Hormonal coil (IUS) vs Combined pill

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Hormonal coil (IUS)

Add your Hormonal coil (IUS) review

Combined pill

£From £0.16/day

Overview

Rated 3.5

882 reviews

Every 3-8 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

2731 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Hormonal coil (IUS) ingredients

Main hormones in Hormonal coil (IUS)

progestogen


Combined pill ingredients

Main hormones in Combined pill

progestogen

oestrogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

43% no impact on mood

46% stopped periods

47% no impact

59% no impact

54% no impact on skin

Cycle return

33% don’t know impact

31% somewhat negative

47% lighter periods

46% lost sex drive

48% no impact

43% improved skin

Cycle return

37% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Adenomyosis

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Menopause

Period pain

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

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Add your Hormonal coil (IUS) review

Try it now

£From £0.16/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Hormonal coil (IUS) reviews

882 reviews

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

Jaydess coil  

I'm on my second Jaydess (been using it for almost 6 years now), before I was on the pill (estrogen+progesterone combination) for about 6 years. Insertion is no fun for me, other than that I can only recommend it. Compared to the pill I have much lighter periods, period pain has significantly decreased (I get a little abdominal discomfort+back pain a day before the start of my period, and that's it). Acne stayed about the same as on the pill. I get a little breast swelling/tenderness for about one week every cycle which I think has slightly increased compared to the pill but isn't so bad. Sex drive and mood stayed about the same, if anything, my mood has become more stable on Jaydess actually (but that could also be attributed to me growing up I guess). Overall I'm satisfied with it

Read more

Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Levosert coil  

I got the coil after having a failed mirena coil. Tried this one for almost 3yrs and didn't think I had alot of side effects, though reflecting on a time where I was not on contraception, I realised it had greatly impacted my moods and caused quite bad acne on my back, which I had never suffered with previous. I also would get debilitating cramps during my periods again which I never suffered with before. Only bonus was my very heavy periods were light, which made them way more manageable. I decided to get it taken out when my moods were having an adverse effect on my relationship and life.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Jaydess coil  

Insertion of the jaydess for me was incredibly painful and i had severe period cramps the days following insertion. Other than that for the first year i had no symptoms other than tender breasts and they had grown from C-DD (no complaints!) and often reccomended it to friends. However, after that i started getting regular thrush. It started off just coming before my period some months but now it is pretty much constant. Treatment only resolves symptoms for a short period and the its back! For this reason ive booked to have it taken out next week. Also the waitlist with my local clinic is so long ive been on it months and am no where near being seen so have had to go private unfortunately as the symptoms hae become unbearable :(


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Jaydess coil  

I'm on my second Jaydess (been using it for almost 6 years now), before I was on the pill (estrogen+progesterone combination) for about 6 years. Insertion is no fun for me, other than that I can only recommend it. Compared to the pill I have much lighter periods, period pain has significantly decreased (I get a little abdominal discomfort+back pain a day before the start of my period, and that's it). Acne stayed about the same as on the pill. I get a little breast swelling/tenderness for about one week every cycle which I think has slightly increased compared to the pill but isn't so bad. Sex drive and mood stayed about the same, if anything, my mood has become more stable on Jaydess actually (but that could also be attributed to me growing up I guess). Overall I'm satisfied with it


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Levosert coil  

I got the coil after having a failed mirena coil. Tried this one for almost 3yrs and didn't think I had alot of side effects, though reflecting on a time where I was not on contraception, I realised it had greatly impacted my moods and caused quite bad acne on my back, which I had never suffered with previous. I also would get debilitating cramps during my periods again which I never suffered with before. Only bonus was my very heavy periods were light, which made them way more manageable. I decided to get it taken out when my moods were having an adverse effect on my relationship and life.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Jaydess coil  

Insertion of the jaydess for me was incredibly painful and i had severe period cramps the days following insertion. Other than that for the first year i had no symptoms other than tender breasts and they had grown from C-DD (no complaints!) and often reccomended it to friends. However, after that i started getting regular thrush. It started off just coming before my period some months but now it is pretty much constant. Treatment only resolves symptoms for a short period and the its back! For this reason ive booked to have it taken out next week. Also the waitlist with my local clinic is so long ive been on it months and am no where near being seen so have had to go private unfortunately as the symptoms hae become unbearable :(


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments


Combined pill reviews

2731 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Rigevidon  

Started on this pill when I was 18, all was well at the start, my skin cleared up and my periods were much lighter/less painful. I then started to not feel like myself and be quite emotionally dull, I started getting headaches on the week off and being more fatigued than normal. Good for those who are looking to lighten periods or reduce PMS


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 days ago

Yasmin pill  

I have found my experience with Yasmin ok. I like that my mood is much better than on other pills and I feel more like myself, but I have completely lost my sex drive and experienced other negative symptoms unfortunately


