Hormonal coil (IUS) vs Combined pill
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Overview
Rated 3.5
814 reviews
Every 3-8 years
Frequency
Over 99%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.8
2559 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
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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£From £0.16/day
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Hormonal coil (IUS) reviews
814 reviews
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I found that when I got it inserted I had a light, almost discharge like period for 3 months and then once that finally went, I started having irregular periods and and someone whose always had regular periods this was infuriating. The reason I went on was for period pain and I found the pills, both mini and progesterone only, made my mood drop in terms of I was always angry and anxious and my general body image went on a downward spiral. I had no issues with the mirena up until about 3 months ago when all of this started happening again. I’m hoping this will help for others in my situation
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
Never having to worry about condoms is such a great plus. I had a lot of pain in the first six months and three 11+ day periods. Afterwards, my periods have stopped totally and I only get the occasional cramp, akin to an ovulation cramp. My libido has decreased slightly and my breast have gotten bigger. Overall it’s been a great help in my sex life
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 15th Mar 25
At first all the skin problems I got from it scarred me. But I first started Jaydesss becuse of extremely painfull periods. This absolutely helped, I mostly lost my period which I thought I will never be lucky enough to experience in my life. The skin problems got a bit less annoying and extreme after I lost my periods. But at first I had really painfull pimples all over me - my face, chest, back, especially back on y neck and under my hair - on my head (i never had that before ever). Later I only experienced a few shoulder and face pimples. Since my period is gone, my back pain and cramps are gone completely. I am so happy and I feel like I no longer have to fight a battle with my body every month. I am a happier person, I feel mentally healthier. Before that I was scarred what the month will bring with body pain and how I will hide blood stain that was everywhere, ruining my clothes, bedsheets, even towels. There was so much blood and now there is none and I feel lucky :)
Worse skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I found that when I got it inserted I had a light, almost discharge like period for 3 months and then once that finally went, I started having irregular periods and and someone whose always had regular periods this was infuriating. The reason I went on was for period pain and I found the pills, both mini and progesterone only, made my mood drop in terms of I was always angry and anxious and my general body image went on a downward spiral. I had no issues with the mirena up until about 3 months ago when all of this started happening again. I’m hoping this will help for others in my situation
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
Never having to worry about condoms is such a great plus. I had a lot of pain in the first six months and three 11+ day periods. Afterwards, my periods have stopped totally and I only get the occasional cramp, akin to an ovulation cramp. My libido has decreased slightly and my breast have gotten bigger. Overall it’s been a great help in my sex life
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 15th Mar 25
At first all the skin problems I got from it scarred me. But I first started Jaydesss becuse of extremely painfull periods. This absolutely helped, I mostly lost my period which I thought I will never be lucky enough to experience in my life. The skin problems got a bit less annoying and extreme after I lost my periods. But at first I had really painfull pimples all over me - my face, chest, back, especially back on y neck and under my hair - on my head (i never had that before ever). Later I only experienced a few shoulder and face pimples. Since my period is gone, my back pain and cramps are gone completely. I am so happy and I feel like I no longer have to fight a battle with my body every month. I am a happier person, I feel mentally healthier. Before that I was scarred what the month will bring with body pain and how I will hide blood stain that was everywhere, ruining my clothes, bedsheets, even towels. There was so much blood and now there is none and I feel lucky :)
Worse skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Combined pill reviews
2559 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
I have been on 3 different pills 10 years ago of which the last one was a pill prescribed for acne, before I decided to switch to a non-hormonal IUD, which resulted into heavy-flow periods that looked like someone had stabbed me everytime I got my period. I never had a heavy flow period but the copper IUD definitely increased this. After 2 years, I switched to the hormonal IUD Mirena and no complaints except that my hormonal acne is still present. I actually lost weight and no more periods. I went to my Gyno to ask for a solution against my acne and she prescribed the Yasmin pill. I took it and stopped after 9 days because I got super lethargic, emotional and cried almost every day, I started getting cystic acne even though I never had any cystic acne before, but a few small pimples on my jawline & chin. My breast were tender and in pain, I felt nauseous and I got 4 headaches in 9 days. Generally I don't get 5 headaches, maybe a maximum of 3-5 per year and that's it and my breasts are tender & in pain only when I am on my period. Needless to say that, I was not willing to go through the 3-month period with these symptoms just to see if my acne can disappear. I feel like there is no miracle solution and that's the most difficult to accept. My dermatologist prescribed spironolactone for my acne, which apparently has similar effects than the pill in terms of acne, without all the side effects.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
I started taking Dianette as my first ever contraception pill. It is a combined pill which gives me migraines for a period of time. I was told to stop using it immediately as it put me at an increased risk of having blood clots and stroke. Now I am left not knowing what to do. Overall it did not give me any other side effect and I see a big difference on my skin. It is just me having a reaction to estrogen-related pills.
