Hormonal coil (IUS) vs Progestogen-only / Mini pill

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Hormonal coil (IUS)

Add your Hormonal coil (IUS) review

Progestogen-only / Mini pill

£From £0.22/day

Overview

Rated 3.5

813 reviews

Every 3-8 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.7

1356 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Hormonal coil (IUS) ingredients

Main hormones in Hormonal coil (IUS)

progestogen


Progestogen-only / Mini pill ingredients

Main hormones in Progestogen-only / Mini pill

progestogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

43% no impact on mood

48% stopped periods

48% no impact

59% no impact

53% no impact on skin

Cycle return

31% don’t know impact

32% somewhat negative

44% stopped periods

50% lost sex drive

43% no impact

46% no impact on skin

Cycle return

38% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Adenomyosis

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Menopause

Period pain

Period pain

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Add your Hormonal coil (IUS) review

Try it now

£From £0.22/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Hormonal coil (IUS) reviews

813 reviews

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

Mirena coil  

Never having to worry about condoms is such a great plus. I had a lot of pain in the first six months and three 11+ day periods. Afterwards, my periods have stopped totally and I only get the occasional cramp, akin to an ovulation cramp. My libido has decreased slightly and my breast have gotten bigger. Overall it’s been a great help in my sex life

Read more

Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Jaydess coil  

At first all the skin problems I got from it scarred me. But I first started Jaydesss becuse of extremely painfull periods. This absolutely helped, I mostly lost my period which I thought I will never be lucky enough to experience in my life. The skin problems got a bit less annoying and extreme after I lost my periods. But at first I had really painfull pimples all over me - my face, chest, back, especially back on y neck and under my hair - on my head (i never had that before ever). Later I only experienced a few shoulder and face pimples. Since my period is gone, my back pain and cramps are gone completely. I am so happy and I feel like I no longer have to fight a battle with my body every month. I am a happier person, I feel mentally healthier. Before that I was scarred what the month will bring with body pain and how I will hide blood stain that was everywhere, ruining my clothes, bedsheets, even towels. There was so much blood and now there is none and I feel lucky :)


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mirena coil  

Got on really well for first few years but after year 5 the side effects seem to have become more frequent/worse.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mirena coil  

Never having to worry about condoms is such a great plus. I had a lot of pain in the first six months and three 11+ day periods. Afterwards, my periods have stopped totally and I only get the occasional cramp, akin to an ovulation cramp. My libido has decreased slightly and my breast have gotten bigger. Overall it’s been a great help in my sex life


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Jaydess coil  

At first all the skin problems I got from it scarred me. But I first started Jaydesss becuse of extremely painfull periods. This absolutely helped, I mostly lost my period which I thought I will never be lucky enough to experience in my life. The skin problems got a bit less annoying and extreme after I lost my periods. But at first I had really painfull pimples all over me - my face, chest, back, especially back on y neck and under my hair - on my head (i never had that before ever). Later I only experienced a few shoulder and face pimples. Since my period is gone, my back pain and cramps are gone completely. I am so happy and I feel like I no longer have to fight a battle with my body every month. I am a happier person, I feel mentally healthier. Before that I was scarred what the month will bring with body pain and how I will hide blood stain that was everywhere, ruining my clothes, bedsheets, even towels. There was so much blood and now there is none and I feel lucky :)


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mirena coil  

Got on really well for first few years but after year 5 the side effects seem to have become more frequent/worse.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments


Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews

1356 reviews

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Cerazette pill  

I have been on Cerazette for 4 years now. Initially, I had headaches, breast tenderness and mood swings. These symptoms subsided after 3 months. My periods became very irregular and then stopped altogether. Although my doctors deny this all the time, I feel like the pill caused excessive weight gain. Yes, I have had circumstances that affected my life but the weight gain was dramatic. In the first year alone, I gained 15 kilograms. After 4 years, I am up to 25 kg extra weight (BMI 29) and I am struggling to lose the weight with diet and exercise. Lately, I have had more bodily hair growth and am losing some hair on my head. Not many mood swings but definitely feeling angry most of the time. I am also struggling with a very low sex drive, which is starting to affect my marriage. I have an appointment with my GP, will try to switch to the combined pill to try.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Lovima pill  

This pill stopped me from getting pregnant and that was the only good thing about it. Constant spotting, sore nipples, and decreased sex drive. Now on norgeston and so much happier!