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Dretine pill  

This is the worst thing I’ve ever done and I’m not exaggerating. Constantly up and down with my emotions, although mostly down and uncontrollable crying a lot of the time. Had a huge panic attack 2 weeks in, had to call 111 as I thought I was having a heart attack. Made me binge endlessly and uncontrollably. Made my muscles ache and made me more susceptible to injuries, and as a regular gymgoer, it significantly affected my training and fitness and I couldn’t understand why, but the longer I was on it, the worse I felt. Decided to come off after 2 months. Would HIGHLY recommend avoiding this pill. It really? really did not agree with me.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Rigevidon  

Started on this pill when I was 18, all was well at the start, my skin cleared up and my periods were much lighter/less painful. I then started to not feel like myself and be quite emotionally dull, I started getting headaches on the week off and being more fatigued than normal. Good for those who are looking to lighten periods or reduce PMS


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 days ago

Yasmin pill  

I have found my experience with Yasmin ok. I like that my mood is much better than on other pills and I feel more like myself, but I have completely lost my sex drive and experienced other negative symptoms unfortunately


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Dretine pill  

This is the worst thing I’ve ever done and I’m not exaggerating. Constantly up and down with my emotions, although mostly down and uncontrollable crying a lot of the time. Had a huge panic attack 2 weeks in, had to call 111 as I thought I was having a heart attack. Made me binge endlessly and uncontrollably. Made my muscles ache and made me more susceptible to injuries, and as a regular gymgoer, it significantly affected my training and fitness and I couldn’t understand why, but the longer I was on it, the worse I felt. Decided to come off after 2 months. Would HIGHLY recommend avoiding this pill. It really? really did not agree with me.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Rigevidon  

It was ok the first couple months but I've started noticing more side effects the longer I've taken it. I get much more muscle aches, especially in my back. My gums bleed randomly during the first week of each cycle and are much more sensitive. My mood is fluctuating more too.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Millinette 20/75 pill  

I’ve been on pills now for about 5-6 years, switched to Millinette from Ridgevidon about 18 months ago. I’ve always had terrible headaches on the pill, but millinette has seemed to decrease them a bit. This pill has made me have a lot more mood swings, loss of feeling and loss of sex drive. While the pill hasn’t been awful, it’s had its ups and downs. I am currently switching to the coil to see if anything changes, otherwise i’m okay with continuing millinette.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Millinette 20/75 pill  

I switched from Ridgevidon to Millinette. Since being on any pill, i’ve had extremely bad headaches. My doctor told me to switch, seeing if a different strength of pill would change anything. While I do think I get less headaches, my sex drive decreased significantly. I also suffer with a lot more brain fog, and just general lack of feeling. Mood swings have definitely increased on the pill, but I notice they’re worse on this one. The pill isn’t an awful choice, it’s had its ups and downs. I’m currently waiting to have the coil fitted to see if there’s any changes.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Drovelis pill  

I have just completed my first month and have absolutely loved the change for me. I was suffering from PMDD for ages before starting, and this has significantly helped my mood disorder and emotional episodes. However I have gotten tender breasts when walking or running, nothing insane. And my discharge! Its so watery and so much. Sometimes I stand up and its like a small pee puddle, anyway, I have had an overall positive experience


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Dretine pill  

I went on this pill to sort out mood swings before my period and it absolutely sorted that out. I only took it for about 3 months though, because I had some dizziness and nausea while I was on it at random times which was bearable but not enjoyable so I switched to a different pill. I now take Milinette 20/75 and the lower oestrogen dose (20 vs. 30 with dretine) sorted out the nausea.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Rigevidon  

I went on the pill to sort out my mood swings on my period - I would get a drop in mood in the week before my period which made me very emotional, but aside from that I normally have very even moods and don't ever experience serious lows. However, a few days into taking Rigevidon i experienced a low I've never before experienced, with honestly no possible external event in my life that might explain it. It was far worse than any mood swing I've ever had, and it lasted about 3 days before I stopped taking the pill entirely. This is not to scare anyone considering taking it (my mum was on this pill for 15 years and loved it!) and it's possible the drop in mood might have evened out if i had taken it for longer, but I wasn't able to stick it out. Both dretine and milinette have done wonders for my mood swings though!


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Millinette 20/75 pill  

Highly recommend. Went on the 20-75 because I've previously had nausea issues on a 30mg (dretine) and I haven't had any nausea problems with this. Cleared up a bit of hormonal acne, no noticeable side effects except a slightly lower sex drive. I take 3 packs back to back and then a break so have some breakthrough bleeding but nothing major and my periods do come regularly when I take the break. I went on it to sort out mood swings and it absolutely sorted that out - now have to come off it and go onto a mini-pill for adenomyosis but I wish i didn't have to!


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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