Copper coil (IUD) vs Combined pill
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Overview
Rated 3.5
592 reviews
5 - 10 years
Frequency
Over 99%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.8
2587 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Copper coil (IUD) ingredients
Combined pill ingredients
Main hormones in Combined pill
progestogen
oestrogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with
There are no benefits that are recognised in scientific research or guidelines for this contraceptive
Acne or bad skin
Heavy periods
PMS and PMDD
PCOS symptoms
Period pain
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£From £0.16/day
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Copper coil (IUD) reviews
592 reviews
Used for 12 - 18 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
I used to have fairly light and painless periods and I’m now in agony every month and bleeding through my clothes. I have it time to see if it would settle but it’s been a year so I’ve booked to get it removed and can’t wait.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
I never had acne before but now I constantly have break out, my skin has not been pimple free in 2 years
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
After having children the contraceptive pill didn’t seem to work, I tried various types and had breakthrough bleeding. I decided to try the copper coil. Insertion was so painful but my periods have been regular and through tracking apps I’ve got to understand my cycle and know what my hormones are doing which I quite like.
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
I used to have fairly light and painless periods and I’m now in agony every month and bleeding through my clothes. I have it time to see if it would settle but it’s been a year so I’ve booked to get it removed and can’t wait.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
I never had acne before but now I constantly have break out, my skin has not been pimple free in 2 years
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
After having children the contraceptive pill didn’t seem to work, I tried various types and had breakthrough bleeding. I decided to try the copper coil. Insertion was so painful but my periods have been regular and through tracking apps I’ve got to understand my cycle and know what my hormones are doing which I quite like.
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Combined pill reviews
2587 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Vagina is very dry and sex has become a chore as I also have a low sex drive now
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
This combined pill has been the best one for me that I have tried so far. It hasn’t impacted my mood (as far as I can tell) and I haven’t experienced many negative side effects.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
Overall, Haven’t noticed any changes to mood, it’s definitely made me gain a little bit of weight. However, My period i had when coming off the pill was in one word…. Excruciating. I’ve never had bad period cramps but with this pill my period came out in massive blood clots and it was very very painful.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Vagina is very dry and sex has become a chore as I also have a low sex drive now
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
This combined pill has been the best one for me that I have tried so far. It hasn’t impacted my mood (as far as I can tell) and I haven’t experienced many negative side effects.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
Overall, Haven’t noticed any changes to mood, it’s definitely made me gain a little bit of weight. However, My period i had when coming off the pill was in one word…. Excruciating. I’ve never had bad period cramps but with this pill my period came out in massive blood clots and it was very very painful.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 week ago
Gave me cystitis all the time and even after coming off I keep getting it after seeing a specialist they told me it’s due to the The pill, lowering my oestrogen
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I thought i had gotten on well with Gedarel, didn’t have side effects really and took it continuously to not have periods which only about every 6mnths got beeak-through bleeding, the periods during a pill break were getting heavier each time though. only after coming off it and changing to the mini pill did I realise my sez drive was affected by it as it came back to my normal and my mood felt more stable generally also? The reason for switching was because I had one really bad migrane (and no history of it)
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I started this pill 4 months ago, and i’ve noticed that i’ve bruised a lot, especially on my arms knees legs etc. i had swapped birth controls> from the injection seyena press to the combined pill and the injection, i had no period for the 2 year period i was using, started the pill and have had 2 quite big heavy periods- having a clear out isn’t an issue but the pain i am in is a lot. either way this pill is great whilst using for 4 months+ :)
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I really didn't like this pill. It caused my mood to plummet, and I gained weight on it.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I was prescribed Femodette because I wanted a COC pill that would not cause my mood to worsen. It didn't have any impact on my mood, which is great, but the weight gain I experienced on this pill made me consider alternative methods of contraception.
Increased sex drive
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
my pharmacy moved me to this pill when my previous one was not available. I was hesitent at first but found it lightened my discharge which was always so heavy on my previous pill. I was forced to stop this pill due to unavailbilty but i am currently trying to get it back because after a month back on my old pill i am now seeing how much better this one was for me. I didnt notice the positive changes until i had to go back onto my old one. But if anything that is a good thing to me because it felt natural.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments

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