Hormonal coil (IUS) vs Injection
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Overview
Rated 3.5
888 reviews
Every 3-8 years
Frequency
Over 99%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.9
309 reviews
Every 2-3 months
Frequency
94% - 99+%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
Short term
Effect on fertility
Hormonal coil (IUS) ingredients
Main hormones in Hormonal coil (IUS)
progestogen
Injection ingredients
Main hormones in Injection
progestogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with
Adenomyosis
Endometriosis
Heavy periods
Menopause
Period pain
Endometriosis
Heavy periods
Period pain
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Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Hormonal coil (IUS) reviews
888 reviews
Used for 3 - 6 mo
43 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I was very worried about trying this method as I’d not used hormonal contraception before but overall it has been positive. The insertion was quite painful but not unbearable. It took about a week for me to recover, with me having to stop exercise for that time and then slowly increase again. Bleeding has been the most annoying part as my periods are very irregular now (previously they were regular as clockwork) and I have light spotting for up to a week before each period. But it’s getting slightly better each month and I’m hoping I’ll be one of the lucky ones who eventually gets to little or no bleeding at all. I’ve suffered no other symptoms of note.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I've had the hormonal mirena for 14 months now to reduce endometriosis symptoms. My periods have reduced in length (used to be 3 weeks) and happen irregularly and the pain has settled during these. I have however noticed continuous weight gain since I went on it, despite very little changing in my diet and exercise. I've always stayed at a very stable weight and now my breast have nearly doubled in size and my weight in general continues to creep up. I have tried upping my exercise with no improvement in my weight. I'm the heaviest I've ever been, except for pregnancy. It's a huge price to pay for a reduction in endo symptoms. It's very frustrating.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
The insertion process wasn’t pleasant and I found very painful however I will say it was very quick and the pain didn’t last. After leaving the doctors I felt fine apart from a little light headed but that was due to me stressing. The next day if I didn’t know if had it fitted I would be none the wiser as I felt normal and had no issues. Since then I have really liked not having to think about it, I had no periods at all but have started to get a day or so of spotting once a month at the 18 month mark and some light cramps. The only other negative to me is that it’s meant that I now always have to use lube for sex as it’s definitely affected dryness. The best overall contraception I have tried
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
43 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I was very worried about trying this method as I’d not used hormonal contraception before but overall it has been positive. The insertion was quite painful but not unbearable. It took about a week for me to recover, with me having to stop exercise for that time and then slowly increase again. Bleeding has been the most annoying part as my periods are very irregular now (previously they were regular as clockwork) and I have light spotting for up to a week before each period. But it’s getting slightly better each month and I’m hoping I’ll be one of the lucky ones who eventually gets to little or no bleeding at all. I’ve suffered no other symptoms of note.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I've had the hormonal mirena for 14 months now to reduce endometriosis symptoms. My periods have reduced in length (used to be 3 weeks) and happen irregularly and the pain has settled during these. I have however noticed continuous weight gain since I went on it, despite very little changing in my diet and exercise. I've always stayed at a very stable weight and now my breast have nearly doubled in size and my weight in general continues to creep up. I have tried upping my exercise with no improvement in my weight. I'm the heaviest I've ever been, except for pregnancy. It's a huge price to pay for a reduction in endo symptoms. It's very frustrating.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
The insertion process wasn’t pleasant and I found very painful however I will say it was very quick and the pain didn’t last. After leaving the doctors I felt fine apart from a little light headed but that was due to me stressing. The next day if I didn’t know if had it fitted I would be none the wiser as I felt normal and had no issues. Since then I have really liked not having to think about it, I had no periods at all but have started to get a day or so of spotting once a month at the 18 month mark and some light cramps. The only other negative to me is that it’s meant that I now always have to use lube for sex as it’s definitely affected dryness. The best overall contraception I have tried
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Injection reviews
309 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
I got with a new partner a few years back and gave this ago as I wanted something I didn’t need to remember to take. I gained weight fast, I had mood changes, my skin broke out badly, my periods were heavier than before. I only ever had one injection then stopped as I no longer needed it and I didn’t like how it made me feel. Unfortunately I had a rare side effect where it stopped my periods/ovulation all together for 12 months I was referred to gynaecology at 6 months and luckily after all the scans everything was normal and by month 12 my cycle returned without needing to be medically induced. This is not a horror story but important that you could react the same or if you are reacting the same please get referred to gynaecology and hopefully your periods will return 🤍
