Hormonal coil (IUS) vs Vasectomy

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Hormonal coil (IUS)

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Vasectomy

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Overview

Rated 3.5

859 reviews

Every 3-8 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.8

8 reviews

Permanent

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

Permanent

Effect on fertility

Hormonal coil (IUS) ingredients

Main hormones in Hormonal coil (IUS)

progestogen

Vasectomy ingredients

A vasectomy (male sterilisation) is a permanent surgical procedure to cut or seal the tubes that carry a man’s sperm. It prevents pregnancy by stopping sperm getting into a man’s semen which is then ejaculated during sexual intercourse.

What Lowdown reviewers say

43% no impact on mood

46% stopped periods

47% no impact

59% no impact

53% no impact on skin

Cycle return

33% don’t know impact

38% somewhat negative

75% no change

50% lost sex drive

88% no impact

100% no impact on skin

Cycle return

Not enough data to say

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Adenomyosis

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Menopause

Period pain

There are no benefits that are recognised in scientific research or guidelines for this contraceptive

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Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Hormonal coil (IUS) reviews

859 reviews

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Hormonal coil (IUS)  

Today I finally had my Mirena coil removed. The insertion and removal went smoothly and were painless. I had the coil for 10 months. During the first 6 weeks, I experienced continuous bleeding. After that, my periods became more regular but were very long up to 10 days and lighter than usual. After a period ended, I had another one a week later for only 3 days, and then the cycle repeated exactly every 28 days. I also had persistent discharge, infections, and cysts, and I even had to have a biopsy due to white spots on my cervix caused by the Mirena. Today, having it removed, I felt immediate relief. I was prescribed desogestrel tablets, so hopefully it will be better, although the pill doesn’t have very good reviews either.

Read more

Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
40 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Mirena coil  

From coil insertion I had issues, it was very painful having it inserted and I had cramps for a weeks. I also got a post coil infection. I would get horrible period pain at that time of the month and my periods would also last longer than before coil. Often had spotting and could always feel there was something there like a pressure (difficult to explain). I also didn’t feel like myself, I didn’t have energy for a long time after the coil insertion. I got thrush and then got a UTI in August which I had for 6 & half weeks and took 5 courses of antibiotics. I finally saw a nurse who said stop the meds and agreed with my decision to have coil removed and said we would monitor it. I had coil removed 29/09 and am still getting the discomfort down there and regularly have a hot bean bag on my lower abdomen. Some days are better than others and this week I have had headaches so I’m not sure if it is linked to coil removal. The nurse will call me for follow up next week and if still getting it she needs to see if it could be pelvic inflammatory disease


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mirena coil  

I liked that it was minimal effort once inserted. My periods were far lighter and less frequently occurring. Because of the thickening of vaginal fluids being part of the mechanism; I found I because much more prone to UTIs after sex and also had lower sexual drive. I came off the Mirena because I wanted to track my cycle accurately to see if my hormones and cycle were affecting/triggering my seizures (I have drug resistant epilepsy). When I came off the Mirena I found I was less anxious over the months following swapping to the copper coil I.e. non hormonal. This had not been a concern of mine when on it.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Hormonal coil (IUS)  

Today I finally had my Mirena coil removed. The insertion and removal went smoothly and were painless. I had the coil for 10 months. During the first 6 weeks, I experienced continuous bleeding. After that, my periods became more regular but were very long up to 10 days and lighter than usual. After a period ended, I had another one a week later for only 3 days, and then the cycle repeated exactly every 28 days. I also had persistent discharge, infections, and cysts, and I even had to have a biopsy due to white spots on my cervix caused by the Mirena. Today, having it removed, I felt immediate relief. I was prescribed desogestrel tablets, so hopefully it will be better, although the pill doesn’t have very good reviews either.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
40 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Mirena coil  

From coil insertion I had issues, it was very painful having it inserted and I had cramps for a weeks. I also got a post coil infection. I would get horrible period pain at that time of the month and my periods would also last longer than before coil. Often had spotting and could always feel there was something there like a pressure (difficult to explain). I also didn’t feel like myself, I didn’t have energy for a long time after the coil insertion. I got thrush and then got a UTI in August which I had for 6 & half weeks and took 5 courses of antibiotics. I finally saw a nurse who said stop the meds and agreed with my decision to have coil removed and said we would monitor it. I had coil removed 29/09 and am still getting the discomfort down there and regularly have a hot bean bag on my lower abdomen. Some days are better than others and this week I have had headaches so I’m not sure if it is linked to coil removal. The nurse will call me for follow up next week and if still getting it she needs to see if it could be pelvic inflammatory disease


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mirena coil  

I liked that it was minimal effort once inserted. My periods were far lighter and less frequently occurring. Because of the thickening of vaginal fluids being part of the mechanism; I found I because much more prone to UTIs after sex and also had lower sexual drive. I came off the Mirena because I wanted to track my cycle accurately to see if my hormones and cycle were affecting/triggering my seizures (I have drug resistant epilepsy). When I came off the Mirena I found I was less anxious over the months following swapping to the copper coil I.e. non hormonal. This had not been a concern of mine when on it.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments


Vasectomy reviews

8 reviews

Vasectomy  
Used for 8+ yr
58 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1st Jun 25

Vasectomy  

vasectomy is a good form of contraception. There is a lot of good information here: https://vasectomy.co.uk/vasectomy


Very positive mood

0 helpful

1 comments

Vasectomy  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5th Jul 24

Vasectomy  

As a woman the vasectomy is the best contraception I feel we have ever had. I have no pain, weight gain, mood swings, plastic packaging or costs. I highly recommend.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Vasectomy  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5th Sep 20

