Hormonal coil (IUS) vs Combined pill
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Overview
Rated 3.5
856 reviews
Every 3-8 years
Frequency
Over 99%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.8
2647 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
856 reviews
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
While I had my Levosert, I liked it. I had mood changes, and cried a lot more than usual, but mostly just leading up to my period so it was manageable. I had recurrent thrush with it, and actually ended up having a prescription for monthly fluconazole tablets. In the end, after around 2 years, my coil slipped into my cervix, and it was incredibly stressful. I had no symptoms that it had slipped down, except my strings were a bit longer than usual. A doctor mistakenly told me it was fine to keep using, but when I later had it checked at a different clinic with ultrasound, they were alarmed that I'd had no symptoms as it was pretty much almost out of my body. I'd essentially been unprotected for about 8 months, and this led to a big pregnancy scare.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
The mirena coil did effectively reduce menstrual bleeding and prevent pregnancy. Due to thickening vaginal discharge I found I was more prone to thrush and also that this had an impact on arousal. I was an advocate for the hormonal coil until I changed to a non hormonal birth control and found that this had elevated my anxiety certain times in my cycle. I am epileptic without seizure control and this was my reason for coming off hormonal methods. Female hormones can trigger seizures in women with refractory epilepsy!
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
Positives: lighter pain free periods, no anxiety over remembering to taking a pill everyday, no changes to mood skin weight etc. Negative: it moved after 11 months and I fell pregnant
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
While I had my Levosert, I liked it. I had mood changes, and cried a lot more than usual, but mostly just leading up to my period so it was manageable. I had recurrent thrush with it, and actually ended up having a prescription for monthly fluconazole tablets. In the end, after around 2 years, my coil slipped into my cervix, and it was incredibly stressful. I had no symptoms that it had slipped down, except my strings were a bit longer than usual. A doctor mistakenly told me it was fine to keep using, but when I later had it checked at a different clinic with ultrasound, they were alarmed that I'd had no symptoms as it was pretty much almost out of my body. I'd essentially been unprotected for about 8 months, and this led to a big pregnancy scare.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
The mirena coil did effectively reduce menstrual bleeding and prevent pregnancy. Due to thickening vaginal discharge I found I was more prone to thrush and also that this had an impact on arousal. I was an advocate for the hormonal coil until I changed to a non hormonal birth control and found that this had elevated my anxiety certain times in my cycle. I am epileptic without seizure control and this was my reason for coming off hormonal methods. Female hormones can trigger seizures in women with refractory epilepsy!
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
Positives: lighter pain free periods, no anxiety over remembering to taking a pill everyday, no changes to mood skin weight etc. Negative: it moved after 11 months and I fell pregnant
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Combined pill reviews
2647 reviews
Used for 3 - 5 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
Been taking for around 4 years, almost flawless except totally ruined any sex drive/libido and that sucks so bad. Great for skin though and regulating periods/lighter periods, which is why I went on it in the first place👍🏼
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
This is my second month with this pill. In the first 2 weeks, I was constantly bloated and had small cramps in my stomach a few hours after taking it, also I was ALWAYS hungry, so I ended up gaining more than 5 pounds in that time. I changed to this pill in hopes of getting back some of my sex drive, which went nonexistent on Yasmin and Eloine, also I hoped it would improve my mood a bit, as I felt moody, anxious and depressed while taking the previous pills. It may have stabilised my mood a bit as I experience less intense PMS symptoms, but my overall mood is still low all the time, and it did not help with my libido either. Another downside for me is the heavy bleeding I get on the break, on the other pills I had very light periods, but now it is like a normal period with cramps and blood knots. I also get headaches in the pill break, which is unusual for me. I did not experience too much change regarding my skin, maybe a couple more spots but nothing crazy.
