Vasectomy vs Hormonal coil (IUS)

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Vasectomy

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Hormonal coil (IUS)

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Overview

Rated 3.3

6 reviews

Permanent

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

Permanent

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.5

738 reviews

Every 3-8 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Vasectomy ingredients

A vasectomy (male sterilisation) is a permanent surgical procedure to cut or seal the tubes that carry a man’s sperm. It prevents pregnancy by stopping sperm getting into a man’s semen which is then ejaculated during sexual intercourse.

Hormonal coil (IUS) ingredients

Main hormones in Hormonal coil (IUS)

progestogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

There are no benefits that are recognised in scientific research or guidelines for this contraceptive

Adenomyosis

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Menopause

Period pain

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Real life reviews from people like you

Vasectomy reviews

6 reviews

Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5th Sep 20

  •  Stopped using

Sept 1998. Had a vasectomy. Easy and quick. Done in the hospital operating room on a Friday morning. Went home And took it easy. Took it easy at work Monday no problems. By Wednesday started feeling pain in testicles. Called doctors office. Doctors gone on holiday. Anyway from this point the pain only gets worse and all the doctors have to say is that they have never seen anyone in such pain. Within the first six months I had met with a variety of doctors and tried a wide variety of drugs, therapies and nerve blocks. Nothing worked for more than a few hours (nerve blocks did!). I had the vasectomy reversed June 1999 at my own cost of $2000. It was about three months before i felt better from that. Sadly only my left testicle had resolved. The right side still had the same pain. I had a semen test done. First ever in my life. I had sperm count of 125 million / ml. Surgeon thought that was great but still pain persisted in my right testicle. Followup turned into another vas reversal but just for the right side. This one I didn’t have to pay for because it was for chronic pain. Sadly it didn’t help. Now it’s 2020! I have endured this for 22 years. I wish I had never done it. That’s my absolute last word.

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Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  12th Jun 20

  •  Stopped using

Vasectomy has been a very effective contraceptive for me. It is good because it has allowed my hormones to follow a natural rhythm. Unfortunately I have experienced depression(and severe PMS) as I would like to have more children(but my partner does not). This has decreased my libido significantly and made me consider using hormonal contraception to level out my hormone levels.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  20th Aug 19

  •  Stopped using

As noted before, testicular pain/discomfort and testicles sensitive to pressure to the extent that rucked underpants could lead to quite severe pain. Gradually diminished over years but not completely. Testicles still more sensitive than should be. Did lead to reduction in enjoyment of sex as experience could be painful on occasions. Apparently quite a high side effect risk. Effective contraception method but took a few weeks to get the all clear.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5th Sep 20

  •  Stopped using

Sept 1998. Had a vasectomy. Easy and quick. Done in the hospital operating room on a Friday morning. Went home And took it easy. Took it easy at work Monday no problems. By Wednesday started feeling pain in testicles. Called doctors office. Doctors gone on holiday. Anyway from this point the pain only gets worse and all the doctors have to say is that they have never seen anyone in such pain. Within the first six months I had met with a variety of doctors and tried a wide variety of drugs, therapies and nerve blocks. Nothing worked for more than a few hours (nerve blocks did!). I had the vasectomy reversed June 1999 at my own cost of $2000. It was about three months before i felt better from that. Sadly only my left testicle had resolved. The right side still had the same pain. I had a semen test done. First ever in my life. I had sperm count of 125 million / ml. Surgeon thought that was great but still pain persisted in my right testicle. Followup turned into another vas reversal but just for the right side. This one I didn’t have to pay for because it was for chronic pain. Sadly it didn’t help. Now it’s 2020! I have endured this for 22 years. I wish I had never done it. That’s my absolute last word.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  12th Jun 20

  •  Stopped using

Vasectomy has been a very effective contraceptive for me. It is good because it has allowed my hormones to follow a natural rhythm. Unfortunately I have experienced depression(and severe PMS) as I would like to have more children(but my partner does not). This has decreased my libido significantly and made me consider using hormonal contraception to level out my hormone levels.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  20th Aug 19

