Combined pill vs Hormonal coil (IUS)
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Overview
Rated 2.8
2523 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 3.5
801 reviews
Every 3-8 years
Frequency
Over 99%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Combined pill ingredients
Main hormones in Combined pill
progestogen
oestrogen
Hormonal coil (IUS) ingredients
Main hormones in Hormonal coil (IUS)
progestogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with
Acne or bad skin
Heavy periods
PMS and PMDD
PCOS symptoms
Period pain
Adenomyosis
Endometriosis
Heavy periods
Menopause
Period pain
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Add your Hormonal coil (IUS) review
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Combined pill reviews
2523 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
I was reluctantly put on the Yasmin pill by my GP as I wasn’t coping with previous contraception pills. I didn’t have a good experience with Yasmin. I was spotting very often and got regular nausea and headaches, so in total, was on it for about 2 months before I decided to come off of it
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
I become badly depressed and anxious while taking this. I lost all motivation to do anything - I knew it was a severe bad side effect. I suffered bad foot edema, I was in pain even just lying down , walking was painful on my feet.
Very negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
I took Zoely for 2 months and a half, it was one of the worst experiences of my life. In the first month I had such a bad nausea that I couldn’t eat much anymore so I lost 7kg in around 1 month and a half and got me very bad pimples. What’s worse is the effect on my mental health. I’ve always been a positive person even if in my family there are cases of depression, with this I started to have it, having always negative thoughts, I could never see the positive in anything, and I spiraled in a very bad anxiety, making me think that everything was going for the worse so I was crying so often for very stupid things. I was also very irritable for nothing while usually I’m a very calm person. I wanted to get to three months to see if the symptoms could get better but when my boyfriend broke up with me because he could no longer stand my attitude I decided to quit it immediately and I wish I did it much sooner. It took me around 1 month and a half to feel a bit normal again, I would never recommend Zoely to anyone, taking it was one of the worst decisions of my life.
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
I was reluctantly put on the Yasmin pill by my GP as I wasn’t coping with previous contraception pills. I didn’t have a good experience with Yasmin. I was spotting very often and got regular nausea and headaches, so in total, was on it for about 2 months before I decided to come off of it
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
I become badly depressed and anxious while taking this. I lost all motivation to do anything - I knew it was a severe bad side effect. I suffered bad foot edema, I was in pain even just lying down , walking was painful on my feet.
Very negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
I took Zoely for 2 months and a half, it was one of the worst experiences of my life. In the first month I had such a bad nausea that I couldn’t eat much anymore so I lost 7kg in around 1 month and a half and got me very bad pimples. What’s worse is the effect on my mental health. I’ve always been a positive person even if in my family there are cases of depression, with this I started to have it, having always negative thoughts, I could never see the positive in anything, and I spiraled in a very bad anxiety, making me think that everything was going for the worse so I was crying so often for very stupid things. I was also very irritable for nothing while usually I’m a very calm person. I wanted to get to three months to see if the symptoms could get better but when my boyfriend broke up with me because he could no longer stand my attitude I decided to quit it immediately and I wish I did it much sooner. It took me around 1 month and a half to feel a bit normal again, I would never recommend Zoely to anyone, taking it was one of the worst decisions of my life.
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Hormonal coil (IUS) reviews
801 reviews
Used for 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
I love this coil! I was keen to have a copper coil initially but as I already had quite painful periods I was advised against this and I love the Jaydess! Initially I had some spotting after insertion but my period / ovulation dates are the same (I was tracking my cycles before) the only difference now is that my periods are lighter and a bit longer than they were previously (before they were 3 days and now about 5-7 days but about 2 or 3 of those is just spotting). They are also generally less painful (although the pains feel different - more like the deep cramps you get when the coil is inserted rather than my old period pains). I really like this coil and it is very low hormone so haven't really noticed much in the way of hormonal side effects - my boobs get a bit more tender pre period and I think I might have had like one more spot than is usual for me but that also might be diet related! I haven't noticed any bloating or weight change! It's really really good and I reccomend it!
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
I had mirena fitted on 8/1/25. Insertion was absolutely fine, didn't feel anything at all. Since mirena fitted I was lightly bleeding for 3 weeks. Than stopped for 3 days and than I had my period(on time) so started again. Period is much lighter ( 1 pad a day) no cramps, or any other sides effects. Hopefully it will settle soon with my body if not and I will still bleeding or spotting I will go to remove it because I can compare a few days with periods then constantly bleeding or spotting. I feel absolutely fine.
