Copper coil (IUD) vs Injection

Need help choosing? Speak to a doctor
Copper coil (IUD)

Add your Copper coil (IUD) review

Injection

Add your Injection review

Overview

Rated 3.5

623 reviews

5 - 10 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.9

315 reviews

Every 2-3 months

Frequency

94% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

Short term

Effect on fertility

Copper coil (IUD) ingredients

Most copper coils are made of a T-shaped frame of polyethylene (plastic) and barium sulphate. Copper wire is wound around the vertical arm.

Injection ingredients

Main hormones in Injection

progestogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

54% no impact on mood

69% heavier periods

63% no impact

75% no impact

75% no impact on skin

Cycle return

44% in 1 month

31% somewhat negative

70% stopped periods

57% lost sex drive

47% gained weight

46% no impact on skin

Cycle return

43% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

There are no benefits that are recognised in scientific research or guidelines for this contraceptive

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Period pain

Try it now

Add your Copper coil (IUD) review

Try it now

Add your Injection review

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Copper coil (IUD) reviews

623 reviews

Copper coil (IUD)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Copper coil (IUD)  

Insertion - worst pain of my entire life Overall experience - very positive. Was able to track my cycle, didnt have to take a pill everyday and no hormonal side effects at all. I got really bad pain AFTER my peirod, which would cause me to feel bloated, tender like peirod cramps and feel tired. Removal was completley fine - a breeze and a mild peirod like cramp

Read more

Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper coil (IUD)  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  16th Aug 26

Copper coil (IUD)  

Liked the coil however my periods were really long and extremely heavy and I became anemic. My partner could feel it too


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper coil (IUD)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4th Aug 26

Copper coil (IUD)  

Periods became heavy which was expected but cramping after insertion was incredibly painful and I was not prepared for the level for pain. I required A&E support with pain relief and examination to ensure it hadn't moved or perforated. The monthly pain had me missing work, almost fainting and squirming in pain. I had to learn pain management every month to be able to work effectively. Around 1 year later I felt in control but around 3.5 years I have experienced even heavier periods and more pain. I felt determined to make this method work as I didn't want to use hormonal contraception again. Cramping and heavy bleeding caused nausea, extreme fatigue and ovulation cramps. Overall, I experienced a lot of discomfort and only a few days out of the month where I felt well. I recently got told my iron stores are VERY low and that explains a lot of the worsening menstruation symptoms due to losing too much blood per month from the copper coil. I'm not going to scored it as terrible as I know others have had no issues using the copper coil and there were times when I felt in control of it. Maybe my age and change in hormones have made my symptoms worse? Or it just sucks, I don't know. Take ibuprofen and paracetamol before your insertion as this will help a lot!!


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper coil (IUD)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Copper coil (IUD)  

Insertion - worst pain of my entire life Overall experience - very positive. Was able to track my cycle, didnt have to take a pill everyday and no hormonal side effects at all. I got really bad pain AFTER my peirod, which would cause me to feel bloated, tender like peirod cramps and feel tired. Removal was completley fine - a breeze and a mild peirod like cramp


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper coil (IUD)  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  16th Aug 26

Copper coil (IUD)  

Liked the coil however my periods were really long and extremely heavy and I became anemic. My partner could feel it too


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Copper coil (IUD)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4th Aug 26

Copper coil (IUD)  

Periods became heavy which was expected but cramping after insertion was incredibly painful and I was not prepared for the level for pain. I required A&E support with pain relief and examination to ensure it hadn't moved or perforated. The monthly pain had me missing work, almost fainting and squirming in pain. I had to learn pain management every month to be able to work effectively. Around 1 year later I felt in control but around 3.5 years I have experienced even heavier periods and more pain. I felt determined to make this method work as I didn't want to use hormonal contraception again. Cramping and heavy bleeding caused nausea, extreme fatigue and ovulation cramps. Overall, I experienced a lot of discomfort and only a few days out of the month where I felt well. I recently got told my iron stores are VERY low and that explains a lot of the worsening menstruation symptoms due to losing too much blood per month from the copper coil. I'm not going to scored it as terrible as I know others have had no issues using the copper coil and there were times when I felt in control of it. Maybe my age and change in hormones have made my symptoms worse? Or it just sucks, I don't know. Take ibuprofen and paracetamol before your insertion as this will help a lot!!


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments


Injection reviews

315 reviews

Injection  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Depo-Provera injection  

I was on it 2+ years, decided to stop as ‘apparently’ you’re not supposed to be on it longer than 2 years. Was not told that, only found out from women in the news with adverse side effects. Positives, periods completely stopped, all side effects along with it disappeared. Negatives, I feel over these years, I have lost all sex drive with my partner and sexual desire in general (self touch also). On reflection, I feel I lost all emotions other than anger, frustration, which became quite difficult in my relationship, almost to the point of breaking (6+ years). To note, you may experience what I can only describe, drug withdrawal symptoms when you come off the injection. I had severe migraines for 72+ hours, hot cold sweats, swollen breasts for a while, really bad fatigue and severe nausea to the point of being sick again and again and again. The rush of hormones was and still is horrific, total mess. Still waiting for a period… however you can be waiting for up to 18 months to bleed, whilst still ovulating and everything else, so be warned. I don’t believe there is any contraception that is truly the best, but I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone. The combined pill was better but you just have to be on top of taking it at the same time everyday, which was an issue for me being a shift worker (not always reliable).