  •  Stopped using

As noted before, testicular pain/discomfort and testicles sensitive to pressure to the extent that rucked underpants could lead to quite severe pain. Gradually diminished over years but not completely. Testicles still more sensitive than should be. Did lead to reduction in enjoyment of sex as experience could be painful on occasions. Apparently quite a high side effect risk. Effective contraception method but took a few weeks to get the all clear.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments


Hormonal coil (IUS) reviews

738 reviews

Used for 3 - 6 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

  •  Stopped using

Overall helped to regulate my periods, but also had significant side effects on my food intake/weight and on my energy levels.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 5 - 8 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

  •  Still using

I’ve had the mirena coil for about 7 years now and had 2 fitted. The first one worked like a dream, hardly noticed it. Since having a new one fitted over a year ago the side effects have been increasingly annoying. Acne for about 2 weeks per month, and I was never spotty before, not even as a teenager. Also period cramps, but it has completely stopped my period. Also migraines with aura, although I did suffer from these in the past, I’m not sure if they have just gotten worse or if it is the new coil. I’m very disappointed as, like I said, the first one gave me no issues at all.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

  •  Stopped using

After being on and off oral contraceptives (most of the time cyproterone acetate 2.00 mg and ethinylestradiol tablets 35 mcg) I found moving to a hormonal IUD to be a total game-changer. Positives: Predominantly for my moods and the feeling of being in tune with my body (less water retention etc.). Although my hormonal prone acne got worse for a period of time (2-3 months), this eventually came right. I also lost the positive anti-androgen effects that I was on the pill for. I would say the improvement in mood was so significant for this alone it was worth switching the IUD. Other benefits; not having to think about the pill every day and going from heavy bleeding to light and then non-existent bleeding. Negatives: After nearly 1 year and a half of having the IUD I had a recurring UTI and several courses of antibiotics. I developed lower abdominal pain, bloating, pain after sex and thrush. This would come and go. Results only came back with BV. My gynaecologist suggested a course of Uro-Vaxom (3 months). This didn't resolve my symptoms so I suggested I would like to remove the IUD to see if it would help getting my periods back to rebalance my vaginal microbiome. After removing the IUD and two menstrual cycles later, all my symptoms were gone. I would still highly recommend this contraception - I had zero problems and only benefits up until the UTI and antibiotics.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 6 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

  •  Stopped using

Overall helped to regulate my periods, but also had significant side effects on my food intake/weight and on my energy levels.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 5 - 8 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

  •  Still using

I’ve had the mirena coil for about 7 years now and had 2 fitted. The first one worked like a dream, hardly noticed it. Since having a new one fitted over a year ago the side effects have been increasingly annoying. Acne for about 2 weeks per month, and I was never spotty before, not even as a teenager. Also period cramps, but it has completely stopped my period. Also migraines with aura, although I did suffer from these in the past, I’m not sure if they have just gotten worse or if it is the new coil. I’m very disappointed as, like I said, the first one gave me no issues at all.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

  •  Stopped using

After being on and off oral contraceptives (most of the time cyproterone acetate 2.00 mg and ethinylestradiol tablets 35 mcg) I found moving to a hormonal IUD to be a total game-changer. Positives: Predominantly for my moods and the feeling of being in tune with my body (less water retention etc.). Although my hormonal prone acne got worse for a period of time (2-3 months), this eventually came right. I also lost the positive anti-androgen effects that I was on the pill for. I would say the improvement in mood was so significant for this alone it was worth switching the IUD. Other benefits; not having to think about the pill every day and going from heavy bleeding to light and then non-existent bleeding. Negatives: After nearly 1 year and a half of having the IUD I had a recurring UTI and several courses of antibiotics. I developed lower abdominal pain, bloating, pain after sex and thrush. This would come and go. Results only came back with BV. My gynaecologist suggested a course of Uro-Vaxom (3 months). This didn't resolve my symptoms so I suggested I would like to remove the IUD to see if it would help getting my periods back to rebalance my vaginal microbiome. After removing the IUD and two menstrual cycles later, all my symptoms were gone. I would still highly recommend this contraception - I had zero problems and only benefits up until the UTI and antibiotics.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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

