Male condom vs Hormonal coil (IUS)

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Male condom

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Hormonal coil (IUS)

Add your Hormonal coil (IUS) review

Overview

Rated 4.1

67 reviews

During or before sex

Frequency

82% - 98%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.5

871 reviews

Every 3-8 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Male condom ingredients

Male condoms are thin latex or polyurethane sheaths that are worn on the penis during sexual intercourse.

Hormonal coil (IUS) ingredients

Main hormones in Hormonal coil (IUS)

progestogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

72% no impact on mood

87% no change

76% no impact

97% no impact

85% no impact on skin

Cycle return

50% in 1 month

43% no impact on mood

46% stopped periods

47% no impact

59% no impact

54% no impact on skin

Cycle return

33% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Protects against STIs

Adenomyosis

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Menopause

Period pain

Try it now

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Add your Hormonal coil (IUS) review

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Male condom reviews

67 reviews

Male condom  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  16th May 25

Hanx condom  

this is a test

Read more

Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4th Nov 24

Skyn condom  

me and my partner have always had problems with using condoms from durex, but now trying skyns condoms, i will never go back. They don’t have that weird smell and me nor my partner could even feel as if it was there! 100% recommend


Very positive mood

2 more effects

2 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  15th May 24

Skyn condom  

I was recommended dretine and I've not looked back.


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  16th May 25

Hanx condom  

this is a test


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4th Nov 24

Skyn condom  

me and my partner have always had problems with using condoms from durex, but now trying skyns condoms, i will never go back. They don’t have that weird smell and me nor my partner could even feel as if it was there! 100% recommend


Very positive mood

2 more effects

2 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  15th May 24

Skyn condom  

I was recommended dretine and I've not looked back.


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments


Hormonal coil (IUS) reviews

871 reviews

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

Benilexa coil  

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

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

Kyleena coil  

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

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Mirena coil  

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

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

Benilexa coil  

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

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

Kyleena coil  

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

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Mirena coil  

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

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th Dec 25

Mirena coil  

Hard to tell if it’s improved but I definitely have breast tenderness


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  17th Nov 25

Kyleena coil  

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

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  10th Nov 25

Kyleena coil  

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

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  9th Nov 25

Mirena coil  

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

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Nov 25

Hormonal coil (IUS)  

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

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  27th Oct 25

Jaydess coil  

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

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  27th Oct 25

Kyleena coil  

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

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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