Vasectomy  

Sept 1998. Had a vasectomy. Easy and quick. Done in the hospital operating room on a Friday morning. Went home And took it easy. Took it easy at work Monday no problems. By Wednesday started feeling pain in testicles. Called doctors office. Doctors gone on holiday. Anyway from this point the pain only gets worse and all the doctors have to say is that they have never seen anyone in such pain. Within the first six months I had met with a variety of doctors and tried a wide variety of drugs, therapies and nerve blocks. Nothing worked for more than a few hours (nerve blocks did!). I had the vasectomy reversed June 1999 at my own cost of $2000. It was about three months before i felt better from that. Sadly only my left testicle had resolved. The right side still had the same pain. I had a semen test done. First ever in my life. I had sperm count of 125 million / ml. Surgeon thought that was great but still pain persisted in my right testicle. Followup turned into another vas reversal but just for the right side. This one I didn’t have to pay for because it was for chronic pain. Sadly it didn’t help. Now it’s 2020! I have endured this for 22 years. I wish I had never done it. That’s my absolute last word.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Vasectomy  
Used for 8+ yr
58 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1st Jun 25

Vasectomy  

vasectomy is a good form of contraception. There is a lot of good information here: https://vasectomy.co.uk/vasectomy


Very positive mood

0 helpful

1 comments

Vasectomy  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5th Jul 24

Vasectomy  

As a woman the vasectomy is the best contraception I feel we have ever had. I have no pain, weight gain, mood swings, plastic packaging or costs. I highly recommend.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Vasectomy  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5th Sep 20

Vasectomy  

Sept 1998. Had a vasectomy. Easy and quick. Done in the hospital operating room on a Friday morning. Went home And took it easy. Took it easy at work Monday no problems. By Wednesday started feeling pain in testicles. Called doctors office. Doctors gone on holiday. Anyway from this point the pain only gets worse and all the doctors have to say is that they have never seen anyone in such pain. Within the first six months I had met with a variety of doctors and tried a wide variety of drugs, therapies and nerve blocks. Nothing worked for more than a few hours (nerve blocks did!). I had the vasectomy reversed June 1999 at my own cost of $2000. It was about three months before i felt better from that. Sadly only my left testicle had resolved. The right side still had the same pain. I had a semen test done. First ever in my life. I had sperm count of 125 million / ml. Surgeon thought that was great but still pain persisted in my right testicle. Followup turned into another vas reversal but just for the right side. This one I didn’t have to pay for because it was for chronic pain. Sadly it didn’t help. Now it’s 2020! I have endured this for 22 years. I wish I had never done it. That’s my absolute last word.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Vasectomy  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  12th Jun 20

Vasectomy  

Vasectomy has been a very effective contraceptive for me. It is good because it has allowed my hormones to follow a natural rhythm. Unfortunately I have experienced depression(and severe PMS) as I would like to have more children(but my partner does not). This has decreased my libido significantly and made me consider using hormonal contraception to level out my hormone levels.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Vasectomy  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  20th Aug 19

Vasectomy  

As noted before, testicular pain/discomfort and testicles sensitive to pressure to the extent that rucked underpants could lead to quite severe pain. Gradually diminished over years but not completely. Testicles still more sensitive than should be. Did lead to reduction in enjoyment of sex as experience could be painful on occasions. Apparently quite a high side effect risk. Effective contraception method but took a few weeks to get the all clear.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

2 helpful

0 comments

Vasectomy  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  28th Jun 19

Vasectomy  

For women, this is the most natural contraceptive on the market. For me and all the other men, its mostly psychological, but had no side effects.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Vasectomy  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  19th Jun 19

Vasectomy  

Vasectomies are relatively safe for surgical procedures, but it is STILL SURGERY and as such has risks and side effects. In particular be aware that many of the side effects aren't really talked about. In my case I thought I was well educated about the procedure (I am a nurse) but it wasn't until after the deed was done that I learned for about 10% of men (numbers vary from study to study) the pain from surgery never entirety goes away. Most of the time (including in my case) it's pretty mild and you can still function, but it's always there and I was not warned about that possibility. As far as sexual side effects, there's a lot of misinformation out there so let me cover the basics: -You still ejaculate, and the amount is pretty much unchanged. However, the consistency of your semen does change--often runnier post-op. -You can still get someone pregnant for a few months after the procedure. Plan accordingly. -Officially there shouldn't be any difference in orgasm or sex drive. I must disagree. Orgasm doesn't feel the same at all, but seems to be slowly recovering over time. At 1 month post-op sex was actually pretty unpleasant to the point I just wasn't interested at all. I am at 2 months now and it's . . . pleasant again but still not what it once was. -The appearance of your genitals may change a little, particularly the way the testicles hang. Nothing major, but it can make you feel pretty self conscious. The surgery itself isn't too bad-- kind of like a root canal but more embarrassing. I'm still pretty recent post-op so I am hoping things improve, the side effects aren't unbearable but I do wish they hadn't downplayed them as much as they did.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

2 helpful

0 comments

Vasectomy  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2nd Apr 19

Vasectomy  

I had a vasectomy at the age of 31 after fathering two children. I didn't want my wife to be taking drugs for the rest of her child-bearing years - and I also didn't want the risk of another mouth to feed. My doctor tried to dissuade me on the basis that I may want children in the future. However, we went ahead and it was very straightforward, not all that painful and 100% effective. Ps: You don't lose your mojo!


Top side effects not reported

3 helpful

0 comments

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