Male condom vs Hormonal coil (IUS)

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Male condom

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Hormonal coil (IUS)

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Overview

Rated 4.1

66 reviews

During or before sex

Frequency

82% - 98%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.5

822 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

73% no impact on mood

88% no change

77% no impact

99% no impact

88% no impact on skin

Cycle return

50% in 1 month

43% no impact on mood

47% stopped periods

48% no impact

59% no impact

54% no impact on skin

Cycle return

32% 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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Try it now

Add your Hormonal coil (IUS) review

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Male condom reviews

66 reviews

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

Read more

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 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  12th Mar 24

Durex condom  

Potentially safe


Somewhat positive mood

0 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 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  12th Mar 24

Durex condom  

Potentially safe


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments


Hormonal coil (IUS) reviews

822 reviews

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 8+ yr
36 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days 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

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 days 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

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

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

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 8+ yr
36 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days 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

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 days 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

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

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

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
40 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

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

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Levosert coil  

I mean as a contraceptive it works because I haven’t gotten pregnant. A positive my periods are extremely light and irregular, but as a distant irregular. But my skin has never been so worse in my life, I constantly have big deep spots on my chin. I used to have quite dry skin but now on the oily side.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mirena coil  

The mirena coil stopped my periods and worked as a contraceptive, however it stimulated hair growth on my face which was not there before. As a result I have required many courses of laser. I do not have PCOS and have had testing, however I think the hormones in the mirena coil started the changes that are now continuing despite having the coil since removed. The coil was also extremely painful to have inserted.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mirena coil  

Had the Mirena Coil in for around 9 months and it's made my periods so much lighter but a bit more irregular. It was really painful upon insertion and I'm still getting stabby cramps around when I should be having my period. Overall, I think it's worth it because my periods are so much lighter.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Mirena coil  

I had three Mirenas over the course of about 9 years. The first two were perfect, with no side effects and stopping my periods. For me the insertions and removals were fine. Maybe a 3 out of 10 pain wise and some mild cramps afterwards. Unfortunately I know that's not everyone's experience. After about 3.5 years of each Mirena, I got lots of breakthrough bleeding and my GP decided to change it early to prevent this. Unfortunately my third Mirena gave me unpredictable bleeding for months, which was affecting my life as I was always worried I'd bleed through clothes or during sex. I also kept getting recurrent thrush, which I'd not experienced before. For me another negative was that the strings always seemed to be really prominent and my boyfriend could feel them during sex. Overall a mixed experience - after years of hassle-free birth control I eventually changed to the POP due to the unpredictable bleeding I was getting with Mirena.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mirena coil  

I found that when I got it inserted I had a light, almost discharge like period for 3 months and then once that finally went, I started having irregular periods and and someone whose always had regular periods this was infuriating. The reason I went on was for period pain and I found the pills, both mini and progesterone only, made my mood drop in terms of I was always angry and anxious and my general body image went on a downward spiral. I had no issues with the mirena up until about 3 months ago when all of this started happening again. I’m hoping this will help for others in my situation


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  21st Mar 25

Mirena coil  

Never having to worry about condoms is such a great plus. I had a lot of pain in the first six months and three 11+ day periods. Afterwards, my periods have stopped totally and I only get the occasional cramp, akin to an ovulation cramp. My libido has decreased slightly and my breast have gotten bigger. Overall it’s been a great help in my sex life


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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