Injection vs Hormonal coil (IUS)
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Overview
Rated 2.9
304 reviews
Every 2-3 months
Frequency
94% - 99+%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
Short term
Effect on fertility
Rated 3.5
871 reviews
Every 3-8 years
Frequency
Over 99%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Injection ingredients
Main hormones in Injection
progestogen
Hormonal coil (IUS) ingredients
Main hormones in Hormonal coil (IUS)
progestogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with
Endometriosis
Heavy periods
Period pain
Adenomyosis
Endometriosis
Heavy periods
Menopause
Period pain
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Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Injection reviews
304 reviews
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
Great if you’re looking to prevent pregnancy with less admin. Having the year’s supply ant home and not needing to see a doctor every few months was handy. Stopped my periods aside from some very minimal spotting and my skin was great - I barely had any spots over the years I was on it. I did feel like I was quite numb emotions wise. I didn’t experience mood swings but it was alarming that I often didn’t really feel anything! My libido was extremely low too.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 1st Dec 25
I experience mood swings, low libido, aura migraine, my face got darker than usual and I stopped seeing my period.
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 18th Nov 25
I had a very bad experience using this contraceptive. Bad moods, bad skin, bad body image, depression, sweating, low libido. Just bad.
Very positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
Great if you’re looking to prevent pregnancy with less admin. Having the year’s supply ant home and not needing to see a doctor every few months was handy. Stopped my periods aside from some very minimal spotting and my skin was great - I barely had any spots over the years I was on it. I did feel like I was quite numb emotions wise. I didn’t experience mood swings but it was alarming that I often didn’t really feel anything! My libido was extremely low too.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 1st Dec 25
I experience mood swings, low libido, aura migraine, my face got darker than usual and I stopped seeing my period.
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 18th Nov 25
I had a very bad experience using this contraceptive. Bad moods, bad skin, bad body image, depression, sweating, low libido. Just bad.
Very positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Hormonal coil (IUS) reviews
871 reviews
Used for 3 - 6 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
I previously had the copper coil for 4 years because I wasn't keen on using a hormonal contraception but I wish I'd changed to benelixa sooner. I opted for a numbing injection during the procedure and hardly felt anything, it was great. Afterwards there was some very mild cramping and unfortunately I did get mild thrush within the week, however since then it's been amazing. Hardly any pain during periods and they are sooo much lighter. I used to bloat all the time but now I never do. I also lost about 4lbs and have stayed at that weight ever since. I had thinning hair previously and now have lots of new baby hairs coming in all over my head which I'm delighted about. Sex drive has decreased ever so slightly but not enough to be a problem. No changes to my skin or any other negative side effects. Really can't recommend it more, I'm delighted with not being in agony every month and I have much more energy since I'm only losing about a quarter of blood compared to before.
Lost weight
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
I’ve had the kyleena iud for just over a year. Initially, I had more painful periods but that’s common for about 6 months as your body adjusts but this has since gone away. After about 6 months, I started to suffer with vaginal dryness. This was easily managed with lube during sex but after a year it really started to get bad. It was causing constant thrust (5 times in 3 months) which I had never been prone to before and the pain during sex can sometimes mean we have to stop or I’ll be okay for a bit but then after will be bleeding or have sort of friction burns. It’s coming out soon but it’s just a shame about the dryness as I loved it otherwise
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 week ago
My first year of the coil seemed to be okay. Took a while to get used to and on the grand scheme of things after about 3 months my period pretty much left.. but in the last year, I’ve been getting symptoms of anger, forgetfulness and generally feeling checked out. Going to speak to GP to find another option.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
I previously had the copper coil for 4 years because I wasn't keen on using a hormonal contraception but I wish I'd changed to benelixa sooner. I opted for a numbing injection during the procedure and hardly felt anything, it was great. Afterwards there was some very mild cramping and unfortunately I did get mild thrush within the week, however since then it's been amazing. Hardly any pain during periods and they are sooo much lighter. I used to bloat all the time but now I never do. I also lost about 4lbs and have stayed at that weight ever since. I had thinning hair previously and now have lots of new baby hairs coming in all over my head which I'm delighted about. Sex drive has decreased ever so slightly but not enough to be a problem. No changes to my skin or any other negative side effects. Really can't recommend it more, I'm delighted with not being in agony every month and I have much more energy since I'm only losing about a quarter of blood compared to before.
