Benilexa coil

Jaydess coil

Expert advice about your contraception

Our doctors are here to help

Kyleena coil

Levosert coil

Expert advice about your contraception 

Mirena coil

Skyla coil 🇺🇸

Into my 3rd month and really happy with it. I switched from using the implant and my moods are much better and my bleeds have pretty much stopped. I'm getting pains and spotting at the same time every month so this is much more regular than what I've been used to. Insertion was not nearly bad as expected. Overall, very happy. 

Mirena coil-review-id-778bf38c-7a31-43a7-84fb-159d5adc7fb3

Hormonal coil (IUS)-Mirena-review-id-28492

So i was on a number of pills from the age of 19.
From the mini pill to the combined pill.
I had recently stopped cilest as I noticed that over the past 3 years i had little to no sex drive and was always moody.
I found this website and started to research about alternatives.
So many people recommended the IUD, and one day i decided to just go for it. insertation is painful as I haven’t had kids yet.
But I’ve been on it for over 4 months and I finally have a sex drive, my skin is still good, with the odd spot. My mood is much better.
Only negative is that I’ve started to grow dark hairs on my neck and chin which i have to pluck. So i think i will need to look into laser hair removal. Also i am always hungry? I have gained 10lbs, but I’m not sure if this is fat or water weight as i work out 5 days a week!
Overall, I really like this method. I get extremely light bleeds, and i can always check the strings.
Also, when i finally decide to start a family, i can simply go get it removed.

Mirena coil-review-id-4c9b5282-06cc-4c22-a5b1-ca929cb079da

Hormonal coil (IUS)-Mirena-review-id-27759

Got the coil fitted on day 1 of my period so the first week I was cramping pretty much non stop but they were still significantly less painful than normal period cramps. My period lasted a bit longer than normal (8-9 days vs 5) and it was heavier. I was also severly fatigued the next 4 days after fitting but then energy levels went back to normal. Been spotting between periods, my second period was longer again but significantly lighter than when I got it fitted. I’ve had no issues with my mental health, been feeling pretty good so far!

Mirena coil-review-id-f8691e2a-2d4d-4ba0-af3b-153f927cc016

Hormonal coil (IUS)-Mirena-review-id-26593

Had mirena inserted during endo surgery. I had puss (pink and yellow) leaking from my vagina for 10 days straight. The smell was foul, like rotting meat. I was given antibiotics which made some improvement but swabs revealed no infection.  Then I had heavy blood flow for about 3 weeks. I also experienced severe lower back pain and inflammation which I am still seeing an osteopath for now, less than 3 months later. I’ve had the coil removed because the foul smell has started to come back. More swabs reveal no infection so I’m at a loss as to how I can fix this problem and it’s a real social killer as you can imagine. I also have anxiety and depression and I don’t think this change in hormones has helped me one bit. I feel extremely hypersensitive and friends and family have commented on it. I know everyone’s experience is different but I would tell anyone considering this method to run as fast as you can.

Mirena coil-review-id-f1141bb7-69b4-4ef0-b3d6-de8ac263d3b7

My obs/gynae Dr recommended this. I had it inserted at the same time as my second c section. Other pills didn’t agree with me after the birth of my first daughter and I was struggling to find something that worked for me. The mini pill which was brilliant for so many years made me bleed, and all other pills turned me into a moody hormonal mess. The mirina coil has been brilliant so far. Initially I had horrendous back ache but I didn’t know if that was from child birth or the coil. Light exercise helped this. I also got thrush quite badly and have had mild pmt symptoms every now and again but nothing I can’t handle. I would definitely recommend this.

Mirena coil-review-id-664c477b-d5ad-498b-bebd-0debe28cf25c

I started using this after some bleeding and mood issues on the combined pill and the minipill. Insertion was WAY better than I anticipated- it was quite painful but totally bearable but I did get quite dizzy, lethargic and crampy once the nervous adrenaline wore off. I had breakthrough bleeding for a month afterwards and only spotted now and again and my periods eventually stopped after about 9 months. 

