Copper coil (IUD) vs Combined pill

As the copper IUD gets so much negative press I wanted to post my genuine positive experience. Initially I was apprehensive to get the coil after hearing so much fear mongering, and so many users saying they had major cramping (perhaps some did), but this wasn't the case for me. I experienced the worst period cramps that I have ever had within the first 7-10 days post-insertion, but it was manageable with ibuprofen + heating pad. Once I got through those initial days it practically subsided (apart from the slight numbness around my cervix from the procedure which healed around the month marker so I recommend taking any kind of sex slowly to avoid worsening it). Between days 10 and my first period I had occasional mild cramps here and there, but after that first period the cramps completely subsided. Fast forward to month 6 I can confidently say that the cramps only occur at normal times of the month (just before or the first days of your period) just slightly more painful but not unbearable. When it came to bleeding side-effects in the first 3 months I never got any spotting between periods and my period came on time but was heavier than usual (more bleeding but the same number of days as without an IUD). However after that 3 month marker I remember the bleeding becoming lighter, to the point now where it is similar if not the same as the amount pre-IUD. In conclusion the IUD has worked great for me, and I barely even notice it now. If you can do visit a sexual health clinic over a GP surgery, as they seem to be more experienced. Please don't let peoples bad experiences put you off, I strongly believe that for 99% of IUD users the bad experiences are based upon people noticing the fine details with their body that perhaps was there before but now that they have the IUD they become a 'worrier'. That every little cramp means something bad. I say that if you have an issue, go and see a professional who's qualified and not ask the internet.

I’ve had no issues since having it put in January 2022. Having it placed was uncomfortable but not painful (I was 22 and not had any children). I was done with the side effects of hormonal contraception and I’m glad I made the switch.

I experienced cramps after having the copper coil fitted, which was to be expected. I was told it could take three months to calm down. After three months I was still experiencing cramps which were much worse than usual so I decided to have it removed.

Took this pill for around 4 months and it was really good, only issue I had with it was that I was getting pretty bad headaches around my period which I'd only started having since going on this pill. I switched to a different pill to try and stop this issue but had a very negative experience with mood swings and it made me realise that Gederel is actually a very good pill and helped with my mood and anxiety - makes the headaches worth it😂

This is the 3rd pill I've tried and unfortunately since being on this one I've had horrible mood swings and been more emotionally down - I'm normally quite a happy bubbly person but this pill has made me quite miserable and leaves me feeling as though I'm not in control of my emotions.

Hormonally numbed me. Kept me very flat with no fluctuations in moods at all. Improved my skin but led to continuous cystitis that often spiralled into kidney infections

VERY mixed emotions about Yasmin. I've been on it for ages, and I'm still on it. yes the boobs grow a lot. at the beginning my mood changes were crazy I thought I was losing my mind. Anxiety and depression symptoms surfaced (mostly anxiety - intense panic attacks), when I didn't have issues with it prior. They're still there but after years of dealing with it I don't notice as much as I used to. I have noticed that water retention is a big issue, as well as increased appetite - it's much harder to lose weight on the pill compared to off it. I also have an extremely lower libido, like crazy low. My skin cleared so fast and i had really bad dermatitis around my mouth and nose, not to mention hormonal acne on the rest of my face - now i get pimples almost never. Also please please be careful when drinking if you've newly started the pill, it made me a lightweight overnight i swear. Also I skip the sugar pills most of the time, only having my period about 3 times a year which is FANTASTIC

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I am one of the happiest people you will ever meet, I’ve always been positive and upbeat and although of course I have down times like anyone I never stay down for long. Within 3 weeks of taking Levest contraceptive tablets I was like a completely different person and I didn’t know what was happening to me, I cried uncontrollable every day, I didn’t want to be here anymore and was actually thinking of ways I could end my life, I was waking up in the middle of the night with a dark pit feeling in my stomach and felt unbelievably low I didn’t know what was happening to me, then it clicked, the only thing I was doing differently to usual was taking the levest pill. I called the GP the next day and they told me to stop taking it immediately, within 4 days I was back to my usual self mentally then I came on the worst period of my life, like a slaughtered animal and so many blood clots. I’ll never take this pill ever again and would definitely warn others about taking it, who’d have thought a simple contraceptive pill could cause so much harm

I guess like any pill it took my body a while to get used to the new hormones, and then after about three months I felt like I’d found the best pill ever! No side effects - or so I thought. I didn’t break out, no major mood swings, periods slowly disappeared, cramps weren’t as bad. Then eventually I realised I have absolutely no sexual desire. This pill has completely obliterated my libido. Ironic since I decided to come on the pill to enjoy my honeymoon without worry of pregnancy. Such a shame as well but I’ll have to come off it.

This pill does what it claims, I noticed some improvement in my skin, I’m prone to mild acne on my chest, back, and face, and those areas have cleared up, which I’m pleased about. However, after 21 days of taking it, there’s a seven-day break, and within two days of that break I experience severe headaches and migraines. They’re often debilitating and leave me bedridden for one to three days. Because of this, I’ve decided to stop taking Yazmin altogether. Everyone reacts differently, but due to the recurring migraines and headaches, this pill just isn’t the right fit for me.

I’ve always struggled with my mental health, and believe I have PMDD. but before starting this pill I’d been in a really good place for quite while, the first few months where okay but then I started to become more emotional, progressing to depression and severe anxiety. I also experienced a lot of UTIs that led to me being on long term antibiotics, this only started when I started the pill. I did eventually learn to manage the utis and didn’t get any in the last couple of months. But in the week leading up to the break I became very dry and itchy down there. All together just a really bad experience with this one

I'd take microgynon over this pill any day. I'm surprised that a lower dose pill has more unpleasant side effects. Bloating, fluid retention, extreme sickness the first couple of days followed by an insatiable appetite on day 3 plus mood swings and just feeling horrendous.