Hormonal coil (IUS) vs Implant

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Hormonal coil (IUS)

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Implant

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Overview

Rated 3.5

881 reviews

Every 3-8 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

628 reviews

Every 3 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Hormonal coil (IUS) ingredients

Main hormones in Hormonal coil (IUS)

progestogen


Implant ingredients

Main hormones in Implant

progestogen

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

37% somewhat negative

49% irregular periods

49% lost sex drive

40% gained weight

55% no impact on skin

Cycle return

31% in 1 month

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Adenomyosis

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Menopause

Period pain

Heavy periods

Ovulation pain

Period pain

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Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Hormonal coil (IUS) reviews

881 reviews

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

Read more

Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mirena coil  

After taking the pill for at least ten years I thought it was time to reconsider my options. Used the Lowdown to eventually choose the hormonal coil. Insertion was uncomfortable but nothing unbearable (for me, I know alot of people have had horrid experiences). My periods are very irregular (think maybe four a year and more spotting that bloody). My hormonal state throughout the month is more consistent, no major ups and downs than I used to get on the pill. I couldn't fault this as an option and also not having to remember to take the pill everyday was a huge bonus. Recent changes to the length of time for changing them meant I got an extra two years out of mine. Great long term option if you know you don't want to have children for a large chunk of time. Clicked some sweating and thrush as side effects, but can't be certain they're due to the coil or due to hitting mid-thirties, ha!


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mirena coil  

After taking the pill for at least ten years I thought it was time to reconsider my options. Used the Lowdown to eventually choose the hormonal coil. Insertion was uncomfortable but nothing unbearable (for me, I know alot of people have had horrid experiences). My periods are very irregular (think maybe four a year and more spotting that bloody). My hormonal state throughout the month is more consistent, no major ups and downs than I used to get on the pill. I couldn't fault this as an option and also not having to remember to take the pill everyday was a huge bonus. Recent changes to the length of time for changing them meant I got an extra two years out of mine. Great long term option if you know you don't want to have children for a large chunk of time. Clicked some sweating and thrush as side effects, but can't be certain they're due to the coil or due to hitting mid-thirties, ha!


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments


Implant reviews

628 reviews

Implant  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Nexplanon implant  

Stopped my periods for the first 4 years then they became heavier - lasting up to 3 weeks


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
14 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  18th Jan 26

Nexplanon implant  

It's my first time on birth control and I get way angrier then I used to but all I'm seeing from my body is positive things


Improved skin

2 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  10th Jan 26

Nexplanon implant  

Was previously on the progesterone only pill but did not want to have to remember it daily. Have had no issues with Nexplanon and had it changed recently after having the first for three years.


Very positive mood

1 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Nexplanon implant  

Stopped my periods for the first 4 years then they became heavier - lasting up to 3 weeks


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
14 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  18th Jan 26

Nexplanon implant  

It's my first time on birth control and I get way angrier then I used to but all I'm seeing from my body is positive things


Improved skin

2 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  10th Jan 26

Nexplanon implant  

Was previously on the progesterone only pill but did not want to have to remember it daily. Have had no issues with Nexplanon and had it changed recently after having the first for three years.


Very positive mood

1 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  27th Dec 25

Nexplanon implant  

I would recommend getting the implant. There has been little to no difference in my body while using it and it has been a positive experience. I did notice my periods have gone from Light and regular every month to continue being light but very irregular and can last anything from 4 days to 3 months at a time. I also had one other negative experience a few weeks into having the implant. (I do think it was just my body adjusting as I haven’t had anything the same since). Where I was continuously being sick for 2 days, There was no signs of me being ill or have eaten anything unusual. I do think the implant has made very little changes to my body. Obviously a 3 month period is annoying but it does end you just need to be patient. I’m coming up to 2 years on my implant so I do feel as though my input is helpful as some people aren’t patient enough to wait out the symptoms like a long period.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
15 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  18th Dec 25

Nexplanon implant  

I got this because I have very bad periods. I’ve had worse cramps then before and they go on for longer however the bleeding is lighter


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
15 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  18th Dec 25

Nexplanon implant  

I got this because I have very bad periods. I’ve had worse cramps then before and they go on for longer however the bleeding is lighter


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  7th Dec 25

Nexplanon implant  

wish i knew got it honestly periods stopped completely so much weight loss rlly bad increase in my mh and mood makes me feel so not me


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  25th Nov 25

Nexplanon implant  

Apart for heavy long periods, I Became mean and short fused. My sex drive is zero. I am less excited and feeling empty. Had the implant for 8 months, the behaviour changes are not settling.I am generally miserable and its damaging my relationship.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  15th Nov 25

Nexplanon implant  

Safest and easiest contraception in my opinion. However does come with lots of side effects as any medication does, it is manageable but irritating at times (headaches, irregular bleeding every month and lower back pain). I also get rashes at the implant site quite frequently and heard this is very common- gets itchy but normal apparently


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  14th Nov 25

Nexplanon implant  

Of all the contraceptives I tried I was most satisfied with the implant. I had mostly no side effects and it stopped my period completely after 1 year (had some spotting irregularly in the first year). It was a very effective method, with painless insertion and changes (had 3 implants in 7 years). I removed it because I wanted to give my body a break before potentially trying for a baby. The main side effect and reason I took off one star is the loss of libido and vaginal dryness. My libido was very low and when I did get into sex, the dryness made things painful. Overall the sensation and pleasure of sex took a hit, but it was manageable. Now that I am off the implant I notice a resurgence in libido and feel more connected to my body and sexual self.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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