Copper coil (IUD) vs Male condom
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Overview
Rated 3.5
617 reviews
5 - 10 years
Frequency
Over 99%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 4.1
67 reviews
During or before sex
Frequency
82% - 98%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Copper coil (IUD) ingredients
Male condom ingredients
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
Protects against STIs
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Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Copper coil (IUD) reviews
617 reviews
Used for 12 - 18 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Before having the copper coil, I’d tried all other forms of contraceptives. I got to a point where I felt, even though the copper coil would cause more heavier and painful periods, it was non hormonal so thought it was my old option (hormones really don’t suit me) The insertion was pretty bad I won’t lie but when it’s done it’s done! I never could feel my threads and my periods went from 5 days to 10 days. I went from being someone with light periods to unbelievably heavy; to the point I was wearing period knickers with two overlapped night pads for two of the days. The nurses said after 6 months my body would adjust and the bleeding would settle down. They started me on TXA as my ferretin and iron became low. To cut a long story short the bleeding never settled and I was still having ten day long periods. It was a horrible 12 months as I felt the majority of the time I was on a period and doing daily tasks or working proved very very hard some days. I became anaemic and would spend a lot of money on supplements alongside the prescribed iron. The anaemic led to a lower moon, zero sex drive, ravinous appetite and tiredness. I know they say research shows a small percentage gain weight on it and I was one of them. But they always like to say it’s others things like lifestyle. For me I was certain it was the coil due to the anaemia it causes. I’m 155cm and weigh 8 stone 3. I’ve always been that weight and I go to the gym 3-5 days a week, probably twice a week since the coil. I gained a stone in that year.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 31st Mar 26
Brain fog ,Acne , weight gain , tender and painful breasts all the time as a result , extremely heavy periods, although it's non hormonal doesn't mean no side effects , be careful when considering " non hormonal contraception"
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 27th Mar 26
Very frustrated with the copper coil, if it didn't make my periods so heavy and painful I would continue as there has been no other issues you would likely see in a hormonal contraceptive. If you can manage 2 weeks every month in a lot of pain, then it's worth it for the other two when I'm fine and no mood changes
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Before having the copper coil, I’d tried all other forms of contraceptives. I got to a point where I felt, even though the copper coil would cause more heavier and painful periods, it was non hormonal so thought it was my old option (hormones really don’t suit me) The insertion was pretty bad I won’t lie but when it’s done it’s done! I never could feel my threads and my periods went from 5 days to 10 days. I went from being someone with light periods to unbelievably heavy; to the point I was wearing period knickers with two overlapped night pads for two of the days. The nurses said after 6 months my body would adjust and the bleeding would settle down. They started me on TXA as my ferretin and iron became low. To cut a long story short the bleeding never settled and I was still having ten day long periods. It was a horrible 12 months as I felt the majority of the time I was on a period and doing daily tasks or working proved very very hard some days. I became anaemic and would spend a lot of money on supplements alongside the prescribed iron. The anaemic led to a lower moon, zero sex drive, ravinous appetite and tiredness. I know they say research shows a small percentage gain weight on it and I was one of them. But they always like to say it’s others things like lifestyle. For me I was certain it was the coil due to the anaemia it causes. I’m 155cm and weigh 8 stone 3. I’ve always been that weight and I go to the gym 3-5 days a week, probably twice a week since the coil. I gained a stone in that year.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 31st Mar 26
Brain fog ,Acne , weight gain , tender and painful breasts all the time as a result , extremely heavy periods, although it's non hormonal doesn't mean no side effects , be careful when considering " non hormonal contraception"
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 27th Mar 26
Very frustrated with the copper coil, if it didn't make my periods so heavy and painful I would continue as there has been no other issues you would likely see in a hormonal contraceptive. If you can manage 2 weeks every month in a lot of pain, then it's worth it for the other two when I'm fine and no mood changes
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Male condom reviews
67 reviews
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 16th May 25
Somewhat positive mood
3 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 4th Nov 24
me and my partner have always had problems with using condoms from durex, but now trying skyns condoms, i will never go back. They don’t have that weird smell and me nor my partner could even feel as if it was there! 100% recommend
Very positive mood
2 more effects
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 16th May 25
Somewhat positive mood
3 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 4th Nov 24
me and my partner have always had problems with using condoms from durex, but now trying skyns condoms, i will never go back. They don’t have that weird smell and me nor my partner could even feel as if it was there! 100% recommend
Very positive mood
2 more effects
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 8th Mar 24
You would need a lot of lube as it is not naturally liberated.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 23rd Feb 24
I have no problem apart from feeling friction more quicker then using without a condom.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 21st Feb 24
I am happy using the male condom as it does not effect my hormones nor cause massive physical issues.
Somewhat positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 13th Feb 24
I like to use them because they don’t affect you / if you have had bad experiences with hormonal birth control in the past
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 12th Feb 24
My partner uses a male condom which comes with no symptoms as it is not harmonal. However, I struggle with intense ovulation symptoms that ranges from lower abdominal cramps to spotting in mucus. This started 3 years ago (age 25) and first occurred periodically but for the past year it has been almost every month. The mucosal spotting is not heavy and does not require pads. However, it use to last only 1-2 days but now it extends 3-4 days.
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 8th Feb 24
For me using condoms worked great and I had virtually no complaints during the years I used them.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
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