Unfortunately, the coil has really wrecked my sex life: I have to have very very gentle sex otherwise I bleed and cramp the next day as if I'm having a nasty period. Had an ultrasound to check it hadn't displaced but all was fine and the doctor said that this is something that just happens for some people with the coil. I have lowered libido (could be because I'm worried about pain and bleeding afterwards but I'm not sure). My skin has also become a little more prone to breakouts but this may just be my skin type that was previously masked by the combined pill.

Overall I'm very disappointed and will be switching to non-hormonal asap!

Mirena coil-review-id-f4964aef-2e43-4d6a-831b-c6bd22dbdd37

Overall i love how easy it is to use and not worry about. My periods are not regular when i first get the new device then eventually become monthly spotting. my skin did get worse and i still get monthly cramps 

Mirena coil-review-id-975d0994-d7cc-4825-b907-1e02ae34adf9

Hormonal coil (IUS)-Mirena-review-id-27540

I was given this aged 45 to combat prolonged and heavy periods (maybe starting to become premenopausal). With every period I would get other infection, like respiratory illnesses, because it left my body literally drained. The insertion was a bit painful, worse than a smear, but manageable, because you know it's going to be over quickly. I had some bleeding, cramping and back pain for a few days after, which were manageable with high doses of paracetamol. After the first week I started to experience hot flushes (never had one before), I couldn't jog (the tissue behind the kneecaps feels very uncomfortable and I never had problems with my knees before), had migraines and headaches, I have to remove a ball of hair from my brush after every brush, I keep snapping at people and experienced a complete loss of sex drive. After 6 month the initial hot flushes and migraines have gone, but all the other symptoms are still there. So there is a big bonus from not having any periods, I did not have a cough or cold for almost a year (which is also down to the general Covid lockdowns), BUT the side effects are too severe for me and I will get the hormonal coil removed.

Mirena coil-review-id-4666c49a-53cc-45c9-8e25-7a457e166267

Hormonal coil (IUS)-Mirena-review-id-27594

I have used the pill several years before, but often forgot to take it. This contraception method was much easier for me and as I know the hormones are only working locally and not systemically.

Mirena coil-review-id-8a9b586c-5a04-4e32-a427-0b9dd1876ee4

Hormonal coil (IUS)-Mirena-review-id-26385

Ask the doctor to cut the strings as short as they can - mine were left long and would hurt my partner during sex. That being said, I was able to get them cut and they soften after a while so it is no longer an issue.

Mirena coil-review-id-b1fd626e-d3d9-4461-bc29-4b7c4da813f2

Hormonal coil (IUS)

My periods stopped completely, and the odd cramps I had early on were pretty much gone after about 6/7 months (although they weren’t bad). I’ve changed back to copper coil as I felt the hormones were affecting my mental health, feeling like I was on autopilot and low moods which I felt similarly when I was on the POP pill. 

Kyleena coil-review-id-ae2d278d-8430-4161-8289-2f8d774ea651

Hormonal coil (IUS)-Kyleena-review-id-28454

Got this after my Jaydess ran out, after being told they were similar but this lasts longer. However, the increase in hormones definitely impacted me negatively. My breasts have got bigger for an F to GG, my skin went from clear to increasingly bad acne, I'm currently having to use antibiotics twice a day and 2 different topical prescriptions to stop the acne caused by the hormone imbalance the coil caused me. It also caused thrust in the 2nd week of my cycle. Definitely, made me more light-headed and dizzy too. Luckily, when I went to get this taken out the clinic had a Jaydess it could be replaced with, but it's disappointing that many NHS trusts see this coil as a direct replacement for Jaydess and have stopped providing both.

Kyleena coil-review-id-1bb921e0-5f4b-4c61-83f7-a906a950965a

Hormonal coil (IUS)-Kyleena-review-id-21828

I came off the pill after 6 years onto the IUS. I much prefer this, no mood swings, basically no other side effects. No periods. Don't have to remember to take the pill everyday. If you're thinking about it definitely prepare yourself for the procedure as it is uncomfortable and invasive.

