Patch vs Hormonal coil (IUS)
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Overview
Rated 3.4
110 reviews
Weekly
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 3.5
825 reviews
Every 3-8 years
Frequency
Over 99%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Patch ingredients
Main hormones in Patch
progestogen
oestrogen
Hormonal coil (IUS) ingredients
Main hormones in Hormonal coil (IUS)
progestogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with
Acne or bad skin
Heavy periods
PMS and PMDD
PCOS symptoms
Period pain
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
Patch reviews
110 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Been using the patch for 1 month now. The first 2 weeks weren’t great, I was having intense mood swings and irritability which was not like myself. I also experienced headaches during the first 2 weeks which now seem to be a lot better. By the third week things started to settle and my moods became better and less intense. On the patch free week I experienced bleeding and stomach pain (similar to a normal period) I’ve also noticed my skin has gotten worse as I very rarely get spots but have had quite a few breakouts since beginning the patch. I haven’t noticed any weight gain but slight breast enlargement. Overall, I would recommend the patch due to quite a lot of the side effects being temporary and as someone who struggles with contraception this has been the best one so far.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
I went back on the patch a few months ago as it's probably my most preferred form of contraception (I'm often not on any and am reluctant to use anything but needs must). I actually have fallen pregnant on the patch in the past and have a 5 year old son to show for it but so far this time round it seems to be doing the job. Pros: It's so easy to use, changing once a week is so much easier than trying to remember a pill each day. I usually use the whole pack back to back so appreciate less frequent periods. It stays put with no issue at all. Cons: My moods have been awful, to the point I feel quite depressed some of the time, I'm crying a lot and not coping with challenges very well as I normally would. My periods are generally heavier, I have a couple of days of constantly leaking through tampons in a very short space of time. I'm getting headaches quite regularly which won't shift with painkillers. Also feel nauseous quite often. This month have started breakthrough bleeding after just a couple of weeks since last patch free week. Overall, not loving it at the moment. However I've had such bad experiences with other forms of contraception that I still think this is the best of a bad bunch. Really rate the convenience of it. No noticeable difference to weight or skin thankfully.
Somewhat negative mood
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2nd Mar 25
I don't like it. It makes me feel sad, like full-time pms. I've cried most days on it. I get headaches and I never used to. My friends say I don't seem like myself. My sex drive is lower. I was spotting for the first 6 weeks. Pluses are decreased risk of pregnancy, being able to skip a break and less heavy period/breakthrough bleeding so iron levels are easier to control. It's easy to use and so far has stayed on well (we'll see if this is still the case in summer). I like that if I wanted to stop using it I can remove it myself.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
2 helpful
1 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Been using the patch for 1 month now. The first 2 weeks weren’t great, I was having intense mood swings and irritability which was not like myself. I also experienced headaches during the first 2 weeks which now seem to be a lot better. By the third week things started to settle and my moods became better and less intense. On the patch free week I experienced bleeding and stomach pain (similar to a normal period) I’ve also noticed my skin has gotten worse as I very rarely get spots but have had quite a few breakouts since beginning the patch. I haven’t noticed any weight gain but slight breast enlargement. Overall, I would recommend the patch due to quite a lot of the side effects being temporary and as someone who struggles with contraception this has been the best one so far.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
I went back on the patch a few months ago as it's probably my most preferred form of contraception (I'm often not on any and am reluctant to use anything but needs must). I actually have fallen pregnant on the patch in the past and have a 5 year old son to show for it but so far this time round it seems to be doing the job. Pros: It's so easy to use, changing once a week is so much easier than trying to remember a pill each day. I usually use the whole pack back to back so appreciate less frequent periods. It stays put with no issue at all. Cons: My moods have been awful, to the point I feel quite depressed some of the time, I'm crying a lot and not coping with challenges very well as I normally would. My periods are generally heavier, I have a couple of days of constantly leaking through tampons in a very short space of time. I'm getting headaches quite regularly which won't shift with painkillers. Also feel nauseous quite often. This month have started breakthrough bleeding after just a couple of weeks since last patch free week. Overall, not loving it at the moment. However I've had such bad experiences with other forms of contraception that I still think this is the best of a bad bunch. Really rate the convenience of it. No noticeable difference to weight or skin thankfully.
Somewhat negative mood
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2nd Mar 25
I don't like it. It makes me feel sad, like full-time pms. I've cried most days on it. I get headaches and I never used to. My friends say I don't seem like myself. My sex drive is lower. I was spotting for the first 6 weeks. Pluses are decreased risk of pregnancy, being able to skip a break and less heavy period/breakthrough bleeding so iron levels are easier to control. It's easy to use and so far has stayed on well (we'll see if this is still the case in summer). I like that if I wanted to stop using it I can remove it myself.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
2 helpful
1 comments
Hormonal coil (IUS) reviews
825 reviews
Used for 12 - 18 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Overall my periods were regular but once I got the coil I had very irregular periods and extra cramping. I also have frequent dizzy spells and headaches since it has been inserted. And I've seen an increase in spots and body hair since starting with the coil
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Struggled to fit the Mirena & so fitted the Kyleena instead - potentially leading to an insufficient amount of progesterone as i continued to have irregular bleeding. After about 12 months this settled down and month on month this has lessened and my cycle continued. However, I experienced consistent cramping like I'd never had before and from 15 months onwards severe & debilitating pain about a week before my period. This is why I had it removed.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
41 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I experienced irregular periods, major mood swings and no sex drive at all. Would not recommend this at all.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
1 helpful
1 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Overall my periods were regular but once I got the coil I had very irregular periods and extra cramping. I also have frequent dizzy spells and headaches since it has been inserted. And I've seen an increase in spots and body hair since starting with the coil
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Struggled to fit the Mirena & so fitted the Kyleena instead - potentially leading to an insufficient amount of progesterone as i continued to have irregular bleeding. After about 12 months this settled down and month on month this has lessened and my cycle continued. However, I experienced consistent cramping like I'd never had before and from 15 months onwards severe & debilitating pain about a week before my period. This is why I had it removed.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
41 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I experienced irregular periods, major mood swings and no sex drive at all. Would not recommend this at all.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
1 helpful
1 comments
Used for 8+ yr
36 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
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
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Loved this until I got BV then no treatment would fix it until I got IUS removed
Top side effects not reported
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
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
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
40 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
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
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
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
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
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
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month 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
1 helpful
0 comments

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