4-aa3ee81269e4

It took a while for my body and my moods to “go back to normal” after coming off Yasmin.

Yasmin turned me into a completely different person - HUGE mood swings, crying at the most random things. I didn’t like who I turned into when I was on Yasmin, despite being told to stick it out for a while. 

Yasmin pill-review-id-dc37e865-efcc-4ffc-879d-321387267e1c

It took a while for my body to balance back out but I came off Dianette and went onto Yasmin after a couple of months.

Dianette really worked for me - I was prescribed it after being diagnosed with polycystic ovaries but it massively improved my acne, which hadn’t been responding to medication. Unfortunately despite it working for me, I was told I couldn’t continue on it after 2+ years as it increased the risk of blood clots. 

Dianette pill-review-id-da9f57cf-b902-4c56-903c-63f1e691977b

Didn't get pregnant which is the main goal. I went on Yasmin to clear a few occasional hormonal spots and my skin massively cleared up, I didn't have any acne at all and breast size increased which are two main positives. Didn't notice much change of mood. My reason stopping was due to the main problem that it completely diminished my sex drive and has caused me to develop dyspareunia, which has effected my long term relationship and I am now having to try resolve. Wish I had never gone on it as my acne wasn't that bad to begin with. 

Yasmin pill-review-id-7561e747-beb9-4447-8fad-0bc8fcf65714

Did its job in preventing pregnancy but had to stop due to debilitating mental side effects, nausea, & markedly decreased sex drive. Felt extremely moody & anxious, random crying spells for no reason. Frequently would wake up in the middle of the night feeling I was going to vomit, very hot & sweaty so didn't sleep well while on it. Only took it on full stomach to try to reduce the nausea but it didn't always matter. Not pleasant at all. 

Microgynon 30 ED pill-review-id-6ad1b584-c999-44dc-a6b0-06ab86ecb62d

I only came off the pill as I was told to for an upcoming surgery, now that I understand that the effects I was feeling were related to the pill I have had a copper coil fitted and I am now trying to take the non hormonal approach.  

For the first 2.5 years the pill was fine I got on with it well. It was only in the final 18 months of using the pill that I noticed my anxiety heightened, sex drive depleted, vaginal dryness and extremely low moods during the break. 

Levest pill-review-id-d5216e59-a2e5-4a60-94b6-3de66bc7dacd

After having my coil removed it took about 2 weeks for my BV to clear up and I've never had another bout since (3 years later). My sex drive returned after about a month and was higher than it had ever been (to the point that some days at work I couldn't concentrate because I was thinking about sex!), it settled down slightly but I've still got more of a sex drive than I ever did whilst on hormonal contraception (both the coil and pill) 

I had the coil fitted after being on Microgynon for 9 years, after about 2 years I noticed I was getting recurring BV infections - it would clear with over the counter bought gels and then be back a couple of weeks later and this went on for years because I was too embarrassed to see my GP about it. I had almost no sex drive the whole time I had the coil fitted, I was in a longterm relationship but never wanted to have sex with my partner, partly due to the embarrassing smell and discharge and partly due to the lack of sex drive - he cheated on me multiple times during this time. I had my coil removed after 4.5 years after reading about the link between the coil and BV 

Mirena coil-review-id-a22e2b27-f512-4645-a152-fbaf80d0af84

One of the worst experiences of my life. 6 months after the birth of my 2nd child I decide to try the Mirena. It was one less thing to concern myself with (periods) as I had  a baby and toddler. After a couple of months increasingly I could not cope with everyday things and had anxiety - it felt like it come from nowhere! I did not feel depressed (even though my GP said I was and offered antidepressants). I felt like I was going crazy and I could not understand why? After doing some research about hormones I realised my ‘normal’ levels would not return to after 12 months of giving birth and the cause of the feelings I was having was due to the added synthetic hormone when I was all over the place. I had very dark and concerning moments. I had the coil removed immediately and after 2 weeks I was calm and able to return to myself. This has put my off contraception and I haven’t gone back at all. Very scary 

Mirena coil-review-id-0dfbc02c-ae8d-41dd-8745-75cab17cd0b1

Just a relief to have it removed. Again, I know Mirena suits many but for me it was one of the worst seven weeks of my life till it was removed. I was told I was a "conundrum" as if I was the only woman in human history who had a problem with it! The hospital has apologised at least.

