Combined pill vs Hormonal coil (IUS)
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Overview
Rated 2.8
2735 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 3.5
882 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
2735 reviews
Used for 3 - 5 yr
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
The pill made me most suicidal. Anxiety and depression were through the roof.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
I started the combined pill Drovelis late in my cycle. On day nine of taking the pink pill I got a breakthrough bleed. It's been 10 days and it only increased the last maybe 4 days. I am currently taking iron though and since I'm using it mostly to manage menhorragia im hoping the breakthrough bleeding will taper soon. In contrast my periods were terrible. Dragged over 12 days. Haemorragic. I never went to hospital for them in years but probably barely saved myself on time. I also had them every 26 days which was less than ideal so timed apart. Its worrying but I'm told to continue and see how it goes into the next pack or I'll have to consult with my GP and consider changing brand if my situation doesn't improve. My moods are terrible. I get crying spells and am a lot quieter than I used to be. I'm usually outgoing and very opinionated. Might review again next month. But since it's my first experience I thought id give it a shot
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
The pill did what it was supposed to which is to stop pregnancy and knowing when my periods would be. I feel like my experience might be a little different to others as I started these pills when I was about 17 and only got off them when I was about 30. So I only know this type of contraception and also not really aware of my natural cycle/hormones until I got off them. I feel like being on them made me emotionless? When I got off them, I started crying a lot more at little things and realise I had a lot more emotional range. I experienced really bad hair loss when I got off them- clumps of hair was coming out when washing my hair. I am lucky I am asian so have thicker hair anyways so the hair loss made me have thinner hair but it’s not like I have none left. Right now I am doing more to get my hair to grow back and it is slowly growing as I have a lot of baby hairs which is a good sign. I also experienced adult acne when I got off the pill. I’ve had clear skin for as long as I can remember and when I got off the pill, I was experiencing really bad acne and still experience that now. Being clear of this pill for a few years now I am happier I feel like in general and my periods are regular as I track it using an app, periods aren’t as heavy as it used to be when I was on the pill and not as painful. Also can confirm fertility is back to normal as well. I am writing about my experience as I was on it a long time and I’m not sure whether as I’m getting older other factors would come into play in terms of my own experience
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
The pill made me most suicidal. Anxiety and depression were through the roof.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
I started the combined pill Drovelis late in my cycle. On day nine of taking the pink pill I got a breakthrough bleed. It's been 10 days and it only increased the last maybe 4 days. I am currently taking iron though and since I'm using it mostly to manage menhorragia im hoping the breakthrough bleeding will taper soon. In contrast my periods were terrible. Dragged over 12 days. Haemorragic. I never went to hospital for them in years but probably barely saved myself on time. I also had them every 26 days which was less than ideal so timed apart. Its worrying but I'm told to continue and see how it goes into the next pack or I'll have to consult with my GP and consider changing brand if my situation doesn't improve. My moods are terrible. I get crying spells and am a lot quieter than I used to be. I'm usually outgoing and very opinionated. Might review again next month. But since it's my first experience I thought id give it a shot
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
The pill did what it was supposed to which is to stop pregnancy and knowing when my periods would be. I feel like my experience might be a little different to others as I started these pills when I was about 17 and only got off them when I was about 30. So I only know this type of contraception and also not really aware of my natural cycle/hormones until I got off them. I feel like being on them made me emotionless? When I got off them, I started crying a lot more at little things and realise I had a lot more emotional range. I experienced really bad hair loss when I got off them- clumps of hair was coming out when washing my hair. I am lucky I am asian so have thicker hair anyways so the hair loss made me have thinner hair but it’s not like I have none left. Right now I am doing more to get my hair to grow back and it is slowly growing as I have a lot of baby hairs which is a good sign. I also experienced adult acne when I got off the pill. I’ve had clear skin for as long as I can remember and when I got off the pill, I was experiencing really bad acne and still experience that now. Being clear of this pill for a few years now I am happier I feel like in general and my periods are regular as I track it using an app, periods aren’t as heavy as it used to be when I was on the pill and not as painful. Also can confirm fertility is back to normal as well. I am writing about my experience as I was on it a long time and I’m not sure whether as I’m getting older other factors would come into play in terms of my own experience
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Hormonal coil (IUS) reviews
882 reviews
Used for 5 - 8 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
I'm on my second Jaydess (been using it for almost 6 years now), before I was on the pill (estrogen+progesterone combination) for about 6 years. Insertion is no fun for me, other than that I can only recommend it. Compared to the pill I have much lighter periods, period pain has significantly decreased (I get a little abdominal discomfort+back pain a day before the start of my period, and that's it). Acne stayed about the same as on the pill. I get a little breast swelling/tenderness for about one week every cycle which I think has slightly increased compared to the pill but isn't so bad. Sex drive and mood stayed about the same, if anything, my mood has become more stable on Jaydess actually (but that could also be attributed to me growing up I guess). Overall I'm satisfied with it
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I got the coil after having a failed mirena coil. Tried this one for almost 3yrs and didn't think I had alot of side effects, though reflecting on a time where I was not on contraception, I realised it had greatly impacted my moods and caused quite bad acne on my back, which I had never suffered with previous. I also would get debilitating cramps during my periods again which I never suffered with before. Only bonus was my very heavy periods were light, which made them way more manageable. I decided to get it taken out when my moods were having an adverse effect on my relationship and life.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 26th Feb 26