Kyleena coil-review-id-9e73a540-f5b6-4d48-a5ea-c397a0c5ecbb

The insertion process was awful despite taking painkillers beforehand and doing everything I was advised to (the nurses at the appointment were also so unsympathetic when I nearly passed out). Immediately after fitting I had horrendous cramps and hot flushes which lasted for several days afterwards and I was bedbound. This pattern of heavy cramping and bleeding continued and I also experienced quite severe low mood. I struggled to book an appointment to have it removed as they told me it needed time to settle down (they were suggesting anywhere between 3-8 months) but I eventually managed to get it removed a month after having it fitted. If it weren’t for the low mood I might have stuck through for a few months to see but I honestly felt so low every single day. The removal process was surprisingly smooth however!

Kyleena coil-review-id-4699959f-f088-4969-a406-54aff1e1c69a

I really built myself up for the pain of insertion, so I took two paracetamol and two ibuprofen before going in around 3pm. They told me that they do not offer local anaesthetic or numbing gel as they think it makes no difference, but they gave me some naproxen as well for the pain after and they said that the cocktail of three drugs was okay. I would say that the forceps stabilising the uterus part was the most uncomfortable, the sounding and IUD insertion was a dull but strong pain, which I could almost feel approaching before it hit like a wave. I felt pretty good immediately after so I was quite happy, and the nurses were excellent and that definitely helped ease the situation.

What I was unprepared for was what came after. I thought that after 6 painkillers, I was tranquilised like a horse, but my trip back home by tube was so intensely painful I struggled to not tear up. The whole evening after I was in a ridiculous amount of pain with the cramping. I had to try to put myself to sleep as soon as possible. The next ten days, I cramped really badly every evening at 6pm on the clock! Not sure why. My hot water bottle was my best fried. I was also continuously spotting for the next entire month. Initially a bit too much for a panty liner, and more suited to a light pad, and by the end of the month, I was changing panty liners twice a day. 

After the first month, everything stopped.

It has literally been golden since then! Three months in, I have got no cramping, no spotting. I got a period for three days (usually 5) for which I just needed one light pad per day for. But its been an absolute breeze. The one change I can see is that I have more discharge than before, but I'm living my best contraceptive-induced life with that being the biggest side effect.


Kyleena coil-review-id-36e213c2-7abb-4371-ba28-3c919ed050a4

Would recommend Kyleena - only bad side effects for me are acne that has started after around 18 months on the coil, and increased body hair that has started around the same time. No weight gain which has been great after the mini pill.

Kyleena coil-review-id-512639e6-dd85-43e1-a3cf-04316e615ed8

Hormonal coil (IUS)-Kyleena-review-id-28125

I'm really happy with the coil. I felt unwell for about 30 minutes after I had it put in, and then it subsided completely and I've been fine ever since. My periods stopped but I do still experience tender breasts and PMS once a month, which I had quite badly before already. It's so great not having to worry about taking a pill each day and I noticed a considerable difference to my mood when I was on Microgynon (pill) - I felt like a cloud had lifted!

Kyleena coil-review-id-ae51b608-8724-4831-bcf9-49593e077b66

Hormonal coil (IUS)-Kyleena-review-id-26195

I was on the pill (8 years) and hating it, irregular bleeding, mood swings etc. I have switched and would never look back. It is much more reliable, much easier and simpler. My moods are much much better and I don't have a period any more. Absolutely love it. Insertion was very painful but I was fully prepared by watching a lot of videos about it. After insertion I had cramps for about 3 weeks, but then they settled.

Kyleena coil-review-id-5894cef1-742b-4148-b6a8-9412866745e4

Hormonal coil (IUS)-Kyleena-review-id-21735

Would encourage anyone to switch to this method of contraception from the pill if it is suitable for them as it doesn't affect mood at all I feel so much better since using it!

Kyleena coil-review-id-dcf9c523-1355-47c4-bf0b-ab9bd1cfb2c5

Hormonal coil (IUS)-Kyleena-review-id-18480

Still fairly new to this method, but I swapped from the copper coil and it's been a massive relief in that my periods are no longer extremely heavy and I don't have raging mood swings (or ones that are as bad, at least)

Mirena coil vs Kyleena coil

Need help choosing? Speak to a doctor

Overview

Mirena coil ingredients

Kyleena coil ingredients

What Lowdown reviewers say

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Checkout our latest reviews

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Order online now

Not sure yet? Speak to a doctor