Patch vs Hormonal coil (IUS)

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Patch

£From £0.32/day

Hormonal coil (IUS)

Add your Hormonal coil (IUS) review

Overview

Rated 3.5

102 reviews

Weekly

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.5

790 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

35% no impact on mood

35% lighter periods

51% no impact

47% no impact

44% no impact on skin

Cycle return

36% in 1 month

43% no impact on mood

48% stopped periods

47% no impact

59% no impact

53% no impact on skin

Cycle return

30% don’t know impact

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

Try it now

£From £0.32/day

Try it now

Add your Hormonal coil (IUS) review

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Patch reviews

102 reviews

Patch  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  9th Nov 24

Evra patch  

I mean, it did its job and I'm not pregnant. However, after 6 months of use, my periods started being irregular, I was starting them on the patch and stopping midway through patch free week, which was very annoying. The biggest issue was when I bled for a month constantly. They run all the tests, nothing was wrong with my body - it was the patch causing it and I was told to change the method. Now I'm on a Ring, let's see how it goes...

Read more

Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  31st Aug 24

Evra patch  

After switching from the combined pill due to depression, I was interested in the patch as I could change it weekly instead of remembering to take a pill everyday. I started the patch and my periods became regular and my mood increased greatly, I do experience bad PMS but It is much better compared to when I was on the pill. I do get cramps sometimes between periods but nothing too bad. You can also use the patch to skip periods but I enjoy having a regular “cycle” and when I did use it to skip a period for a holiday I ended up spotting for a month! Overall the patch is great for me and I don’t plan on changing as it has helped my mental health so much.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Aug 24

Patch  

I had near constant breakthrough bleeding the entire time


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  9th Nov 24

Evra patch  

I mean, it did its job and I'm not pregnant. However, after 6 months of use, my periods started being irregular, I was starting them on the patch and stopping midway through patch free week, which was very annoying. The biggest issue was when I bled for a month constantly. They run all the tests, nothing was wrong with my body - it was the patch causing it and I was told to change the method. Now I'm on a Ring, let's see how it goes...


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  31st Aug 24

Evra patch  

After switching from the combined pill due to depression, I was interested in the patch as I could change it weekly instead of remembering to take a pill everyday. I started the patch and my periods became regular and my mood increased greatly, I do experience bad PMS but It is much better compared to when I was on the pill. I do get cramps sometimes between periods but nothing too bad. You can also use the patch to skip periods but I enjoy having a regular “cycle” and when I did use it to skip a period for a holiday I ended up spotting for a month! Overall the patch is great for me and I don’t plan on changing as it has helped my mental health so much.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Aug 24

Patch  

I had near constant breakthrough bleeding the entire time


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments


Hormonal coil (IUS) reviews

790 reviews

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

Mirena coil  

Prepare for an immediate & severe drop in mood after insertion, coupled with intense pain for the first few weeks. My mood has stabilised a bit after 5 months, but overall I am much lower in mood and lack energy and motivation. The headaches are persistent and I have gained 1 stone. I bled for 3 months straight and now I bleed for approx half of the month, with painful periods and severe bloating.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Jaydess coil  

I’ve had this coil in for around 5 weeks now which isn’t a long time but it’s the best i’ve used so far. I have had positive experiences with copper IUDs in the past but they have all rejected due to strong period cramps, so I decided to give the Jaydess a try as it is the lowest dose of hormones available. I initially had it inserted a week after my period and the following week I started my period that lasted 17 days, very heavily. I didn't have any mood swings or weight gain in that time, but the cramps were SO bad for the entire time. On the weight gain, my experience might be skewed as I go to the gym and do very rigorous cardio 6 days per week. I have ultra dry skin also, so I cannot comment on acne as I luckily don’t suffer from it, apart from one super huge spot that came up on week 4. So far so good girls, stay safe and good luck!


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Mirena coil  

I have found the coil a very useful and relatively stress free form of contraception. I find the lighter periods much easier to deal with, my PMDD has been a lot more manageable with the coil and I appreciate not having to remember to deal with contraception regularly. My only issues have been some uncomfortable cramping occasionally and I did have an ovarian cyst which the doctor thought could be related to the hormonal contraception. The cyst did require an overnight hospital stay for pain relief but didn’t require surgery to fix, it went away on its own. Overall, taking everything into account I would still recommend the hormonal coil for ease etc - I think it is worth it!