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
Worked really great for many years. Still had the ocassionally leg cramp, and my breast started to be really tender. After some years I got panic attacks and anxiety. Quit the pill in june 2023, still strugeling with panic and anxiety at times
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
I have been on 3 different pills 10 years ago of which the last one was a pill prescribed for acne, before I decided to switch to a non-hormonal IUD, which resulted into heavy-flow periods that looked like someone had stabbed me everytime I got my period. I never had a heavy flow period but the copper IUD definitely increased this. After 2 years, I switched to the hormonal IUD Mirena and no complaints except that my hormonal acne is still present. I actually lost weight and no more periods. I went to my Gyno to ask for a solution against my acne and she prescribed the Yasmin pill. I took it and stopped after 9 days because I got super lethargic, emotional and cried almost every day, I started getting cystic acne even though I never had any cystic acne before, but a few small pimples on my jawline & chin. My breast were tender and in pain, I felt nauseous and I got 4 headaches in 9 days. Generally I don't get 5 headaches, maybe a maximum of 3-5 per year and that's it and my breasts are tender & in pain only when I am on my period. Needless to say that, I was not willing to go through the 3-month period with these symptoms just to see if my acne can disappear. I feel like there is no miracle solution and that's the most difficult to accept. My dermatologist prescribed spironolactone for my acne, which apparently has similar effects than the pill in terms of acne, without all the side effects.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
I started taking Dianette as my first ever contraception pill. It is a combined pill which gives me migraines for a period of time. I was told to stop using it immediately as it put me at an increased risk of having blood clots and stroke. Now I am left not knowing what to do. Overall it did not give me any other side effect and I see a big difference on my skin. It is just me having a reaction to estrogen-related pills.
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
Worked really great for many years. Still had the ocassionally leg cramp, and my breast started to be really tender. After some years I got panic attacks and anxiety. Quit the pill in june 2023, still strugeling with panic and anxiety at times
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
It went smoothly in the start. No side effects other than weight gain. Slowly the mood startet to be affected. I startet to swear more and react more angrily towards situations and people around me. Felt almost like I was a child and could not contain myself. My husband told me I had to get of because I was horrible to live with. The anger subsided when I stopped
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
I essentially started crying almost every day and couldn't fully function like normal because of how low my mood was. I took it for bad period cramps and it definitely helped with this but had to get off it because of the effect on my mood
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 week ago
I had a heavy painfull n long period after usage so i stoped it after 8 days but im still bleeding with pain after 2 weeks
Very negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I’ve tried 10+ pills all with various side effects and haven’t found one I’ve been happy with. I was on the Evra patch until recently but found that it had affected my anxiety a lot so i stopped using it. I started on Norimin as I’ve tended to tolerate higher dose pills better historically. I’m not thrilled with having to take the pill everyday as I’m very forgetful but it’s been the best one yet. No affect on anxiety yet, my skin has broken out a bit around my chin but nothing too bad. I have definitely gained weight as my appetite has significantly increased and my boobs are a lot bigger and more tender. Best of all, I’m able to skip periods as i have debilitating painful periods. With Norimin, I take it back to back for about 4 months then have a week break. I can have very light spotting about the 2.5 month mark but i don’t mind it at all and it clears up within a week. I’m only using this pill as a stop gap while I decide between the Nuva Ring or the Mirena coil but i’m happy with it for now!
Worse skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
TW: suicidality i have ADHD/PMDD and was also on 50 mg spiro intermittently (i kept forgetting to take it lol). i noticed that the brand was much better than generic at first, but over time i started to become extremely emotionally numb/had a complete loss in sex drive (to the point i thought i was ace) and suicidality due to a complete state of apathy for life. i was just like emotionally disconnected/distant from myself if that makes any sense? like i was a passenger in my own body? i realized i needed to get off once i started to only feel alive or "myself" on the 3-4 days i didn't take the active pills (improved focus, energy, motivation, no depression/anxiety, etc). spiro also messed w my moods in the same way (numb, "robotic," tremendous brain fog, etc), but they both helped my skin ig?
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I was prescribed it as a treatment for possible endometriosis, yet i’ve been on the same period (no stopping) for three months now. It’s constant pain, constantly tired and it’s a never ending story. i just want help.
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
15 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Granted I havent used it for long, i've only noticed positive side effects that I was happy with (Stopped periods, Larger and tender breasts, Better skin) however, I have been having some worse mood swings from time to time, though personally I find that has been managable. So far, I have not been made pregnant after corrcet and consistant use, the pill being my only form of contraception too. Perhaps I just got really lucky with the pill!
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments

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