Fertility awareness methods (FAM) vs Hormonal coil (IUS)

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Fertility awareness methods (FAM)

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Hormonal coil (IUS)

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Overview

Rated 4.3

157 reviews

Daily

Frequency

92% - 98%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.5

829 reviews

Every 3-8 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Fertility awareness methods (FAM) ingredients

Fertility awareness methods is an umbrella term for a method of contraception that works by being able to identify when in the menstrual cycle you are fertile through a range of factors.

Hormonal coil (IUS) ingredients

Main hormones in Hormonal coil (IUS)

progestogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

50% very positive

63% no change

50% increased sex drive

82% no impact

59% no impact on skin

Cycle return

64% in 1 month

43% no impact on mood

47% stopped periods

48% no impact

59% no impact

53% no impact on skin

Cycle return

32% 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

Adenomyosis

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Menopause

Period pain

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Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Fertility awareness methods (FAM) reviews

157 reviews

Fertility awareness methods (FAM)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Symptothermal method  

I had been on PoP contraceptive pill for nearly 10yrs, I have also tried CoC's and injection prior. I wanted to learn more about my body and be natural. This method takes a lot of research and understanding in order for it to work and be effective. I read books and watched YouTube videos to educate myself and joined FB/Reddit group. I use an app called read your body to input my temperature and other symptoms to track where I am in my cycle. It is all done manually by me and not relying on a system like natural cycles to do it for me as this is less reliable....Since stopping the pill my libido came back which is great and I feel emotions depending on where I am in my cycle. My Cycle regulated within 2 months after stopping the pill and for the past 3 years I have learned what is normal for me. My cycle is very text book 28 days long on the dot every month, I ovulate on day 15. This method works for me, I haven't gotten pregnant but on the days during my cycle I could get pregnant, we use condoms rather than abstaining. I would say it took me about 6 months to learn and feel confident in this approach.

Read more

Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Fertility awareness methods (FAM)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Apr 25

Natural Cycles App  

I’ve been using NC since 2021, I use to love this app and tell everybody about it until I had sex on a green day and got pregnant. I used to think it would never happen to me as I’ll use the app right. Measured every day and was very religious with the app. However, I ovulated earlier and fell pregnant! The app only goes off previous ovulation compared to current meaning it doesn’t prevent pregnancy as yes you have red days but it’s just a prediction! For example green day on day 6 (had sex) and ovulated on day 10 (red days) and fell pregnant. Ovulated 5 days early! Sperm can live inside you for 5 days hence why I’m pregnant and will be getting an abortion.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Fertility awareness methods (FAM)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5th Jan 25

Natural Cycles App  

I've had an entirely positive experience using Natural Cycles. While using the impant I was struggling with acne, mood swings, irregular periods. And since swapping to use Natural Cycles I've felt much better in myself, my periods are very regular, I feel I understand my body and cycle so much more, and my skin has cleared up. In 5 years of using it it's been 100% effective at preventing pregnancy, I'm very careful to measure consistently, and I use the Oura Ring to help get accurate readings. But this small effort seems like a small price to pay in exchange for getting rid of all the nasty side effects of my previous contraception


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Fertility awareness methods (FAM)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Symptothermal method  

I had been on PoP contraceptive pill for nearly 10yrs, I have also tried CoC's and injection prior. I wanted to learn more about my body and be natural. This method takes a lot of research and understanding in order for it to work and be effective. I read books and watched YouTube videos to educate myself and joined FB/Reddit group. I use an app called read your body to input my temperature and other symptoms to track where I am in my cycle. It is all done manually by me and not relying on a system like natural cycles to do it for me as this is less reliable....Since stopping the pill my libido came back which is great and I feel emotions depending on where I am in my cycle. My Cycle regulated within 2 months after stopping the pill and for the past 3 years I have learned what is normal for me. My cycle is very text book 28 days long on the dot every month, I ovulate on day 15. This method works for me, I haven't gotten pregnant but on the days during my cycle I could get pregnant, we use condoms rather than abstaining. I would say it took me about 6 months to learn and feel confident in this approach.


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Fertility awareness methods (FAM)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Apr 25

Natural Cycles App  

I’ve been using NC since 2021, I use to love this app and tell everybody about it until I had sex on a green day and got pregnant. I used to think it would never happen to me as I’ll use the app right. Measured every day and was very religious with the app. However, I ovulated earlier and fell pregnant! The app only goes off previous ovulation compared to current meaning it doesn’t prevent pregnancy as yes you have red days but it’s just a prediction! For example green day on day 6 (had sex) and ovulated on day 10 (red days) and fell pregnant. Ovulated 5 days early! Sperm can live inside you for 5 days hence why I’m pregnant and will be getting an abortion.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Fertility awareness methods (FAM)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5th Jan 25

Natural Cycles App  

I've had an entirely positive experience using Natural Cycles. While using the impant I was struggling with acne, mood swings, irregular periods. And since swapping to use Natural Cycles I've felt much better in myself, my periods are very regular, I feel I understand my body and cycle so much more, and my skin has cleared up. In 5 years of using it it's been 100% effective at preventing pregnancy, I'm very careful to measure consistently, and I use the Oura Ring to help get accurate readings. But this small effort seems like a small price to pay in exchange for getting rid of all the nasty side effects of my previous contraception


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments


Hormonal coil (IUS) reviews

829 reviews

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Levosert coil  

I had this inserted and I was the worst pain ive ever experienced i kept telling the doctor to stop immediately after I blacked out from the pain kept being sick and it just got worser as the day went on I end up in ane with the same day and had it emergency removed. Never again will I have this would not recommend at all .