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mirena coil  

Prepare for an immediate & severe drop in mood after insertion, coupled with intense pain for the first few weeks. My mood has stabilised a bit after 5 months, but overall I am much lower in mood and lack energy and motivation. The headaches are persistent and I have gained 1 stone. I bled for 3 months straight and now I bleed for approx half of the month, with painful periods and severe bloating.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Jaydess coil  

I’ve had this coil in for around 5 weeks now which isn’t a long time but it’s the best i’ve used so far. I have had positive experiences with copper IUDs in the past but they have all rejected due to strong period cramps, so I decided to give the Jaydess a try as it is the lowest dose of hormones available. I initially had it inserted a week after my period and the following week I started my period that lasted 17 days, very heavily. I didn't have any mood swings or weight gain in that time, but the cramps were SO bad for the entire time. On the weight gain, my experience might be skewed as I go to the gym and do very rigorous cardio 6 days per week. I have ultra dry skin also, so I cannot comment on acne as I luckily don’t suffer from it, apart from one super huge spot that came up on week 4. So far so good girls, stay safe and good luck!


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Mirena coil  

I have found the coil a very useful and relatively stress free form of contraception. I find the lighter periods much easier to deal with, my PMDD has been a lot more manageable with the coil and I appreciate not having to remember to deal with contraception regularly. My only issues have been some uncomfortable cramping occasionally and I did have an ovarian cyst which the doctor thought could be related to the hormonal contraception. The cyst did require an overnight hospital stay for pain relief but didn’t require surgery to fix, it went away on its own. Overall, taking everything into account I would still recommend the hormonal coil for ease etc - I think it is worth it!


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  18th Nov 24

Mirena coil  

Mostly happy but dryness is a big issue, making sex uncomfortable and sometimes not possible. No other issues so will persist but was not an expected side effect!


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  18th Nov 24

Kyleena coil  

Really good contraception however I feel my breasts are sore 3 weeks out of 4.


Gained weight

0 helpful

1 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  13th Nov 24

Jaydess coil  

After having a bad experience with the Nexplanon implant (very low mood) I decided to try the Jaydess coil as recommended by my doctor. Insertion is very painful as expected but the taking out is fine, I am currently coming to the end of my second coil so I'm swapping to the Mirena for a longer lifespan but I have loved this coil - I had some painful cramps for about 3 months at the beginning of the first coil but after about 6 months everything settled down. I've had no periods, no mood changes, no weight gain, my skin hasn't been great but it has improved recently and I wouldn't confidently say this was down to the coil anyway, more likely lifestyle choices.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  12th Nov 24

Kyleena coil  

Kyleena was good within the first 2 years that I had it, but I think that when the hormones start depleting that new side effects occur. Better than any other options I had, and insertion wasn’t painful as the healthcare provider used LA during. Looking at either swapping it out for a new Kyleena or to swap out for the copper coil as I’m now suffering extreme bloating and acne 3.5years after insertion. Hope this helps.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th Nov 24

Kyleena coil  

Kept me from becoming pregnant but at a very high cost... Extreme cramps throughout the month, even after removing the original coil (it was seen to be in the wrong place via ultrasound) and replaced with new one. Pain actually got worse as time went on, after about 8 months I had to get it out as the cramps were debilitating and extreme. I also had a migraine for the first time in my life, and often experienced dizziness and nausea. I also had a patch of recurring thrush infections which was hard to get over as it was so stubborn. The only positive sides were the reduction in bleeding/periods and lack of pregnancy. I will never use a coil again.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

1 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  29th Oct 24

Kyleena coil  

After 4 years of having the Kyleena I got pregnant and so have had the coil removed. The main symptoms I struggled with throughout the 4 years were weight gain and lack of libido.


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  13th Oct 24

Kyleena coil  

I had the coil for 4 and a half years and started getting infections with ever increasung severity. I would swing between thrush and bv pretty much back to back especially in the last year and a half of having it. The doctors kept just giving me treatment for it and didnt say that it could be linked to the pill and it was only when i went on a deep dive of coil side effcts that i found out that it can cause infections. I then asked the doctors and then said they could see a correlation amd suggested removing it. I spent hundreds of pounds on prescription and over the counter medicine and spent such a long time feeling totally disgusting. Before i got the coil i had has thrush a few times and so i wonder whether i am more susceptible to getting it and thar should have been a consideration before choosing to have it.


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Patch with other contraceptives

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