Gynefix vs Progestogen-only / Mini pill

Overall the IUD is good, but periods are longer, sometimes up until eight days. Also fatigue before period has increased a lot.

After years on the pill and 2 years with a copper IUD, I learnt that I had a small uterus and the reason why my period cramps were so bad with the framed copper IUD was that the arms were jabbing my uterine walls! Therefore when my gyne offered me a frameless device, I was really keen to give it a try. It was very painful getting it inserted as the knot at the top is being inserted into the uterine fundus, however the pain lasted less than when I got the IUD fitted and I had a lot more support during insertion as it’s a more complex procedure. 2 years in and my periods are very regular, I have no pain or spotting in the middle of my period (which I experienced with both the pill and the IUD) and actually period cramps have really really improved from even pre-contraception times. I absolutely LOVE this device and would thoroughly recommend it to anyone. The only drawback is that it’s from a European company and since brexit there have been supply problems so you need to find a trained gyne and make sure they still fit them as I got mine years ago. I really can’t speak more highly of this contraception, I have experienced literally no side effects and only good things!

I got the copper IUD in September, after being on the combined pill for around 10 years, and I’m so glad I did. Let’s start with the insertion, which was a lot better than I expected as I had read lots of negative experiences so I was terrified. I had mine inserted in a sexual health clinic as opposed to a GP surgery which I definitely recommend as I think they’re more equipped for it personally. Comfier chairs/beds, pain relief and staff who carry out multiple procedures every day (compared to my GP who held one IUD insertion clinic a month). A nurse carried out the procedure & a HCSW was present for comfort and to hold my hand. The nurse numbed my cervix with a gel which worked amazingly as I didn’t feel the pinch on the cervix at all. Measuring my cervix and inserting the IUD felt like painful period cramps, which for me was okay as I have had awful period pains in the past and it wasn’t as painful as those. This isn’t to diminish anyone’s painful experiences, but to offer a different experience as everyone is really different. I had some mild cramping for the rest of the day and the day after but nothing that stopped me going about my daily life. I also had quite heavy discharge for around 2-3 weeks after insertion but that settled down and returned to normal. Prior to coming off the pill I had been experiencing extremely painful and heavy withdrawal bleeds which lasted around 7 days and so I was scared of the common side effects of the copper IUD of increased bleeding and pain. However in my experience my pain has almost disappeared completely and whilst my periods are still heavy, they only last around 3-4 days now which is amazing, and using a menstrual cup as helped to manage the heaviness. So for me I think the pill was causing most of my issues. I would definitely recommend the copper coil as hormone free alternative, especially if you’re experiencing issues with the pill after being on it for a long time like I was.

First contraceptive pill I have tried in years. It made me have really bad thoughts and made me feel really depressed so had to come off it. If you live with mental health symptoms, please be weary of this potential side effect.

I was worried about side effects going on to Hana but had zero side effects apart from breast tenderness for the the first two weeks, and a regular period (although slightly lighter and shorter than normal) in week 3. I started seeing some spotting in week 5, I'm in week 7 now and on day 16 of continuous bleeding. It's reasonably light but inconvenient. No PMS symptoms other than the breast tenderness, which started in week 1/2 and is the same as the breast tenderness I got with PMS. I'm going to stick with it for now but if the breast tenderness and continuous bleeding hasn't stopped after 3 months I may give up on it as it's pretty inconvenient.

I was worried about side effects going on to Hana but had zero side effects apart from breast tenderness for the the first two weeks, and a regular period (although slightly lighter and shorter than normal) in week 3. I started seeing some spotting in week 5, I'm in week 7 now and on day 16 of continuous bleeding. It's reasonably light but inconvenient. No PMS symptoms other than the breast tenderness, which started in week 1/2 and is the same as the breast tenderness I got with PMS. I'm going to stick with it for now but if the breast tenderness and continuous bleeding hasn't stopped after 3 months I may give up on it as it's pretty inconvenient.

I have been put on the progestogen-only pill recently after 10 years on the combined pill, because none of my doctors ever bothered asking if I suffer from migraines before :) I have been on it for just over a month and I have not enjoyed it. I feel really, really tired (which is a side effect that is listed as 'uncommon' on the leaflet), not feeling like myself at all and have had some digestive problems with ups and downs of constipation/diarrhoea which I did not suffer from before going on this pill. I also found this pill more of a faff compared to the combined pill, as you have to take it every day at the same time. I normally take it at 9AM but that means that if I am going anywhere early in the morning, I have to take the packet with me. Although mine has a 12-hour window in which it can be taken and it still provides cover, I prefer to stick to the same time for safety. I also do not enjoy the fact that there is no 'guaranteed' bleeding to know that I am not pregnant, and that bleeding can happen at any point, randomly. That does not work with my lifestyle and it made me truly miss my previous combined pill which didn't need too much adjusting to my life. I have not had other major side effects (but then again, I have been on a pill for 10 years), but I have decided that this doesn't suit my lifestyle and I will stop taking it soon. I have invested in a Ladycomp device (99.3% accuracy, same as the pill but without hormones!) and once I finish this packet of pills I will be stopping all hormonal contraception. It's a shame that, for someone who definitely does not want a pregnancy, there aren't many options available but I am glad I found Ladycomp which has the same accuracy as the pill without taking hormones. I hope the Lowdown will start talking about it on their platform soon!! :)

My sex drive is like nothing it’s gone. More spots than before. My cycle length is around 50 days and my period is lasting for 9.

I was on Cerelle for 6 mths which was not working out for me as I had prolonged, frequent irregular periods on it. The doctor suggested changing to Norgeston and it has been great. I have been on it now for 5 months and my periods, although not regular (actually there has been a slightly longer gap between periods, which is nice) have been back to normal length of around 6 days long. In fact better than normal as I’d been getting very heavy periods possibly due to me being perimenopausal. I’ve got lighter periods now that don’t come as often with no bad side effects. Also, a good side effect is that I don’t get feelings of depresssion any more before my period like I used to when not on the pill. I did have a blip recently with bleeding - but it’s because I missed a pill and I bled for 20 days, so I asked my doctor and they told me to take 2 pills a day until the bleeding had stopped for 7 days and this has worked. I recommend this pill!

The POP is quite new to me having been on the Depo for a long time. I was on Lovima to begin with but then the pharmacy gave me this one on my next prescription to begin with things were as normal there didn’t seem much off a change until I started experiencing severe anxiety like I never have before. My heart was racing for no reason and I was in a constant anxious state. I felt like I was going crazy. I called the pharmacy as I was needing a new prescription but asked if I could try a different brand as this one was not agreeing with me and the pharmacist says it sounds more off a pill problem then a you problem which made me feel a lot better as I say I felt I was going crazy. I am now on a different brand off POP so swing how this goes.

I had to switch from my combined pill due to risk of breast cancer and stroke. I loved my previous pill but this one I've had such negative experiences, so anxious and depressed and angry, as well as random bleeding and making my work and home life difficult to cope with. I will not be taking this pill beyond the 3 months prescribed

kept periods at a normal level, just sometimes more frequently. extremely helped cramps, as i suffered very badly with them before. increased sex drive, and has not had much of an effect on my mood. i do have acne but i had acne before, and i can sometimes get rid of it.

Tried this after not wanting to be on the implant anymore without realising it's the same hormone! Anyways, my period got lighter but they lasted 10 days as opposed to 5 days. I gained a good few kilos in weight. Also started having period-like cramps even without being on my period, which was odd. I have recent stopped and will be trying Noriday.