Lost weight
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
I’ve had the kyleena iud for just over a year. Initially, I had more painful periods but that’s common for about 6 months as your body adjusts but this has since gone away. After about 6 months, I started to suffer with vaginal dryness. This was easily managed with lube during sex but after a year it really started to get bad. It was causing constant thrust (5 times in 3 months) which I had never been prone to before and the pain during sex can sometimes mean we have to stop or I’ll be okay for a bit but then after will be bleeding or have sort of friction burns. It’s coming out soon but it’s just a shame about the dryness as I loved it otherwise
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 week ago
My first year of the coil seemed to be okay. Took a while to get used to and on the grand scheme of things after about 3 months my period pretty much left.. but in the last year, I’ve been getting symptoms of anger, forgetfulness and generally feeling checked out. Going to speak to GP to find another option.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
Hard to tell if it’s improved but I definitely have breast tenderness
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 17th Nov 25
Kyleena was recommended with mr having Adenomyosis due to wrongly being given the copper coil before and bleeding for months on end. Kyleena had irregular periods to begin, the only sidr effect for the first 4 months were severe coldnesd/flu like symptoms the day before my period for all 4 months. As my periods stopped, my sex drive and mental health crashed. I'm on month 9 and awaiting removal.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 10th Nov 25
Having used the pill on and off for 20 years I was hesitant to use another hormonal contraception but I was so happy with kyleena - no noticeable mentsl or physical symptoms. Insertion is not pleasant but it's over in seconds.i experienced some period cramps in first few weeks but then periods became extremely light and pain free for the last 3-4 years. I would get this method again without hesitation.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 9th Nov 25
I had a terrible experience with Mirena. It started with severe cramping after insertion. The cramping continued for weeks. I got a UTI from it. Then the other symptoms started - severe depression, sneezing, severe sinus pain, insomnia. I experienced severe vaginal dryness and vulvodynia (shooting pain down there) which ultimately led me to showing up at my gp and begging for it to be removed.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3rd Nov 25
Periods stopped, no noticeable side effects other than toward the end of the 5 years when I had a few side effects (tender breasts, spots, mood swings) which I put down to hormonal change as the coil was coming to expiry date. Now I've had it replaced and I have no side effects. Stable mood, skin clear, no periods, no stomach/back/head pain.
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 27th Oct 25
In terms of contraception practically perfect, I react extremely badly to hormonal contraception usually and this didn’t cause any of the negative side effects I usually get from hormonal methods. My periods became lighter and I still have the normal symptoms of my cycle which is exactly what I want. The only negatives (which is quite a big one) is significantly increased pain throughout my cycle, during my bleed and also cramping randomly throughout the month, sometimes when exercising and also two days before my period which I didn’t experience before. I am devastated that this has been discontinued in most places. I think it’s completely inexcusable that there is now no IUS which for most people doesn’t stop their period. One other slight negative at the beginning was my partner took some time to get used to the feeling of the strings when having sex, however this improved after a few months and is no longer an issue.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 27th Oct 25
In terms of contraception practically perfect, I react extremely badly to hormonal contraception usually and this didn’t cause any of the negative side effects I usually get from hormonal methods. My periods because lighter and I still have the normal symptoms of my cycle. The only negative (which is quite a big one) is significantly increased pain throughout my cycle, during my bleed and also cramping randomly throughout the month, sometimes when exercising and also two days before my period which I didn’t experience before. I am devastated that this has been discontinued in most places. I think it’s completely inexcusable that there is now no IUS which for most people doesn’t stop their period.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
1 comments
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