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

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

43% no impact on mood

47% stopped periods

47% no impact

59% no impact

52% 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

36% 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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£From £0.16/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Hormonal coil (IUS) reviews

856 reviews

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

Levosert coil  

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.

Read more

Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Mirena coil  

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

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Kyleena coil  

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

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

Levosert coil  

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

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Mirena coil  

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

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Kyleena coil  

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

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

Millinette 30/75 pill  

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

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

Microlite pill  

Thrush all the time due to microlite


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Millinette 20/75 pill  

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

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

Millinette 30/75 pill  

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

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

Microlite pill  

Thrush all the time due to microlite


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Millinette 20/75 pill  

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

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

Lizinna pill  

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

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

Lizinna pill  

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

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

Lucette pill  

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

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Eloine pill  

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

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

Gedarel 30/150 pill  

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

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

Yasmin pill  

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

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

Yasmin pill  

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

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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