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
46 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Having used both Depot and Sanaya Press, these are the best method of contraception. No side effect and a huge positive: no periods.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3rd Apr 26
This has made my sex life a living hell .I get scared to have sex with my partner since I associate the vaginal dryness with this Depo shot ,the sex is always pain towards the end as there’s not enough lubrication
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
I got with a new partner a few years back and gave this ago as I wanted something I didn’t need to remember to take. I gained weight fast, I had mood changes, my skin broke out badly, my periods were heavier than before. I only ever had one injection then stopped as I no longer needed it and I didn’t like how it made me feel. Unfortunately I had a rare side effect where it stopped my periods/ovulation all together for 12 months I was referred to gynaecology at 6 months and luckily after all the scans everything was normal and by month 12 my cycle returned without needing to be medically induced. This is not a horror story but important that you could react the same or if you are reacting the same please get referred to gynaecology and hopefully your periods will return 🤍
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
46 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Having used both Depot and Sanaya Press, these are the best method of contraception. No side effect and a huge positive: no periods.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3rd Apr 26
This has made my sex life a living hell .I get scared to have sex with my partner since I associate the vaginal dryness with this Depo shot ,the sex is always pain towards the end as there’s not enough lubrication
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 14th Feb 26
This was bad experience my stretch marks even increased and low libido is the worst
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3rd Feb 26
I would have rated this 5 stars last year. I used to be on the depo jab that had to be done at the doctors but I work 12 hour shifts meaning it was a struggle to attended every 12 weeks. So I was over the moon when I found out about sayana press that I could do myself. I usually do the injection around 11 weeks but the last 3 times I get to 10 weeks and get crippling period pain that completely debilitates me. Even after I’ve done the injection this will continue for about a week afterwards. I’ve never experienced child birth but the pain is horrendous. It will wake me up in the middle of the night, happen at work and is just completely random spouts of unbearable pain until at whatever point doesn’t happen again until I am next at the 10 week mark. I’ve recently learned that it’s a lower strength to Depo-Provera and maybe that’s why however I’m confused as to why it’s only started happening. My gp surgery is useless and it the whole process of going back to having the higher strength at the surgery is going to take some time but being able to do it at home is not worth this horrendous ordeal. I would not recommend switching
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3rd Jan 26
Great if you’re looking to prevent pregnancy with less admin. Having the year’s supply ant home and not needing to see a doctor every few months was handy. Stopped my periods aside from some very minimal spotting and my skin was great - I barely had any spots over the years I was on it. I did feel like I was quite numb emotions wise. I didn’t experience mood swings but it was alarming that I often didn’t really feel anything! My libido was extremely low too.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 1st Dec 25
I experience mood swings, low libido, aura migraine, my face got darker than usual and I stopped seeing my period.
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 18th Nov 25
I had a very bad experience using this contraceptive. Bad moods, bad skin, bad body image, depression, sweating, low libido. Just bad.
Very positive mood
3 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 16th Oct 25
It's a good injection for me, I have been using it for longest time since I was 16 years started to use it. Who recommended it? Clinic nurse.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 11th Oct 25
took some time before i ever come here mainly because i was scared , shy , & hated myself for what im about to talk about here❤️ trust me when i say it’s hard ( im even trying not to cry ) shap so i started my pregnancy prevention journey this year on April it’s been 6 months now & never missed even a single dose (big ups!!) Starting it was so fun & games bcs i would notice some changes & that for me was a game changer bcs I’ve always wanned to gain weight so badzzzz ( i lost weight before so starting this journey for me was a bounce back ) may started eating a lot!! , June my periods desappeared July i got some pimples , august i experienced painful headaches, September my mood swings would change here & there & all that came unoticed to me because that one thing I’ve always wanned does not happen im not gaining still , bro im so drained i feel like it’s so useless for me to inject i don’t know but yeah hey i just hope god pulls through im even thinking of leaving it
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
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