Hormonal coil (IUS) vs Patch
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Overview
Rated 3.5
880 reviews
Every 3-8 years
Frequency
Over 99%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 3.4
124 reviews
Weekly
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Hormonal coil (IUS) ingredients
Main hormones in Hormonal coil (IUS)
progestogen
Patch ingredients
Main hormones in Patch
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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Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Hormonal coil (IUS) reviews
880 reviews
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
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
Used for 5 - 8 yr
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
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
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
42 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I'm hypermobile, and over time it has made my symptoms a lot worse despite my levels of exercise to strengthen. I'm now in pain regularly and sometimes struggle to sleep because of it. I've also started having migraines with aura and frequent headaches. Getting it taken out next week. It did however reduce my heavy bleeding to infrequent spotting, but I bled for 9 months straight after having it inserted.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
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
Used for 5 - 8 yr
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
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
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
42 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I'm hypermobile, and over time it has made my symptoms a lot worse despite my levels of exercise to strengthen. I'm now in pain regularly and sometimes struggle to sleep because of it. I've also started having migraines with aura and frequent headaches. Getting it taken out next week. It did however reduce my heavy bleeding to infrequent spotting, but I bled for 9 months straight after having it inserted.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Patch reviews
124 reviews
Used for 3 - 6 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
noticed that the side effects were less or more intense depending on where i put the patch on my body. i used to have it on my arm and had intense nausea nonstop and after putting on my hip/ bum it stopped. also cystitis symptoms however i’m not sure if they are related
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Started taking the Evra patch to help regulating my hormones and to help with bad health anxiety. The 3rd day I had it on resulted in me taking the patch off straight away due to immense nausea, panic, shaking and complete loss of appetite. 3 months later my hormones have been worse than ever with random crying and anxiety increasing throughout my cycle.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
noticed that the side effects were less or more intense depending on where i put the patch on my body. i used to have it on my arm and had intense nausea nonstop and after putting on my hip/ bum it stopped. also cystitis symptoms however i’m not sure if they are related
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Started taking the Evra patch to help regulating my hormones and to help with bad health anxiety. The 3rd day I had it on resulted in me taking the patch off straight away due to immense nausea, panic, shaking and complete loss of appetite. 3 months later my hormones have been worse than ever with random crying and anxiety increasing throughout my cycle.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 28th Jan 26
Overall good birth control. I do get random cramps throughout the day ever since I started it and my skin is irritated and itchy where I place my patch.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2nd Jan 26
Overall good, so far effective. But my periods are a lot heavier and a lot more painful. Tender breasts for at least half of the month and random cramps throughout the month even when I’m not on my period.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 26th Nov 25
The Evra patch has been a good choice for me so far, and it’s my first time on birth control! I would say the only downfall is around the edge of the patch gets dirty from adhesive, and that it’s nerve racking to swim a lot in fear it will come off! I went on vacation and was nervous but I used a tagaderm to keep it on when swimming!
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 9th Nov 25
The patch made me feel extremely unwell. I had nausea, heavy headed feeling, headaches, tiredness, sweating and soreness where the patch was placed. I ended up removing it before 24 hours was up because I couldn't sleep and felt so out of sorts.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 25th Oct 25
Went on the patch having been on the implant previously. On the implant I had lots of spotting which thankfully went away on the patch. However I have definitely noticed a distinct rise in anxiety since being on the patch over the last year - enough to stop me wanting to go to things like the theatre or going on tours without getting sweaty. I also think it's killed my sex drive so I'm going to go off it and seek alternative contraception. Its a shame because I do find it convenient and have felt very protected on it. My period increased its flow a lot during the period week and I also got bad headaches around that week which I wasn't used to. Sad to have to change but dont like the quality of life.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6th Aug 25
I love using the patch. It has made using contraceptive so much easier and I went through a phase of recommending it too everyone I know. I've had a few symptoms recently, but not sure if that is related to the Patch or a different medical issue. In the last year, I've had more hormonal acne than I did before, but that's the main side effect that I would say I've been affected by. We are coming off contraceptive soon, so hoping it is a smooth process
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
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