Injection vs Hormonal coil (IUS)

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Injection

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Hormonal coil (IUS)

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Overview

Rated 2.9

296 reviews

Every 2-3 months

Frequency

94% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

Short term

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.5

850 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

32% somewhat negative

70% stopped periods

56% lost sex drive

49% gained weight

47% no impact on skin

Cycle return

43% don’t know impact

43% no impact on mood

47% stopped periods

48% no impact

59% no impact

53% no impact on skin

Cycle return

33% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

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

Injection reviews

296 reviews

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6 days ago

Depo-Provera injection  

I’ve used it on an off for years sudden lost of weight within a month since using it again.

Read more

Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Sayana Press injection  

i think it’s amazing


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Noristerat injection  

I had no problems while using noristerate but I would get annoyed sometimes because I would experience spotting for 2 weeks before my next injection. I had little to no menstrual cycle.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6 days ago

Depo-Provera injection  

I’ve used it on an off for years sudden lost of weight within a month since using it again.


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Sayana Press injection  

i think it’s amazing


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Noristerat injection  

I had no problems while using noristerate but I would get annoyed sometimes because I would experience spotting for 2 weeks before my next injection. I had little to no menstrual cycle.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments


Hormonal coil (IUS) reviews

850 reviews

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

Mirena coil  

I've had the Mirena coil for about 10 months now, my doctor recommended it to stop uterine polyps from reappearing. Prior to the coil I had very heavy, extremely painful periods and pretty bad iron deficiency, but now my periods are super light and not painful at all!! The insertion was painful but not worse that the period cramps I used to get before; I spotted for 3 months straight but after that I started having semi-regular periods. I noticed that I had much more energy (probably because my iron levels were back to normal), my libido increased and I lost weight. I am really really happy with the coil.


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mirena coil  

Awful experience having it fitted, very painful. I’m convinced it triggered vaginal atrophy (I was already menopausal)


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mirena coil  

Recurrent abdominal pain and pressure in my lower tummy. The only positive thing is that it has stopped heavy periods


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mirena coil  

I've had the Mirena coil for about 10 months now, my doctor recommended it to stop uterine polyps from reappearing. Prior to the coil I had very heavy, extremely painful periods and pretty bad iron deficiency, but now my periods are super light and not painful at all!! The insertion was painful but not worse that the period cramps I used to get before; I spotted for 3 months straight but after that I started having semi-regular periods. I noticed that I had much more energy (probably because my iron levels were back to normal), my libido increased and I lost weight. I am really really happy with the coil.


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mirena coil  

Awful experience having it fitted, very painful. I’m convinced it triggered vaginal atrophy (I was already menopausal)


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mirena coil  

Recurrent abdominal pain and pressure in my lower tummy. The only positive thing is that it has stopped heavy periods


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Mirena coil  

I swapped to the coil as I started getting migraines on the combined pill and wanted a longer term solution GP advised to give the coil 6 months to settle in but during that time my skin has gradually got worse with bad acne, I still have periods which are lighter granted but lasting 8-9 days, much worse periods cramps than on combined and then for last 2 months spotting almost everyday and bad period like cramping. GP thought these symptoms suggested coil displacement but USS confirmed it was in situ and these must just be the side effects I personally get from mirena. The cramping and constant spotting and acne is affecting my sex life and general mood day to day so trying to get the coil removed and tempted to try the copper coil (although I went for the Mirena as I’d read you can get the symptoms I’m currently having on the copper but only time will tell!)


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mirena coil  

Had the Mirena coil for 4 years. Insertion wasn’t a fun experience but only cramped for a few days. A bit of spotting for first few months but reduced to nothing for the next 4 years. Very happy with it, only getting removed to get pregnant.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Benilexa coil  

I was told to take painkillers (paracetamol & ibuprofen) before the procedure which I did. For the procedure I had two lovely ladies who were supportive and talked me through all of the steps. I was offered pain relief including gas and air, so all of that was great. What I didn’t realise was the “bad period cramps” you are warned about were actually more like mild contractions, and having had a traumatic miscarriage a few years ago. The coil fitting unfortunately ended up triggering this trauma along with my anxiety, when I spoke to my GP they mentioned it was PTSD and that this can happen after a coil fitting. Afterwards the coil felt really uncomfortable for about 4 weeks where I could feel it inside me all the time and sometime it felt like it was scratching around in there! Also certain exercise & stretches were uncomfortable & often aggravated it leaving me in pain. My hormones were also all over the place on week 3 but that passed fairly quickly. I’ve had great support from the clinic and was referred to have an ultrasound to confirm it was in the correct place. On a more positive note I’ve only had one heavy bleed a week after it’d been fitted and no further bleeds and so far only spotting once. It’s now 11 months later and things have settled, so this is now working for me which is a relief.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Mirena coil  

Had Mirena fitted to manage endometriosis after a laparoscopy. The period cramps felt worse than when I was on the contraceptive pill before the surgery. Also struggled with depression and low energy. Acne was about the same as before I started the contraceptive pill.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mirena coil  

I really like the Mirena Coil, especially as the combined pill was my previous contraception which negatively affected my mood. I had a lot of spotting for the first month and now have the very occasional spotting, but it's great not having a period anymore.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
40 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2nd Aug 25

Mirena coil  

I've had a mirena coil for about 7 months now. Before getting it I had severely heavy periods. Most months I got a bad migraine. My iron was low. The GP didn't suggest anything to help with the heavy periods/monthly migraines/low iron. However when discussing contraception mirena coil was suggested. (I'm 40, have had 2 children). I was wary to mess with my hormones but the doctor said it could calm down my periods too. It was a long wait (almost 12 months). As soon as I got it I haven't had such heavy periods. Migraines haven't been an issue and my iron levels are back to normal. I haven't noticed any mood or weight changes. I've been happier and healthier because I haven't been dealing with the bad periods anymore. My periods are irregular, but very light. The only negative is a couple of times I've had stomach cramps, quite painful ones, they've gone away in under a day. There has been no follow up with a health professional. It would be nice if they did this to reassure everything is normal and ok.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  28th Jul 25

Mirena coil  

I had it put in at the end of January. Insertion wasn't fun and did hurt but no worse than the period cramps I used to get. Did spend the afternoon in bed. First few months were ok, some period pain but less than before and lighter periods. But as a few more months have passed I've been getting more migraines again. Also my body hair is more noticeable. My mood is mostly stable except now when I'm ovulating or period about to start, I get very irrational and angry. My last period was heavier than I would have had before the coil but hoping that was just a blip. Have also been spotting constantly the last 2-3 months.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Injection with other contraceptives

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87% of women are happier with their contraceptive choice after speaking with one of The Lowdown's doctors

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