Progestogen-only / Mini pill vs Hormonal coil (IUS)
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Overview
Rated 2.7
1412 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 3.5
851 reviews
Every 3-8 years
Frequency
Over 99%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Progestogen-only / Mini pill ingredients
Main hormones in Progestogen-only / Mini pill
progestogen
Hormonal coil (IUS) ingredients
Main hormones in Hormonal coil (IUS)
progestogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with
Period pain
Adenomyosis
Endometriosis
Heavy periods
Menopause
Period pain
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Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews
1412 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I used this for a month hoping it would help with period cramps. Do not recommend. I used it perfectly and felt nauseous everyday after taking it. I got a 9 day period (with cramps) during what was supposed to be my "ovulation" week.It had me feeling very anrgy, caused me period like pains and headaches daily.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
In general I had a good experience with Slynd. It helped my underlying endometriosis significantly and for the 4 months I was on it I had no period cramps or pain for the first time ever. Unfortunately I had to stop taking it because I was spotting everyday. I thought my body needed time to adjust but after 4 months I was still wearing a pantyliner every day. It was very minimal and I had no pain but I just didn't want to wear liners every day. Once I stopped Slynd I went back to 'normal' after about 3 days but sadly my periods are back to being painful. As an aside, I noticed a reduction in sweating whilst on Slynd and several days I would go without antiperspirant or deodorant.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Great pill been on and off twice for a few years, no side effects bar really really really tender and sore and sensitive breasts. I have such bad health anxiety and honestly this had my questioning if I needed to go to the doctors because of the scary big C that’s how sore and tender my breasts have been, can’t even lie on them.
Somewhat positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I used this for a month hoping it would help with period cramps. Do not recommend. I used it perfectly and felt nauseous everyday after taking it. I got a 9 day period (with cramps) during what was supposed to be my "ovulation" week.It had me feeling very anrgy, caused me period like pains and headaches daily.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
In general I had a good experience with Slynd. It helped my underlying endometriosis significantly and for the 4 months I was on it I had no period cramps or pain for the first time ever. Unfortunately I had to stop taking it because I was spotting everyday. I thought my body needed time to adjust but after 4 months I was still wearing a pantyliner every day. It was very minimal and I had no pain but I just didn't want to wear liners every day. Once I stopped Slynd I went back to 'normal' after about 3 days but sadly my periods are back to being painful. As an aside, I noticed a reduction in sweating whilst on Slynd and several days I would go without antiperspirant or deodorant.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Great pill been on and off twice for a few years, no side effects bar really really really tender and sore and sensitive breasts. I have such bad health anxiety and honestly this had my questioning if I needed to go to the doctors because of the scary big C that’s how sore and tender my breasts have been, can’t even lie on them.
Somewhat positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Hormonal coil (IUS) reviews
851 reviews
Used for 3 - 5 yr
63 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
It was a very positive as i was having irregular heavy periods And personally I had a much better libido When in the past, bloods tested low in testerol levels of 7.5 i II wish this had been aware of of this before bow, i thought there was something not quite right as apparently 12 or above is the better level of testerol for women
Very positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 week ago
I've had the Mirena coil for about 10 months now, my doctor recommended it to stop uterine polyps from reappearing. Prior to the coil I had very heavy, extremely painful periods and pretty bad iron deficiency, but now my periods are super light and not painful at all!! The insertion was painful but not worse that the period cramps I used to get before; I spotted for 3 months straight but after that I started having semi-regular periods. I noticed that I had much more energy (probably because my iron levels were back to normal), my libido increased and I lost weight. I am really really happy with the coil.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
52 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Awful experience having it fitted, very painful. I’m convinced it triggered vaginal atrophy (I was already menopausal)
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
63 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
It was a very positive as i was having irregular heavy periods And personally I had a much better libido When in the past, bloods tested low in testerol levels of 7.5 i II wish this had been aware of of this before bow, i thought there was something not quite right as apparently 12 or above is the better level of testerol for women
Very positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 week ago