  •  Stopped using

Do not recommend! The procedure was traumatic to say the least, the aftermath even worse, plus the serious weight gain was unimaginable. Only benefit was no periods and forgot it was even there after a while. I wasn't fully aware of what the procedure entailed - I wished I did my research/ the doctors should be more informative. My recommendation is it should not be your first choice of contraception. The procedure itself was very painful, quick, but very painful - I passed out. The procedural pain is a forgettable pain tbh but the aftermath pain I will never forget. I was told I will get "period like cramps" afterwards. The cramps started immediately after the procedure and it was the worst "period cramps" I had ever experienced. I felt like my uterus was being ripped apart, the nausea, the dizziness, I was shaking from shock. I had to crawl out the surgery back to my car - thankfully wasn't driving as the pain just progressively got worse. The "period cramps" were more like labour pains and went on for 2 hours afterwards. The next day I was fine - small cramping continued for weeks after but then eventually went away. All the pain would of been worth it if I didn't gain the amount of weight I did. Within 6 months I went from a UK size 8 to a UK size 14. The weight was rapid - I have the stretch marks all over my lower half to prove it. I go to intense exercise classes twice a week and have a personal trainer and the weight will not shift! I did research (little late) and apparently the Mirena coil typically doesn't affect your weight but yet when I speak to other women most claimed they gained a serious amount of weight because of it. Overall I'm getting it taken out in a week and I'll be glad to see it gone. Hopefully the weight can be lost. And for those thinking about it - DO YOUR RESEARCH and don't be scared to ask your doctor a million questions - I wish I did.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 5 - 8 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

  •  Still using

I now have my second mirena coil. I have no periods, but I can still track my monthly cycle through variations in my mood, hunger and energy levels. I have had no periods or bleeding since the first insertion, have now no pain and don't have to think about contraception at all, which for me is ideal. For me the insertions weren't easy - both inserted without any anaesthetic or pain relief (the places I went didn't offer it even when asked) other than paracetemol and ibuprofen. Insertion for me was painful, leaving me light headed and feeling quite sick following which I had stabbing pains and cramps for about a week each time. However, other than the week after insertion both times, I have no pain, bleeding or unpredictable hormonal fluctuations.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

  •  Stopped using

Getting the kyleena coil inserted was quite painful. I got very intense cramps the moment it was inserted and I felt quite light-headed and a bit sick. The cramping lessened a bit after 5 mins or so but continued for the next few days. I bled for a few days after insertion but it wasn't heavy or anything. Positives: My periods became super light. I barely needed to use any period products - I would just wear period pants for the first 2 days then use nothing. Negatives: Cramping leading up to my period got worse. I got quite bad breast tenderness - a symptom I'd never had prior to the coil. I seemed to get thrush more frequently than before and also had a lot of vaginal dryness. The main negative for me was that I would start getting extremely anxious 1-2 weeks before my period was due. I'd regularly break down crying, read too much into things that people said, be very self-conscious, constantly worry about everything and not want to go out to any social events. I had never experienced anything this extreme before getting the coil. The doctor told me these feelings didn't have anything to do with the coil (she did say there's a small chance it amplified feelings that were already there. I chose to take the coil out anyway just to see, for my own peace of mind. It's like night and day. I got the coil out while I was on my period and the weeks leading up to my next period I did not experience any of these symptoms, and this has continued to be the case since I got the coil out 7 months ago.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 12 - 18 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

  •  Stopped using

I moved to the mirena coil after my doctor would no longer prescribe me the pill i was on and it was the worst decision I ever made. My sex drive was non existent & sex was v painful (my partner could also feel it.), my skin went crazy and I had acne all over my chin and back, I gained weight suddenly and my mood was v unpredictable.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 6 - 12 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  25th Feb 24

  •  Still using

I suffer from low moods very often and definitely have not felt like myself for a long while and it has correlated with since I had this coil put in.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  23rd Feb 24

  •  Still using

Great but painful to insert


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 5 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  19th Feb 24

  •  Still using

For the most part, I love the mirena and of contraceptives I have tried, it’s my favourite by far. I like that you don’t have to think about it too much aside from checking the strings. It doesn’t have an impact on my mood like others did. The only drawback is random cramping I get with it that feels quite unexplained and not tied to my cycle. It can be quite sore and after reading other women’s reviews online, it seems quite common but like a lot of contraception symptoms, unexplained.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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