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Norgeston pill  

I moved onto Norgeston after trialling desogestrel for a few months (it gave me near constant spotting and super decreased sex drive). I was optimistic as levonorgestrel was the hormone I used to have in my combined pill and so far it’s been great for me - I do get periods, but these are regular and of a normal flow each month and thankfully my sex drive has come back.


Increased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Cerazette pill  

I have been on Cerazette for 4 years now. Initially, I had headaches, breast tenderness and mood swings. These symptoms subsided after 3 months. My periods became very irregular and then stopped altogether. Although my doctors deny this all the time, I feel like the pill caused excessive weight gain. Yes, I have had circumstances that affected my life but the weight gain was dramatic. In the first year alone, I gained 15 kilograms. After 4 years, I am up to 25 kg extra weight (BMI 29) and I am struggling to lose the weight with diet and exercise. Lately, I have had more bodily hair growth and am losing some hair on my head. Not many mood swings but definitely feeling angry most of the time. I am also struggling with a very low sex drive, which is starting to affect my marriage. I have an appointment with my GP, will try to switch to the combined pill to try.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Lovima pill  

This pill stopped me from getting pregnant and that was the only good thing about it. Constant spotting, sore nipples, and decreased sex drive. Now on norgeston and so much happier!


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Norgeston pill  

I moved onto Norgeston after trialling desogestrel for a few months (it gave me near constant spotting and super decreased sex drive). I was optimistic as levonorgestrel was the hormone I used to have in my combined pill and so far it’s been great for me - I do get periods, but these are regular and of a normal flow each month and thankfully my sex drive has come back.


Increased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 days ago

Cerelle pill  

honestly haven’t experience any negative side effects, it was a bit rough for the first couple of months but after about 8-12 weeks it settled and it’s been great, i gained a little weight but no more than about 7lbs so overall it’s been brilliant


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Desogestrel pill  

I’ve been taking the pill since I was 17, I’m now 25 and have never had an issue with it! I’ve not had any side effects at all! It stopped my periods after about 2/3 months and has been smooth sailing since then. I find the ‘window’ in which you can take it without it being considered a ‘missed pill’ is also really reassuring if you suffer with anxiety! Would definitely recommend.


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 8+ yr
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Cerelle pill  

Been on this pill for about 15years its great i have no periods at all, i have no symptoms of periods etc and i have gained weight but i dont think i can put that down to taking cerelle haha all in all i love this pill and most importantly i havent gotten pregnant while taking it so its main job is done


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Cerazette pill  

I really tried to give it a chance and persevere despite a lot of breakthrough bleeding. My skin got worse. My mood/anxiety got worse. The bleeding never stopped. I would be spotting nonstop for 2 weeks, get a period (heavier bleeding), then no bleeding for ~1 week, and then back to spotting. I didn't notice any changes to my sex drive but the constant spotting was a huge deterrent. I am now switching to a combined pill.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Noriday pill  

Monitor your moods closely. Don’t recommend using if you’re not in a somewhat ok place mentally.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
48 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  

I started bleeding the following day and it was heavy


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
40 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Desogestrel pill  

The chest pain was really awful, and that’s a big red flag. Even though a month might not seem like long enough to make a final judgment, the intensity of the chest pain and other symptoms definitely made me question whether this was the right pill for me. It's important to listen to your body, and in my case, the discomfort and pain outweighed any potential benefits. I would highly recommend discussing these symptoms with a healthcare provider to explore alternative options or further guidance


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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