Implant vs Hormonal coil (IUS)

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Implant

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Hormonal coil (IUS)

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Overview

Rated 2.8

602 reviews

Every 3 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.5

828 reviews

Every 3-8 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Implant ingredients

Main hormones in Implant

progestogen


Hormonal coil (IUS) ingredients

Main hormones in Hormonal coil (IUS)

progestogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

37% somewhat negative

49% irregular periods

50% lost sex drive

40% gained weight

57% no impact on skin

Cycle return

31% in 1 month

44% no impact on mood

47% stopped periods

48% no impact

59% no impact

53% no impact on skin

Cycle return

32% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Heavy periods

Ovulation pain

Period pain

Adenomyosis

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Menopause

Period pain

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Add your Hormonal coil (IUS) review

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Implant reviews

602 reviews

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

Nexplanon implant  

I’ve had the implant for 2 years and it’s great that I haven’t had a pregnancy scare. However, my periods are so irregular it’s a joke. I keep track of my periods on an app called Flo and my cycle seems really abnormal. One month I’d be spotting for a week then my period would be over, the next month I’d either miss the whole month or I’d be bleeding on and off for 12 days or more, stop and be on again a week or 2 later, it’s never the same week every month. I can’t keep up with how irregular it is so I’m thinking to change contraception.

Read more

Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Nexplanon implant  

I found the procedure fine. Changed from the pill so I didn’t have to take medication daily which was convenient. I did get acne on this contraception which did get severe so had to change.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  28th Apr 25

Nexplanon implant  

Loved that it was bullet proof and low maintenance + Long lasting. Didn't like the irregular bleeding in the last year so changed to the pill early for more flexibility and control


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

Nexplanon implant  

I’ve had the implant for 2 years and it’s great that I haven’t had a pregnancy scare. However, my periods are so irregular it’s a joke. I keep track of my periods on an app called Flo and my cycle seems really abnormal. One month I’d be spotting for a week then my period would be over, the next month I’d either miss the whole month or I’d be bleeding on and off for 12 days or more, stop and be on again a week or 2 later, it’s never the same week every month. I can’t keep up with how irregular it is so I’m thinking to change contraception.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Nexplanon implant  

I found the procedure fine. Changed from the pill so I didn’t have to take medication daily which was convenient. I did get acne on this contraception which did get severe so had to change.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  28th Apr 25

Nexplanon implant  

Loved that it was bullet proof and low maintenance + Long lasting. Didn't like the irregular bleeding in the last year so changed to the pill early for more flexibility and control


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments


Hormonal coil (IUS) reviews

828 reviews

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Mirena coil  

I feel like myself, which I cannot say for other forms of BC I’ve used. The weight gain may have more to do with some lifestyle changes, but I enjoy the way my body look regardless. I was able to collaborate with my doctor to find suppositories to help with the dryness during sex and that in turn has helped with my libido. I cannot imagine using another form of birth control.


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Kyleena coil  

I had a Kyleena coil inserted, after 6 months I was still having week long breakthrough bleeds between periods. I had the coil checked and it was in position, no problems according to the doctor. A month later I was pregnant, with the coil still in the correct place. Unfortunately the Kyleena coil didn't work to protect me from pregnancy, caused me to have breakthrough bleeds and have recurrent episodes of thrush.


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  

I've not had any significant side effects...so far. But the one thing I don't like is that I struggle to track my period. I don't bleed it bleed very little. Some periods are just spotting. In theory this is great, but the rest of my body is still experiencing a cycle and without the bleeding it can be hard to track. I still try to, but I'm about ready to give up. If you are like me and spent 10 years on the pill, this can feel a bit jarring. I'm on a hormonal rollercoaster that is normal but I'm not really use to it. My cramping is normal compared to before I had coil. I've had acne rosacea crop up and after a year of it I strongly thing it's linked to hormones but not sure how much the coil plays a part (though I did NOT have this before coil, I am also 40 and may be perimenopauseal). Insertion recovery was totally fine. Very little discomfort. However I was undergoing a minor gyno procedure at the same time and as a result got a general! Highly recommend should it be available. Won't lie, not sure I would have the coil again after this one....I'm still not sold in all honesty. It just emotionally felt evasive as a method of BC.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Mirena coil  

