Hormonal coil (IUS) vs Combined pill
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Overview
Rated 3.5
906 reviews
Every 3-8 years
Frequency
Over 99%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.8
2808 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
906 reviews
Used for 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
This coil gave me really dreadful mood swings from ovulation time through to the start of my period. I felt really low and anxious, irritable with family, almost irrational about certain things, constantly crying, and passively suicidal. This persisted for around 8 months including months where I didn't have anything difficult/stressful going on personally. It clearly correlated with my cycle, and within a week of having it removed I felt like myself again. I know the hormonal coils work really well for some people - I have lots of friends who use them with no issues. But for whatever reason I am generally quite sensitive to medications and really noticed an effect from this coil. I've gone back to the copper coil which does make periods heavier, but I will take that over the mood destabilisation
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 31st Aug 26
for me it works great, but i have a feeling my sex drive changed plus also the intensity of my orgasm. But you know I cannot tell for sure that the coil is the causing this..
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 26th Aug 26
Positive - first one for 5 years, protected against pregnancy, stopped periods after about 18 months so saved money on tampons. No significant side effects initially. Set and forget method was great. Negatives - I found the fitting incredibly painful. When I had it changed after 5 years the reinsertion was traumatic and I won't have it again. I suffered with mouth ulcers every month that got progressively worse over time. My mood wasn't bad but it was overall flattened. The new one never settled and I had problems with the threads travelling upwards, I found medical staff across the board (GP, clinic, hospital for ultrasound) very uninterested when I had issues after fitting which was difficult because I was frightened of possible consequences if it moved or they couldn't get the threads to remove it. I have honestly never had thrush so much in my life as I did when I was on kyleena. Noticed more and darker body hair over time.
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
This coil gave me really dreadful mood swings from ovulation time through to the start of my period. I felt really low and anxious, irritable with family, almost irrational about certain things, constantly crying, and passively suicidal. This persisted for around 8 months including months where I didn't have anything difficult/stressful going on personally. It clearly correlated with my cycle, and within a week of having it removed I felt like myself again. I know the hormonal coils work really well for some people - I have lots of friends who use them with no issues. But for whatever reason I am generally quite sensitive to medications and really noticed an effect from this coil. I've gone back to the copper coil which does make periods heavier, but I will take that over the mood destabilisation
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 31st Aug 26
for me it works great, but i have a feeling my sex drive changed plus also the intensity of my orgasm. But you know I cannot tell for sure that the coil is the causing this..
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 26th Aug 26
Positive - first one for 5 years, protected against pregnancy, stopped periods after about 18 months so saved money on tampons. No significant side effects initially. Set and forget method was great. Negatives - I found the fitting incredibly painful. When I had it changed after 5 years the reinsertion was traumatic and I won't have it again. I suffered with mouth ulcers every month that got progressively worse over time. My mood wasn't bad but it was overall flattened. The new one never settled and I had problems with the threads travelling upwards, I found medical staff across the board (GP, clinic, hospital for ultrasound) very uninterested when I had issues after fitting which was difficult because I was frightened of possible consequences if it moved or they couldn't get the threads to remove it. I have honestly never had thrush so much in my life as I did when I was on kyleena. Noticed more and darker body hair over time.
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Combined pill reviews
2808 reviews
Used for 12 - 18 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
I only stopped this method because I started getting migraines with aura, if this didnt happen I would've happily continued taking this method of birth control. when I did have breaks from it the 'periods' were light and minimal cramping, which was much better than what I had before. If I chose to have no breaks I had no periods or bleeding at all. there was a decrease in my libido which only really affected my initiation, as I wouldn't initiate sex myself but would still engage in it happily if my boyfriend initiated. however this was something we both noticed, I also stopped being as horny as I used to be so, which I didn't massively mind but it was definitely a change. this method did make me notice my migraine a lot more which is what led me to changing it however I did have these migraines previously. I did experience weight gain however I dont have the best diet so could be completely unrelated.