I very much respect that the Mirena works for some but there needs to be more responsive services for those who do have a problem. I was recommended it too to prevent endometrial cancer and believe my risk (of endometrial cancer) as I breastfed for three years and am not obese was exaggerated and the possible Mirena side effects were underplayed, for example, The Scottish Medicines' agency says 89% of women get side effects with the Kyleena. My periods were lighter but much longer. In the end, after 7 weeks of being gaslighted and suffering "contractions" it was removed as an emergency under a general anaesthetic.

Mirena coil-review-id-a662bc49-cd4e-4658-b892-b9cd66bb8bcf

The hormonal coil is the best contraception that I have used and helps me feel empowered over the decisions that I make about my own reproductive system.

My fitting didn't quite go to plan, but it wasn't at the fault of the kind doctor and nurse who fitted it. I had an adverse reaction to the procedure where my blood pressure dropped significantly. Apparently this is a known side effect to the process and can cause some women to need the coil removed. After about an hour, my blood pressures went back to normal.

I found that the hormone level in the Kyleena coil was better for me as the pill was made my mental health worse.

My periods are very light and manageable and happen around every 8 weeks. 

My cramps for the first year of the coil were really bad and would cause me to double over and have to spend days in bed. However I am pleased that I stuck with it because that stopped eventually and now the pain is manageable with over the counter pain killers.

Kyleena coil-review-id-e5f8543a-4626-44a2-bbfc-e1a666f0c99d

I didn't expirience the "crash" so coming off it was absolutely fine for me
Also having it out was a breeze

The worst part about this was having it put it! I found it so painful. But after having it removed I did feel like my body relaxed as it was always in my mind that I has something inside me and if it moved etc
I prefer methods that's aren't physical or can be easily seen

Mirena coil-review-id-20ac64c3-9a06-41c6-8014-fdae61e55b51

I am on my second coil. For me, it is so much better than taking the pill because I don’t have to think about it at all. I had a much better experience having my second coil fitted because I had a GP who was very familiar with the process and sympathetic. She gave me local anaesthetic and she and the nurse calmly talked me through everything and made sure I was ok. It still hurt during the procedure and I had several hours of cramping afterwards, but it was just about bearable and I’ve had no problems since, and it’s been 18 months since I had it fitted. No periods is great!
I found out I have a tilted womb and apparently that can make insertion more painful. About 1 in 4 women have this.

Mirena coil-review-id-3a13ef79-cc0b-4116-a807-d425b36f1966

I have had the kyleena coil for just over a year and really like it. The insertion was absolutely fine with painkillers and I was very bloated but not in any pain after insertion. My periods returned (I was on the combined pill before this) after three months and are much lighter than before. My skin initially was quite bad but has cleared up now and my hair did start to shed but stopped after five months. My skin is perhaps a little greasier than before and I’ve got slightly darker body hair but otherwise no bad side effects really. 

Kyleena coil-review-id-6d4b5180-0c3b-4317-ab81-1fc8a98fe8d1

I had a pretty bad storey few months with the coil. I got an infection post insertion and can pelvic pain on and off for a few months. Nothing major more annoying than painful. Periods very very light. Then I  had another infection and it was more painful this time. Turned out the strings were left too long and that was was causing the discomfort and infections. I’ve had them trimmed and I’ve not had any issues since. I get some slight cramping around ovulation and period but hardly any bleeding more discharge. I found my moods have improved and I’m not so crazy with PMT each month. Overall I’m happy with it but it was a bit difficult for the first 6 months but I’m glad I stuck with it. 

Mirena coil-review-id-3532b749-39ee-4d06-8ccc-b500eef8f6cb

I have used the mirena for many years . The removal and insertion process was ok. I took 2 x paracetamol and 2x nurofen before . It did hurt a bit but with a great healthcare professional inserting it who talked me through each different part it felt a lot less scary . Sometimes after I would have a few hours of period style cramps. But with the last one , nothing !! Result !! 

Mirena coil-review-id-b40a2335-bbd5-411e-ac6c-a140ae15742a

I *really* wanted an IUS, but during getting it fitted I was in so much pain, even with an aesthetic gel that the doctor made me stop. 

I was crying and a nurse was holding my hand throughout. Because of my concave cervix, it was so painful. I share this because I don't think people know that sometimes even if you want this option, it doesn't work out and there's no way of really knowing beforehand. 

Combined pill vs Hormonal coil (IUS)

Need help choosing? Speak to a doctor

Overview

Combined pill ingredients

Hormonal coil (IUS) ingredients

What Lowdown reviewers say

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Checkout our latest reviews

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Order online now

Not sure yet? Speak to a doctor