I feel like myself, which I cannot say for other forms of BC I’ve used. The weight gain may have more to do with some lifestyle changes, but I enjoy the way my body look regardless. I was able to collaborate with my doctor to find suppositories to help with the dryness during sex and that in turn has helped with my libido. I cannot imagine using another form of birth control.


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Kyleena coil  

I had a Kyleena coil inserted, after 6 months I was still having week long breakthrough bleeds between periods. I had the coil checked and it was in position, no problems according to the doctor. A month later I was pregnant, with the coil still in the correct place. Unfortunately the Kyleena coil didn't work to protect me from pregnancy, caused me to have breakthrough bleeds and have recurrent episodes of thrush.


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  

I've not had any significant side effects...so far. But the one thing I don't like is that I struggle to track my period. I don't bleed it bleed very little. Some periods are just spotting. In theory this is great, but the rest of my body is still experiencing a cycle and without the bleeding it can be hard to track. I still try to, but I'm about ready to give up. If you are like me and spent 10 years on the pill, this can feel a bit jarring. I'm on a hormonal rollercoaster that is normal but I'm not really use to it. My cramping is normal compared to before I had coil. I've had acne rosacea crop up and after a year of it I strongly thing it's linked to hormones but not sure how much the coil plays a part (though I did NOT have this before coil, I am also 40 and may be perimenopauseal). Insertion recovery was totally fine. Very little discomfort. However I was undergoing a minor gyno procedure at the same time and as a result got a general! Highly recommend should it be available. Won't lie, not sure I would have the coil again after this one....I'm still not sold in all honesty. It just emotionally felt evasive as a method of BC.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mirena coil  

Overall my periods were regular but once I got the coil I had very irregular periods and extra cramping. I also have frequent dizzy spells and headaches since it has been inserted. And I've seen an increase in spots and body hair since starting with the coil


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Kyleena coil  

Struggled to fit the Mirena & so fitted the Kyleena instead - potentially leading to an insufficient amount of progesterone as i continued to have irregular bleeding. After about 12 months this settled down and month on month this has lessened and my cycle continued. However, I experienced consistent cramping like I'd never had before and from 15 months onwards severe & debilitating pain about a week before my period. This is why I had it removed.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
41 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Hormonal coil (IUS)  

I experienced irregular periods, major mood swings and no sex drive at all. Would not recommend this at all.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

1 helpful

1 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 8+ yr
36 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Mirena coil  

Insertion isn't pleasant, but once it's in place, there's nothing to do for years! I had my first Mirena coil over 8 years ago and haven't had a period since insertion, only very occasional spotting (maybe once every 3-6months). I know some women like to track their cycle, but I never think about it and prefer it that way! Would recommend.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Mirena coil  

Loved this until I got BV then no treatment would fix it until I got IUS removed


Top side effects not reported

2 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  28th Apr 25

Mirena coil  

The threads disappeared on the first coil so had it changed early (wasn't great as they had to go digging about to find the threads). Had another put straight in at the time thinking it was a one off but the same happened with the second so I had it removed early as soon as I noticed them becoming shorter to avoid the first scenario again and switched to the implant. Great that my periods stopped on it and it's super low maintenance though.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
40 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Apr 25

Mirena coil  

Extremely painful insertion. Blood loss continuously for about 3 months, bleeding everyday. Then periods became irregular, passing clots the size of my palm. Periods worsened after merina, when ironically merina was prescribed for heavy periods. Dermatitis caused by merina after 2 months. Told that results with merina are variable, and to wait and see. Not good advice considering the health issues and extreme blood loss caused by merina so far.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

2 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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