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5th Jul 26

Noristerat injection  

Right now l feel enlargement of breast and my periods are spotting


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  17th Jun 26

Depo-Provera injection  

I’ve been getting this shot ever since my first period and before I started taking it, I was having heavy period cramps and I disliked the constant pain from my period cramps


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Depo-Provera injection  

I was on it 2+ years, decided to stop as ‘apparently’ you’re not supposed to be on it longer than 2 years. Was not told that, only found out from women in the news with adverse side effects. Positives, periods completely stopped, all side effects along with it disappeared. Negatives, I feel over these years, I have lost all sex drive with my partner and sexual desire in general (self touch also). On reflection, I feel I lost all emotions other than anger, frustration, which became quite difficult in my relationship, almost to the point of breaking (6+ years). To note, you may experience what I can only describe, drug withdrawal symptoms when you come off the injection. I had severe migraines for 72+ hours, hot cold sweats, swollen breasts for a while, really bad fatigue and severe nausea to the point of being sick again and again and again. The rush of hormones was and still is horrific, total mess. Still waiting for a period… however you can be waiting for up to 18 months to bleed, whilst still ovulating and everything else, so be warned. I don’t believe there is any contraception that is truly the best, but I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone. The combined pill was better but you just have to be on top of taking it at the same time everyday, which was an issue for me being a shift worker (not always reliable).


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5th Jul 26

Noristerat injection  

Right now l feel enlargement of breast and my periods are spotting


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  17th Jun 26

Depo-Provera injection  

I’ve been getting this shot ever since my first period and before I started taking it, I was having heavy period cramps and I disliked the constant pain from my period cramps


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  17th Jun 26

Depo-Provera injection  

I’ve been getting this shot ever since my first period and before I started taking it, I was having heavy period cramps and I disliked the constant pain from my period cramps


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  9th Jun 26

Depo-Provera injection  

First 3 weeks were fine, I spent first 3 days filled with rage and nausea and a few headaches but fine. First expected period rolled around at 3 weeks in and didn't stop, like at all (day 77 as I write this). About 6 weeks in my mood crashed. As someone who has previously had mental health problems, I was incredibly apprehensive about going on any kind of hormonal birth control because I was scared of side effects. But in order to get my tubes tied, my doctors wanted to see me try this first and everyone reassured me that I was just being paranoid and it wouldn't be as bad as I imagined. Unfortunately it was worse than I imagined. I spent 4 weeks getting progressively more suicidal until I finally went to the doctors (which was its own story) but had to take three Valium a day in order to function and go to work. At the time of writing, I'm 2 weeks out of the 12-week expected window, still bleeding and still suffering mentally but less so and more manageably. This experience has put me off trying any other form of birth control. I had done this to try and reduce PMS symptoms and wish I never had. I was also recommended the mirena coil but didn't like the idea of having to have it inserted or removed if things went wrong/justify myself to a doctor


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  14th May 26

Depo-Provera injection  

I went on the depo injection due to the mini pill making my IBS constipation symptoms worse and the doctor saying this would be better. For first 6 months, no side effects. It did level out my moods and constipation, but it gave me vaginal dryness and a loss of sex drive after 9 months of being on it.


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5th May 26

Depo-Provera injection  

I got with a new partner a few years back and gave this ago as I wanted something I didn’t need to remember to take. I gained weight fast, I had mood changes, my skin broke out badly, my periods were heavier than before. I only ever had one injection then stopped as I no longer needed it and I didn’t like how it made me feel. Unfortunately I had a rare side effect where it stopped my periods/ovulation all together for 12 months I was referred to gynaecology at 6 months and luckily after all the scans everything was normal and by month 12 my cycle returned without needing to be medically induced. This is not a horror story but important that you could react the same or if you are reacting the same please get referred to gynaecology and hopefully your periods will return 🤍


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
46 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  28th Apr 26

Sayana Press injection  

Having used both Depot and Sanaya Press, these are the best method of contraception. No side effect and a huge positive: no periods.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Apr 26

Depo-Provera injection  

This has made my sex life a living hell .I get scared to have sex with my partner since I associate the vaginal dryness with this Depo shot ,the sex is always pain towards the end as there’s not enough lubrication


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  14th Feb 26

Noristerat injection  

This was bad experience my stretch marks even increased and low libido is the worst


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Copper coil (IUD) with other contraceptives

Order online

Order online now

Use our online prescription in under 5 mins

  • No GP appointment needed

  • Free standard delivery

Speak to a doctor

Not sure yet? Speak to a doctor

Schedule an appointment now

87% of women are happier with their contraceptive choice after speaking with one of The Lowdown's doctors

The Lowdown, a Vira Health company

Women's health, reviewed.

Get the best women’s health info in your inbox

You are signing up to receive The Lowdown's latest findings and news in women's health. Your data will be used in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie policy

Built by doctors and experts

Our tools are made by medical professionals for your peace of mind

Our website uses affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click on them