Insertion of the jaydess for me was incredibly painful and i had severe period cramps the days following insertion. Other than that for the first year i had no symptoms other than tender breasts and they had grown from C-DD (no complaints!) and often reccomended it to friends. However, after that i started getting regular thrush. It started off just coming before my period some months but now it is pretty much constant. Treatment only resolves symptoms for a short period and the its back! For this reason ive booked to have it taken out next week. Also the waitlist with my local clinic is so long ive been on it months and am no where near being seen so have had to go private unfortunately as the symptoms hae become unbearable :(
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
I'm on my second Jaydess (been using it for almost 6 years now), before I was on the pill (estrogen+progesterone combination) for about 6 years. Insertion is no fun for me, other than that I can only recommend it. Compared to the pill I have much lighter periods, period pain has significantly decreased (I get a little abdominal discomfort+back pain a day before the start of my period, and that's it). Acne stayed about the same as on the pill. I get a little breast swelling/tenderness for about one week every cycle which I think has slightly increased compared to the pill but isn't so bad. Sex drive and mood stayed about the same, if anything, my mood has become more stable on Jaydess actually (but that could also be attributed to me growing up I guess). Overall I'm satisfied with it
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I got the coil after having a failed mirena coil. Tried this one for almost 3yrs and didn't think I had alot of side effects, though reflecting on a time where I was not on contraception, I realised it had greatly impacted my moods and caused quite bad acne on my back, which I had never suffered with previous. I also would get debilitating cramps during my periods again which I never suffered with before. Only bonus was my very heavy periods were light, which made them way more manageable. I decided to get it taken out when my moods were having an adverse effect on my relationship and life.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 26th Feb 26
Insertion of the jaydess for me was incredibly painful and i had severe period cramps the days following insertion. Other than that for the first year i had no symptoms other than tender breasts and they had grown from C-DD (no complaints!) and often reccomended it to friends. However, after that i started getting regular thrush. It started off just coming before my period some months but now it is pretty much constant. Treatment only resolves symptoms for a short period and the its back! For this reason ive booked to have it taken out next week. Also the waitlist with my local clinic is so long ive been on it months and am no where near being seen so have had to go private unfortunately as the symptoms hae become unbearable :(
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 17th Feb 26
After taking the pill for at least ten years I thought it was time to reconsider my options. Used the Lowdown to eventually choose the hormonal coil. Insertion was uncomfortable but nothing unbearable (for me, I know alot of people have had horrid experiences). My periods are very irregular (think maybe four a year and more spotting that bloody). My hormonal state throughout the month is more consistent, no major ups and downs than I used to get on the pill. I couldn't fault this as an option and also not having to remember to take the pill everyday was a huge bonus. Recent changes to the length of time for changing them meant I got an extra two years out of mine. Great long term option if you know you don't want to have children for a large chunk of time. Clicked some sweating and thrush as side effects, but can't be certain they're due to the coil or due to hitting mid-thirties, ha!
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
42 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 17th Feb 26
I'm hypermobile, and over time it has made my symptoms a lot worse despite my levels of exercise to strengthen. I'm now in pain regularly and sometimes struggle to sleep because of it. I've also started having migraines with aura and frequent headaches. Getting it taken out next week. It did however reduce my heavy bleeding to infrequent spotting, but I bled for 9 months straight after having it inserted.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 16th Feb 26
Had kyleena fitted on recommendation from my doctor due to severe painful heavy periods, I have adenomyosis and suspected endo. Insertion was uncomfortable but not excruciating, the cramp lasted a couple of seconds and I was fine. Bleeding started within hours and didn't stop for the duration of use, I was having excruciating pain every day to the point I couldn't walk, feel my legs and awful tail bone pain. I booked an appointment a month later and my doctor said I didn't look well and removed it without me even having to ask. I wish it had worked for me but it just didn't. The removal was fine and gave instant relief.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
50 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 15th Jan 26
I had used the Mirena coil back to back post partum for 9 years very happily but my LEA meant I was only having withdrawal bleeds. After restoring bodyweight and menstruating naturally, I went back for Mirena but was given Jaydess. The insertion was more problematic and that she how I ended up with Jaydess over Mirena. I had irregular and more bleeding for the first 3 months but read the reviews on here to help me persevere. I was “angry” as on Mirena it was always so easy but then I wasn’t actually properly menstruating due to low energy availability (eating disorder) so I drew perhaps FALSE causation on Jaydess being wrong. I have very light but regular periods and my PME is definitely reduced. I’ve had it in a year and am very happy with it and my threads have stayed in place despite roughhousing which wasn’t always the case with the Mirena. I’m in no rush to have to it out even though I turn 50 this year.
Top side effects not reported
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
36 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 13th Jan 26
Had this for adenomyosis and the pain stopped for a while but its back again now so the side affects aren't worth it for me. Having it removed later today
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 13th Jan 26
I love my hormonal coil. I have had no side effects what-so-ever and my bleeding is regular but extremly light, only monthly spotting. I did have ongoing spotting for around the first 6 months but no issue at all since then and the spotting was worth it for the final result of minimal bleeding.
Top side effects not reported
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
40 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 12th Jan 26
Expressed concerns as not very tolerant to pop pills, was told it’s localised so wouldn’t be the same. Insertion caused intense one sided stabbing pain. This cramping then continued for the 6 weeks that I tolerated it, especially after eating. Bleeding and spotting was literally all day everyday. My moods worsened, anxiety went through the roof and I felt horrible! Didn’t have sex at all with it in! Asked to have it removed and gp ignored me. Arranged appointment with sexual health clinic, 4 week wait. You are at their mercy for removal, no control of your own body. Luckily an amazing nurse who could see the distress it was causing me. Instant relief once removed. Mood lifted and amazing not to be bleeding every single day. I couldn’t have waited out the 6 months, if I could I would have removed it myself.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
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