Morning after pill vs Hormonal coil (IUS)

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Morning after pill

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Hormonal coil (IUS)

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Overview

Rated 3.4

34 reviews

Once after sex

Frequency

97 - 98%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.5

904 reviews

Every 3-8 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Morning after pill ingredients

Main hormones in Morning after pill

progestogen


Hormonal coil (IUS) ingredients

Main hormones in Hormonal coil (IUS)

progestogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

35% somewhat negative

27% no change

59% no impact

65% no impact

53% no impact on skin

Cycle return

67% in 1 month

43% no impact on mood

46% 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

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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Add your Hormonal coil (IUS) review

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Morning after pill reviews

34 reviews

Morning after pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1st Jul 26

ellaOne pill  

A lot of weight gain and my skin went very bad

Read more

Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Morning after pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  19th May 26

Levonorgestrel pill  

Feeling very sick, painful stomach/cramp pains, tired muscles or aches, overall extremely tired, loss of energy, bloating and gas discomfort


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Morning after pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  17th Sep 25

ellaOne pill  

I was reluctant to take the morning after pill. I was advised to take it by the nurse after using the withdrawal method. My cycle following taking the pill was 42 day long (my average cycle is about 35 days).


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Morning after pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1st Jul 26

ellaOne pill  

A lot of weight gain and my skin went very bad


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Morning after pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  19th May 26

Levonorgestrel pill  

Feeling very sick, painful stomach/cramp pains, tired muscles or aches, overall extremely tired, loss of energy, bloating and gas discomfort


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Morning after pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  17th Sep 25

ellaOne pill  

I was reluctant to take the morning after pill. I was advised to take it by the nurse after using the withdrawal method. My cycle following taking the pill was 42 day long (my average cycle is about 35 days).


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments


Hormonal coil (IUS) reviews

904 reviews

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Kyleena coil  

Positive - first one for 5 years, protected against pregnancy, stopped periods after about 18 months so saved money on tampons. No significant side effects initially. Set and forget method was great. Negatives - I found the fitting incredibly painful. When I had it changed after 5 years the reinsertion was traumatic and I won't have it again. I suffered with mouth ulcers every month that got progressively worse over time. My mood wasn't bad but it was overall flattened. The new one never settled and I had problems with the threads travelling upwards, I found medical staff across the board (GP, clinic, hospital for ultrasound) very uninterested when I had issues after fitting which was difficult because I was frightened of possible consequences if it moved or they couldn't get the threads to remove it. I have honestly never had thrush so much in my life as I did when I was on kyleena. Noticed more and darker body hair over time.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mirena coil  

Works well for me, was hoping would take away periods altogether but definitely made them lighter. Found fitting comfortable as just had some cramping. But I have quite a low cervix, so I could feel the strings and needed them trimmed.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2nd Jul 26

Mirena coil  

Not pleasant to put in but completely stopped by periods after few months. Reassuring that no pregnancy, however absolutely 0 sex drive and this effects relationships.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Kyleena coil  

Positive - first one for 5 years, protected against pregnancy, stopped periods after about 18 months so saved money on tampons. No significant side effects initially. Set and forget method was great. Negatives - I found the fitting incredibly painful. When I had it changed after 5 years the reinsertion was traumatic and I won't have it again. I suffered with mouth ulcers every month that got progressively worse over time. My mood wasn't bad but it was overall flattened. The new one never settled and I had problems with the threads travelling upwards, I found medical staff across the board (GP, clinic, hospital for ultrasound) very uninterested when I had issues after fitting which was difficult because I was frightened of possible consequences if it moved or they couldn't get the threads to remove it. I have honestly never had thrush so much in my life as I did when I was on kyleena. Noticed more and darker body hair over time.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mirena coil  

Works well for me, was hoping would take away periods altogether but definitely made them lighter. Found fitting comfortable as just had some cramping. But I have quite a low cervix, so I could feel the strings and needed them trimmed.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2nd Jul 26

Mirena coil  

Not pleasant to put in but completely stopped by periods after few months. Reassuring that no pregnancy, however absolutely 0 sex drive and this effects relationships.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2nd Jul 26

Mirena coil  

Initial 3 month settling in period is intense, lots of bleeding and emotional side effects plus insertion pain. After 3 months it settled and I thought I had found the holy grail, emotionally stable and no side effects. At 6 months I developed a large ovarian cyst which put me in agony and A&E, doctors said this was caused by the coil and had to remove it. Unfortunately I cant recommend, the search continues.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  29th Jun 26

Mirena coil  

No periods but developed acne. I also get cysts now regularly (never had before) that burst and hurt so bad that the first time it happened I went to the ER.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  19th Jun 26

Mirena coil  

only had mirena coil fitted 3 weeks ago but so far it’s been good, i have had quite a lot of lower back pain but other than that i don’t feel any different


Lost weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  18th Jun 26

Mirena coil  

Prior to having the mirena coil I had the most horrific periods literally to the point of passing out. I can say I have had my coil in for nearly 6 years and not had a period since and now I feel like I have my life back! It has been one of the decisions I have ever made and also hardly had any hormonal side effects.


Very positive mood

2 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  17th Jun 26

Mirena coil  

I loved the mirena but over 3 different coils, shortly after insertion I would get kidney infections that didn’t respond to antibiotics. The link was only made on the third despite me asking the gyno about it. Such a shame because I loved it otherwise. Kidney infections mostly skipped the uti stage and went straight to them but bacteria wouldn’t grow in pee. If this sounds like you remove it!


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  16th Jun 26

Levosert coil  

Had it inserted at birth during a c section so no pain for insertion. Periods for lighter every month with significantly less pain than before and have virtually stopped after 8 months - just a small amount of spotting.


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  11th Jun 26

Mirena coil  

occasional cramps and sore boobs but I'll take that for no periods and no babies!


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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