Worse skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
Been taking for around 4 years, almost flawless except totally ruined any sex drive/libido and that sucks so bad. Great for skin though and regulating periods/lighter periods, which is why I went on it in the first place👍🏼
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
This is my second month with this pill. In the first 2 weeks, I was constantly bloated and had small cramps in my stomach a few hours after taking it, also I was ALWAYS hungry, so I ended up gaining more than 5 pounds in that time. I changed to this pill in hopes of getting back some of my sex drive, which went nonexistent on Yasmin and Eloine, also I hoped it would improve my mood a bit, as I felt moody, anxious and depressed while taking the previous pills. It may have stabilised my mood a bit as I experience less intense PMS symptoms, but my overall mood is still low all the time, and it did not help with my libido either. Another downside for me is the heavy bleeding I get on the break, on the other pills I had very light periods, but now it is like a normal period with cramps and blood knots. I also get headaches in the pill break, which is unusual for me. I did not experience too much change regarding my skin, maybe a couple more spots but nothing crazy.
Worse skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 week ago
I’ve been using Lizinna for just over 8 months. Started taking due to my PMS symptoms so I take 3 packs back to back then a break. I notice around the 3rd pack my mood is impacted negatively, and I know it’s time for a break. I haven’t spotted using this pill, I don’t get as many spots and if I do they don’t last as long and my general mood is better than before. I have gained 1+ stone in weight in the 8 months of using this pill. I haven’t been moving significantly less or eating significantly more so there is no other change than starting this pill. It is effecting me quite a bit as it is sending my body image down the swanny. I guess the pros outweigh the cons (pardon the pun)
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
My skin has got worse with this pill and I will be changing, however my mood has been a lot better.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Overall a good pill and much better than countless others I’ve tried in the past. Migraines are worst for me I’ve been experiencing them more than ever whilst being on this pill.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Eloine completely cleared up the acne I had for 6 years! I would definitely reccomend it, although I will say that when I first started using it I had very intense mood swings but I think that’s normal due to the hormone change.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Lost my sex drive, every birth control I’ve been on has this effect on me. The biggest change I noticed is I was so hungry on this, I was bingeing yet before I took it I had great self control and was working out. It makes me feel like I’ve got early pregnancy symptoms which isn’t good for when you worry about it. I get nausea a lot and cravings, I don’t know for sure if it’s this pill but it started about 4 weeks after I started on the pill and I’ve never had anything like this before except for when I was pregnant
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
From the ages of 15-20 I took Yasmin for my acne and I remember it was wonderful for my skin, hair and lightening of periods. My moods were a bit erratic and I was always teary, but I could contribute some of that to puberty/developmental years. Fast forward 13 or so years and I’ve restarted the pill, and decided on Yasmin. The first two weeks on Yasmin have been absolute hell. The main and so far only issue has been nausea which has been extreme. I’ve taken the pill in the morning with food, then in the evening with food. No matter what, I wake up feeling extremely sick and I have to take anti-nausea tablets (dramamine) to get me through the day. Considering I’ve not been on hormonal oral contraceptives in years, I’m trying to ride out the first month and see if it gets better, but for now I’m seriously nauseous with tender boobs and a teary mood, and considering quitting. It’s a shame as I feel the skin benefits and lighter periods historically were worth it.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
From the ages of 15-20 I took Yasmin for my acne and I remember it was wonderful for my skin, hair and lightening of periods. My moods were a bit erratic and I was always teary, but I could contribute some of that to puberty/developmental years. Fast forward 13 or so years and I’ve restarted the pill, and decided on Yasmin. The first two weeks on Yasmin have been absolute hell. The main and so far only issue has been nausea which has been extreme. I’ve taken the pill in the morning with food, then in the evening with food. No matter what, I wake up feeling extremely sick and I have to take anti-nausea tablets (dramamine) to get me through the day. Considering I’ve not been on oral contraceptives in years, I’m trying to ride out the first month and see if it gets better, but for now I’m seriously unwell and considering quitting. Shame as I feel the skin benefits and lighted periods generally are well worth it.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments

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