Improved skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 week ago
I was having very irregular, heavy, long periods to the point I became aneamic. This really helped bring it under control, it was great at first. With time I noticed I didn’t feel like myself, I couldn’t experience happiness like normal, I had put on weight, I was getting gut issues like reflux and sensitivity, my hair had thinned, my libido was gone and I was dry even when aroused. I stopped the pill and all these issues fixed themselves after about 6 months but now my periods are irregular again.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Switched from Yasmin to Qlaira safe to say i’m going back to Yasmin. I have been on Qlaira for about a month, it was fine up until i realised near the end of the pack I began feeling extremely “crazy” and depressed, my emotions were too much and extreme like an emotional rollercoaster, I also noticed so much of my hair shedding, it made my hair thin, avoid if you don’t want to risk your hair falling out and if you want to keep your sanity.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
I only stopped this method because I started getting migraines with aura, if this didnt happen I would've happily continued taking this method of birth control. when I did have breaks from it the 'periods' were light and minimal cramping, which was much better than what I had before. If I chose to have no breaks I had no periods or bleeding at all. there was a decrease in my libido which only really affected my initiation, as I wouldn't initiate sex myself but would still engage in it happily if my boyfriend initiated. however this was something we both noticed, I also stopped being as horny as I used to be so, which I didn't massively mind but it was definitely a change. this method did make me notice my migraine a lot more which is what led me to changing it however I did have these migraines previously. I did experience weight gain however I dont have the best diet so could be completely unrelated.
Improved skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 week ago
I was having very irregular, heavy, long periods to the point I became aneamic. This really helped bring it under control, it was great at first. With time I noticed I didn’t feel like myself, I couldn’t experience happiness like normal, I had put on weight, I was getting gut issues like reflux and sensitivity, my hair had thinned, my libido was gone and I was dry even when aroused. I stopped the pill and all these issues fixed themselves after about 6 months but now my periods are irregular again.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Switched from Yasmin to Qlaira safe to say i’m going back to Yasmin. I have been on Qlaira for about a month, it was fine up until i realised near the end of the pack I began feeling extremely “crazy” and depressed, my emotions were too much and extreme like an emotional rollercoaster, I also noticed so much of my hair shedding, it made my hair thin, avoid if you don’t want to risk your hair falling out and if you want to keep your sanity.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
No major side effects that I can think of. Its the only pill that did not make me feel irritated for the whole 28 days after having my two babies.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I absolutely love this pill! It’s honestly the best one I’ve ever been on. I experienced very mild, temporary changes at the start which passed quickly - nothing troublesome at all. And best of all my moods haven’t changed like they have on previous combined pills I’ve tried, which is life changing. My withdrawal bleeds are regular and predictable which is a bonus. Overall, my experience has been really positive :)
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
Painful sex painful vagina, pain when peeing, constipation, no sex drive, low mood, achey legs, insomnia, generally felt rubbish
Worse skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
After having not been on any birth control for two years, I went to my GP to get a prescription for a new bc. I had previously been on Yasmin for 9 years but due to getting recurrent minor thrush, I was wondering if a different pill could avoid that side effect. They prescribed me Rigedevon and my god, I can’t believe how awful it was. My skin that very rarely breaks out became covered in acne, my mood went through the floor and I felt miserable about everything. My GP had suggested me to stick the pill out for two months but I never had any side effects even close to being this bad on Yasmin, I’ve stopped it after one month. NEVER AGAIN
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 8+ yr
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
This pill was amazing for my skin, it looked amazing and as a result I also had less greasy hair! I was on it for many years but went off as I no longer needed birth control. One side effect I found annoying was I seemed to get recurrent thrush, even when I was abstinent. This completely went away when I was off the pill. Aside from that, this pill was pretty good
Improved skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 12th Sep 26
I was on yasmin for 3 years, my first pill when i was freshly 16 and it was PERFECT. My skin cleared, breasts got bigger, i had a slightly heavier period but nothing over the top. I then came off it for 4 months before deciding i wanted to start again. This is where the issues started, I did 4 months and was genuinely evil, i felt like i was 13 again. I’m not a crier and i was bawling over absolutely everything, almost tantrum level crying. I was lashing out at everyone, and was just overall a mess. My skin also started breaking out badly, and i’ve now had to swap to a new pill(millinette)
Very negative mood
2 more effects
1 helpful
1 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 9th Sep 26
After my bad experience with a different pill, the doctors put me onto a lower dose in August and felt fine, now it’s September (my 2nd month) and it didn’t come until a couple of days, but I feel fatigued during the day and exhausted.
Improved skin
1 helpful
1 comments

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