Morning after pill vs Hormonal coil (IUS)
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Overview
Rated 3.4
30 reviews
Once after sex
Frequency
97 - 98%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 3.5
816 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
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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Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Morning after pill reviews
30 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
Complete loss of sex drive for over a week. Accompanied by low mood.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3rd Feb 25
I am going through the most excruciating lower back pain ever, can’t get up
Very negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 15th Apr 24
Increased sex drive
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
Complete loss of sex drive for over a week. Accompanied by low mood.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3rd Feb 25
I am going through the most excruciating lower back pain ever, can’t get up
Very negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 15th Apr 24
Increased sex drive
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Hormonal coil (IUS) reviews
816 reviews
Used for 6 - 12 mo
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
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
Used for 5 - 8 yr
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
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
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
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
Used for 6 - 12 mo
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
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
Used for 5 - 8 yr
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
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
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
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
Used for 6 - 12 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 21st Mar 25
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
Used for 12 - 18 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 15th Mar 25
At first all the skin problems I got from it scarred me. But I first started Jaydesss becuse of extremely painfull periods. This absolutely helped, I mostly lost my period which I thought I will never be lucky enough to experience in my life. The skin problems got a bit less annoying and extreme after I lost my periods. But at first I had really painfull pimples all over me - my face, chest, back, especially back on y neck and under my hair - on my head (i never had that before ever). Later I only experienced a few shoulder and face pimples. Since my period is gone, my back pain and cramps are gone completely. I am so happy and I feel like I no longer have to fight a battle with my body every month. I am a happier person, I feel mentally healthier. Before that I was scarred what the month will bring with body pain and how I will hide blood stain that was everywhere, ruining my clothes, bedsheets, even towels. There was so much blood and now there is none and I feel lucky :)
Worse skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 11th Mar 25
Got on really well for first few years but after year 5 the side effects seem to have become more frequent/worse.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
47 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 8th Mar 25
I used an Mirena coil over 12 years, having 3 inserted over that time. The first one was great, I was really pleased with it. Periods basically stopped and no real side effects. With the 2nd one there was sometimes period pain aches after sex but not always. However when it came to have it replaced nearly 6 years later it had moved and took some finding. At the time I just had the new one immediately put in but I was worried about it moving again and didn't relax so have had it taken out after only a year. As I am now 48 I do not know if things like my mood, no sex drive, random spotting, or anything else was linked to the Mirena or peri-menopause, so have not listed them as side effects for this (as more likely peri at this age)
Gained weight
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6th Mar 25
I've always had painful periods and the month before I got my coil, my period hurt so much I actually threw up and that's when I decided I would do something about it. I've been on the pill before (rigevidon/microgynon) but it negatively affected my mood, I had terrible anxiety and generally felt horrible all the time so I stopped. When I got the coil, the sexual health clinic I went to used spray anaesthesia, but it still really hurt. The thing is, it only hurt for about a couple seconds, where it basically felt like your insides are being crushed and you're having the worst possible cramps ever (x10). Afterwards, I had normal (period-like) cramping for the rest of the day but they gave me a heat pack which really helped. I had spotting for about 3 months afterwards (yes, every single day) but it was fine and after a while I got used to just wearing a pantyliner every day. I'm really glad my periods are very light now (I've missed it once only) but it's still there. I don't know whether it will disappear or not, but one of the reasons I chose kyleena over mirena is in hopes my periods won't completely disappear, just for peace of mind that I'm not pregnant lol. I have terrible breast tenderness sometimes, like it hurts to even touch, I can't tell if it's before I get my period or during ovulation, but it definitely appears once every month or so. My breasts didn't grow though so that's a bit of a disappointment compared to the pill.... All in all, I haven't noticed any mood changes, I'm still definitely very attracted to my partner, and he doesn't feel it during sex. There were a few times early on when he thought he did, but I got it checked and it was all good, I think he just had it in his head.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5th Mar 25
First few month I havent notice any side effects at all, but after like 4 months time it does get worst day by day with all the symptoms mentioned above, especially lower back pain. I always had a pain in there before coil but it was somehow managable but now not possible even rolling on bed to another side causing me a lot of pain. Plus the endo is still growing back and having full on period, I did agree to have this coil to stopthese 2 major symptoms of my endo but the the inflamaction in my body is still high with estrogen levels sky high so there is not reason for me to keep it in,the coil definetly didnt work on my stage 4 endo and adenomyosis and will be removed today after 9 months. Hope it will help to other people everyone body works differently It does seem synthetic hormones doesnt agree with me Had the same with birth control, had to come off due heavy period while on pills and pain was still present with huge side effects. Lasted on pills 3 years.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
36 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4th Mar 25
The lack of periods has been nice. But I experiences a dramatic decrease in sex drive from the moment it was put it and it takes a lot to turn me on. 12 months in, I noticed a lot of hairs drop happening and now my hair is notably thinner with a lot of breaks - I'm considering whipping it out.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments

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