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Mirena coil  

I feel like myself, which I cannot say for other forms of BC I’ve used. The weight gain may have more to do with some lifestyle changes, but I enjoy the way my body look regardless. I was able to collaborate with my doctor to find suppositories to help with the dryness during sex and that in turn has helped with my libido. I cannot imagine using another form of birth control.


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Kyleena coil  

I had a Kyleena coil inserted, after 6 months I was still having week long breakthrough bleeds between periods. I had the coil checked and it was in position, no problems according to the doctor. A month later I was pregnant, with the coil still in the correct place. Unfortunately the Kyleena coil didn't work to protect me from pregnancy, caused me to have breakthrough bleeds and have recurrent episodes of thrush.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Levosert coil  

I had this inserted and I was the worst pain ive ever experienced i kept telling the doctor to stop immediately after I blacked out from the pain kept being sick and it just got worser as the day went on I end up in ane with the same day and had it emergency removed. Never again will I have this would not recommend at all .


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Mirena coil  

I feel like myself, which I cannot say for other forms of BC I’ve used. The weight gain may have more to do with some lifestyle changes, but I enjoy the way my body look regardless. I was able to collaborate with my doctor to find suppositories to help with the dryness during sex and that in turn has helped with my libido. I cannot imagine using another form of birth control.


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Kyleena coil  

I had a Kyleena coil inserted, after 6 months I was still having week long breakthrough bleeds between periods. I had the coil checked and it was in position, no problems according to the doctor. A month later I was pregnant, with the coil still in the correct place. Unfortunately the Kyleena coil didn't work to protect me from pregnancy, caused me to have breakthrough bleeds and have recurrent episodes of thrush.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
40 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Mirena coil  

I've not had any significant side effects...so far. But the one thing I don't like is that I struggle to track my period. I don't bleed it bleed very little. Some periods are just spotting. In theory this is great, but the rest of my body is still experiencing a cycle and without the bleeding it can be hard to track. I still try to, but I'm about ready to give up. If you are like me and spent 10 years on the pill, this can feel a bit jarring. I'm on a hormonal rollercoaster that is normal but I'm not really use to it. My cramping is normal compared to before I had coil. I've had acne rosacea crop up and after a year of it I strongly thing it's linked to hormones but not sure how much the coil plays a part (though I did NOT have this before coil, I am also 40 and may be perimenopauseal). Insertion recovery was totally fine. Very little discomfort. However I was undergoing a minor gyno procedure at the same time and as a result got a general! Highly recommend should it be available. Won't lie, not sure I would have the coil again after this one....I'm still not sold in all honesty. It just emotionally felt evasive as a method of BC.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Mirena coil  

Overall my periods were regular but once I got the coil I had very irregular periods and extra cramping. I also have frequent dizzy spells and headaches since it has been inserted. And I've seen an increase in spots and body hair since starting with the coil


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Kyleena coil  

Struggled to fit the Mirena & so fitted the Kyleena instead - potentially leading to an insufficient amount of progesterone as i continued to have irregular bleeding. After about 12 months this settled down and month on month this has lessened and my cycle continued. However, I experienced consistent cramping like I'd never had before and from 15 months onwards severe & debilitating pain about a week before my period. This is why I had it removed.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
41 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Hormonal coil (IUS)  

I experienced irregular periods, major mood swings and no sex drive at all. Would not recommend this at all.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

1 helpful

1 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 8+ yr
36 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Mirena coil  

Insertion isn't pleasant, but once it's in place, there's nothing to do for years! I had my first Mirena coil over 8 years ago and haven't had a period since insertion, only very occasional spotting (maybe once every 3-6months). I know some women like to track their cycle, but I never think about it and prefer it that way! Would recommend.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Mirena coil  

Loved this until I got BV then no treatment would fix it until I got IUS removed


Top side effects not reported

2 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  28th Apr 25

Mirena coil  

The threads disappeared on the first coil so had it changed early (wasn't great as they had to go digging about to find the threads). Had another put straight in at the time thinking it was a one off but the same happened with the second so I had it removed early as soon as I noticed them becoming shorter to avoid the first scenario again and switched to the implant. Great that my periods stopped on it and it's super low maintenance though.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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