I've had the Mirena coil for about 10 months now, my doctor recommended it to stop uterine polyps from reappearing. Prior to the coil I had very heavy, extremely painful periods and pretty bad iron deficiency, but now my periods are super light and not painful at all!! The insertion was painful but not worse that the period cramps I used to get before; I spotted for 3 months straight but after that I started having semi-regular periods. I noticed that I had much more energy (probably because my iron levels were back to normal), my libido increased and I lost weight. I am really really happy with the coil.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
52 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Awful experience having it fitted, very painful. I’m convinced it triggered vaginal atrophy (I was already menopausal)
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Recurrent abdominal pain and pressure in my lower tummy. The only positive thing is that it has stopped heavy periods
Worse skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I swapped to the coil as I started getting migraines on the combined pill and wanted a longer term solution GP advised to give the coil 6 months to settle in but during that time my skin has gradually got worse with bad acne, I still have periods which are lighter granted but lasting 8-9 days, much worse periods cramps than on combined and then for last 2 months spotting almost everyday and bad period like cramping. GP thought these symptoms suggested coil displacement but USS confirmed it was in situ and these must just be the side effects I personally get from mirena. The cramping and constant spotting and acne is affecting my sex life and general mood day to day so trying to get the coil removed and tempted to try the copper coil (although I went for the Mirena as I’d read you can get the symptoms I’m currently having on the copper but only time will tell!)
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
Had the Mirena coil for 4 years. Insertion wasn’t a fun experience but only cramped for a few days. A bit of spotting for first few months but reduced to nothing for the next 4 years. Very happy with it, only getting removed to get pregnant.
Somewhat positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
47 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
I was told to take painkillers (paracetamol & ibuprofen) before the procedure which I did. For the procedure I had two lovely ladies who were supportive and talked me through all of the steps. I was offered pain relief including gas and air, so all of that was great. What I didn’t realise was the “bad period cramps” you are warned about were actually more like mild contractions, and having had a traumatic miscarriage a few years ago. The coil fitting unfortunately ended up triggering this trauma along with my anxiety, when I spoke to my GP they mentioned it was PTSD and that this can happen after a coil fitting. Afterwards the coil felt really uncomfortable for about 4 weeks where I could feel it inside me all the time and sometime it felt like it was scratching around in there! Also certain exercise & stretches were uncomfortable & often aggravated it leaving me in pain. My hormones were also all over the place on week 3 but that passed fairly quickly. I’ve had great support from the clinic and was referred to have an ultrasound to confirm it was in the correct place. On a more positive note I’ve only had one heavy bleed a week after it’d been fitted and no further bleeds and so far only spotting once. It’s now 11 months later and things have settled, so this is now working for me which is a relief.
Worse skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5th Aug 25
Had Mirena fitted to manage endometriosis after a laparoscopy. The period cramps felt worse than when I was on the contraceptive pill before the surgery. Also struggled with depression and low energy. Acne was about the same as before I started the contraceptive pill.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5th Aug 25
I really like the Mirena Coil, especially as the combined pill was my previous contraception which negatively affected my mood. I had a lot of spotting for the first month and now have the very occasional spotting, but it's great not having a period anymore.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
40 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2nd Aug 25
I've had a mirena coil for about 7 months now. Before getting it I had severely heavy periods. Most months I got a bad migraine. My iron was low. The GP didn't suggest anything to help with the heavy periods/monthly migraines/low iron. However when discussing contraception mirena coil was suggested. (I'm 40, have had 2 children). I was wary to mess with my hormones but the doctor said it could calm down my periods too. It was a long wait (almost 12 months). As soon as I got it I haven't had such heavy periods. Migraines haven't been an issue and my iron levels are back to normal. I haven't noticed any mood or weight changes. I've been happier and healthier because I haven't been dealing with the bad periods anymore. My periods are irregular, but very light. The only negative is a couple of times I've had stomach cramps, quite painful ones, they've gone away in under a day. There has been no follow up with a health professional. It would be nice if they did this to reassure everything is normal and ok.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments

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