Male condom vs Hormonal coil (IUS)
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Overview
Rated 4.1
65 reviews
During or before sex
Frequency
82% - 98%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 3.5
779 reviews
Every 3-8 years
Frequency
Over 99%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Male condom ingredients
Hormonal coil (IUS) ingredients
Main hormones in Hormonal coil (IUS)
progestogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with
Protects against STIs
Adenomyosis
Endometriosis
Heavy periods
Menopause
Period pain
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Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Male condom reviews
65 reviews
Used for 3 - 6 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 8th Mar 24
You would need a lot of lube as it is not naturally liberated.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 8th Mar 24
You would need a lot of lube as it is not naturally liberated.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Hormonal coil (IUS) reviews
779 reviews
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
The mirena coil overall worked very well for me. It took a few months to settle initially, and I’m glad I stuck it out. However, at the 5 year mark I started to experience unpleasant symptoms - hair loss, pelvic pain, recurrent thrush. So I’ve now had it removed and gone for kyleena coil, so will see how that goes!
Gained weight
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I was nervous to try Jaydess as I have previously struggled with mild hormonal acne. However after 11 months, there have been barely any side effects apart from spotting in between periods. I found the pill had so many more side effects! My mood is unchanged, body unchanged, skin broke out ever so slightly but mainly fine. Sex drive unchanged. The only negative is it is painful having it inserted (and I had cramping for 2-3 months around the time of my period). But now I barely get cramps and my period is very light! Would recommend!
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Overall it has made my hormonal state worse. I am having it removed after 5 months as the moment I enter my luteal phase I have horrible mood swings, and depression-like symptoms and have become extremely sensitive to sugar, which then affects my mental state to the point of crying for no other reason. I also had a traumatic experience getting it in, please do your reading before getting any IUDs in. Ask for pain relief.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
The mirena coil overall worked very well for me. It took a few months to settle initially, and I’m glad I stuck it out. However, at the 5 year mark I started to experience unpleasant symptoms - hair loss, pelvic pain, recurrent thrush. So I’ve now had it removed and gone for kyleena coil, so will see how that goes!
Gained weight
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I was nervous to try Jaydess as I have previously struggled with mild hormonal acne. However after 11 months, there have been barely any side effects apart from spotting in between periods. I found the pill had so many more side effects! My mood is unchanged, body unchanged, skin broke out ever so slightly but mainly fine. Sex drive unchanged. The only negative is it is painful having it inserted (and I had cramping for 2-3 months around the time of my period). But now I barely get cramps and my period is very light! Would recommend!
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Overall it has made my hormonal state worse. I am having it removed after 5 months as the moment I enter my luteal phase I have horrible mood swings, and depression-like symptoms and have become extremely sensitive to sugar, which then affects my mental state to the point of crying for no other reason. I also had a traumatic experience getting it in, please do your reading before getting any IUDs in. Ask for pain relief.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
The mirena coil was excruiciating to have inserted, I am so shocked that no pain relief was offered and i had to spend the rest of the day in bed with severe cramps which continued for a few days. My skin had a very poor reaction and i developed quite bad cystic acne across my face, chest and back as a result, which I did not have previously.
Worse skin
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
The Jaydess coil increased my period pain massively and gave me severe acne, which took years to heal after it was removed. For the first couple months on it I was spotting constantly and developed anemia.
Worse skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
I got this contraception to prevent pregnancy but completely lost libido and gained weight. There was no issue with insertion and removal and got rid of painful periods.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
This has been much better for me than the combined or mini pill - it has had no effect on my mood that I can tell and my periods have basically almost stopped (for the past 3 years I've had 6ish light periods a year, with 1 day of sever cramping). However, this is nothing as bad as my natural periods which normally have a week either side of just cramping. However, I have recently noticed increased breast soreness/tenderness, slight, persistent cramps and increased discharge after my last period. If this persists I'll talk to my doctor - I should be changing my coil soon away, so I'll report back :)
Improved skin
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3rd Sep 24
I had cramps for ten days after and then I felt good for a week. Then I got pain so bad and a fever that I got taken to an and e. I in hospital for 10 days and had pelvic inflammatory disease which caused a massive abscess on my ovary which may leave permanent damage. I was never warned of this would not recommend it was such a painful experience
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
46 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 30th Aug 24
Mirena prescribed for painful, heavy, irregular periods in peri-menopause. My quality of life improved dramatically as a result. I had some bleeding daily for first 6 weeks, but my periods have now stopped other than an occasional slight spotting episode. No more pain, flooding or embarrassment, with my iron levels restored, so feeling energetic and less tired. No side effects other than breast tenderness and some mood changes initially. Life changing.
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 29th Aug 24
After being on the combined pill for the last 13 years for my heavy periods I was ready for a change and I am so happy I did. I had previously tried to have a coil fitting at my local GP surgery but the pain was so much so that I asked the procedure be stopped. I went back a few months later and asked for a topical local anesthetic which really helped and was able to have it fitted successfully. The coil has honestly changed my life, just over six months in and my periods have now virtually stopped. With only a day of light bleeding. My mood has massively changed and I feel so much happier in myself, I don't think I even realised the full affect the combined pill was having on me, even my husband has commented on how much happier I seem. It was definitely worth it!
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
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