Lost weight
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
Best one yet for me. I used to have mirena but thought hormones made me depressed. Especially when initially inserted. So opted for lower does coil as love it and I do feel better with it.
Very positive mood
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
I love this coil! I was keen to have a copper coil initially but as I already had quite painful periods I was advised against this and I love the Jaydess! Initially I had some spotting after insertion but my period / ovulation dates are the same (I was tracking my cycles before) the only difference now is that my periods are lighter and a bit longer than they were previously (before they were 3 days and now about 5-7 days but about 2 or 3 of those is just spotting). They are also generally less painful (although the pains feel different - more like the deep cramps you get when the coil is inserted rather than my old period pains). I really like this coil and it is very low hormone so haven't really noticed much in the way of hormonal side effects - my boobs get a bit more tender pre period and I think I might have had like one more spot than is usual for me but that also might be diet related! I haven't noticed any bloating or weight change! It's really really good and I reccomend it!
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
I had mirena fitted on 8/1/25. Insertion was absolutely fine, didn't feel anything at all. Since mirena fitted I was lightly bleeding for 3 weeks. Than stopped for 3 days and than I had my period(on time) so started again. Period is much lighter ( 1 pad a day) no cramps, or any other sides effects. Hopefully it will settle soon with my body if not and I will still bleeding or spotting I will go to remove it because I can compare a few days with periods then constantly bleeding or spotting. I feel absolutely fine.
Lost weight
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
Best one yet for me. I used to have mirena but thought hormones made me depressed. Especially when initially inserted. So opted for lower does coil as love it and I do feel better with it.
Very positive mood
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
I really struggled to come to terms with removing the copper coil as it was the best option for me after having my first child and realising how much I’d changed with hormonal contraception however, after 18 months the copper coil just didn’t agree with me causing periods that were so heavy I’d soak through the biggest tampon you could get within an hour. My periods would also last 8-10 days and be so painful, it stopped me from being able to look after my little girl properly.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
I have endometriosis and I tried so many different pills, the kyleena IUD too. All with very bad side effects. This is the first solution that is making my life a bit better than anything else. Overall, my daily life has improved versus no hormone solution , but I do struggle quite a bit with bad lower back pain and also bloating . But it’s still better than any other solution I’ve tried ..
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Overall I am really happy with my Mirena coil. Only thing I really wanted to note was that my periods did initially stop completely but they have started coming back after about 2.5/3 years of having it. Although they are much lighter than before I have the coil it was something I wasnt expecting. I think its because the hormones from the coil are slightly weaker than when it first went in, so right now its enough against pregnancy but not enough against my periods (is my thinking). anyways other than that i love it. I dont think it affects my moods as much as the pill etc because the hormones are really localised to the uterus area rather than being all of my bloodstream, as such, i believe its a lot less hormones too than for the pill .
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
In the beginning for the first few months I had breakthrough bleeding. Then it’s settled and my periods became regular. I kept Kyleena in for the full 5 years and found this method of contraception easy as didn’t involve remembering to take anything. My periods were between 5-6 days long - I still had cramps which I managed with heat and painkillers. This method gives you the peace of mind that you are protected against falling pregnant. I would recommend.
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
minimal side affects comparted to my experience on the combined pill
Worse skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
44 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 14th Jan 25
I had such high hopes for the Mirena to help with my heavy periods but sadly I'm nearing the six month mark and there has been no improvement in the long term, if anything my periods are worse and I can't find any reason online as to why. I couldn't put up with the monthly flooding any longer and the NHS waiting list was at least 12 months, so I paid privately for the Mirena to be fitted. The insertion was uncomfortable but bearable (I haven't had children) and I didn't experience any discomfort immediately afterwards. The cramps during menstruation in the first two months following the fitting were intense, but the period was lighter so it still seemed like a win overall and I remained hopeful the cramps would ease as my body got used to the coil. That has happened and the cramps have eased to next to nothing now, but strangely my periods after the three month mark have been horrendous. I've been losing clots bigger than I have experienced before and I am back in incontinence pads to manage the amount of blood I lose. I can't continue to afford to access private care and I remain on the NHS waiting list, where I guess I will discuss ablation when I finally reach the top of the list. I so wish this had worked for me because it seemed an easy option and importantly it didn't end my fertility, but sadly it wasn't to be. I don't know why I'm surprised it didn't work for me, this is just my luck!! I wish it hadn't cost me hundreds of pounds to find this out, but for those it works for it seems life changing so it very much felt like an avenue worth exploring.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments

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