Vaginal ring vs Hormonal coil (IUS)

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Vaginal ring

£From £0.41/day

Hormonal coil (IUS)

Add your Hormonal coil (IUS) review

Overview

Rated 3.6

50 reviews

Every 3 weeks

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.5

811 reviews

Every 3-8 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Vaginal ring ingredients

Main hormones in Vaginal ring

progestogen

oestrogen


Hormonal coil (IUS) ingredients

Main hormones in Hormonal coil (IUS)

progestogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

56% no impact on mood

56% lighter periods

48% lost sex drive

66% no impact

43% no impact on skin

Cycle return

47% in 1 month

43% no impact on mood

47% stopped periods

48% no impact

59% no impact

53% no impact on skin

Cycle return

31% 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 £0.41/day

Try it now

Add your Hormonal coil (IUS) review

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Vaginal ring reviews

50 reviews

Vaginal ring  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  22nd Jan 25

NuvaRing  

NuvaRing greatly affected my mood, at one point I thought I had depression and got prescribed antidepressants by incompetent doctors. The second I stopped using NuvaRing (based on INTERNET RECOMMENDATIONS), all my mental problems went away

Read more

Very negative mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  29th Nov 24

NuvaRing  

I used the NuvaRing/Syreni ring for over a year without any apparent issues until I began experiencing severe stomach cramps. The pain was so intense that it often woke me up at night, leaving me unable to move or sleep for hours. Despite multiple doctor appointments, my concerns were repeatedly dismissed, and I was left feeling anxious and on edge, uncertain about the cause of my pain. Frustrated with the lack of answers, I decided to take matters into my own hands and removed the ring myself. Remarkably, after five months of excruciating cramps, they stopped immediately upon removal of the ring. It's been five weeks now, and I remain cramp-free. While I cannot say with absolute certainty that the vaginal ring was the cause, the timing feels far too coincidental to ignore.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  29th Aug 24

NuvaRing  

No side effects at all but the ring kept falling out so i always felt it while standing up


Increased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  22nd Jan 25

NuvaRing  

NuvaRing greatly affected my mood, at one point I thought I had depression and got prescribed antidepressants by incompetent doctors. The second I stopped using NuvaRing (based on INTERNET RECOMMENDATIONS), all my mental problems went away


Very negative mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  29th Nov 24

NuvaRing  

I used the NuvaRing/Syreni ring for over a year without any apparent issues until I began experiencing severe stomach cramps. The pain was so intense that it often woke me up at night, leaving me unable to move or sleep for hours. Despite multiple doctor appointments, my concerns were repeatedly dismissed, and I was left feeling anxious and on edge, uncertain about the cause of my pain. Frustrated with the lack of answers, I decided to take matters into my own hands and removed the ring myself. Remarkably, after five months of excruciating cramps, they stopped immediately upon removal of the ring. It's been five weeks now, and I remain cramp-free. While I cannot say with absolute certainty that the vaginal ring was the cause, the timing feels far too coincidental to ignore.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  29th Aug 24

NuvaRing  

No side effects at all but the ring kept falling out so i always felt it while standing up


Increased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments


Hormonal coil (IUS) reviews

811 reviews

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

Mirena coil  

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

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 8+ yr
47 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Mirena coil  

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

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6 days ago

Kyleena coil  

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

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

Mirena coil  

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

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 8+ yr
47 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Mirena coil  

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

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6 days ago

Kyleena coil  

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

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

Levosert coil  

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

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
36 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

Kyleena coil  

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

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Kyleena coil  

I had the Kyleena twice. It worked very well for me in regulating and making my heavy periods lighter. It probably masked my symptoms of endometriosis for years, which was diagnosed after removing the coil and going hormone free for a while. A few months after having replaced the first IUD for the second one as it had nearly been five years, my relationship broke down and I no longer needed contraception. When I went to have the coil removed, my doctor saw that it had been dislodged, had moved downwards, and would have not protected against pregnancy. I had heavy cramps at the time which I did not link to the IUD until I learned about this. Due to endometriosis and not being able to take the pill anymore, I have recently gone for the Mirena. I hope that without period cup use this will stay in place. In terms of side effects, the Kyleena gave me adult acne but this was managed with prescription cremes. I also had hair loss for about a year with the onset of this side effect around month seven after insertion. While I lost a few kilograms following the insertion I also gained them back so I cannot judge whether it affected my overall weight. Other than that this method worked very well for me. While I feel slightly ambivalent after having dislodged a coil, I really hope that the Mirena will work just as well for me as the first Kyleena did.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Hormonal coil (IUS)  

Jaydess is okay but not for me I’d say. It was painful to put in and I bled for 5 months straight, I bled heavily until I was taken for a scan and it did stop a week before the scan. But the scan then disturbed my uterus and I started bleeding again for around a month. Since then I have gained over 10kg, I don’t get period at all but I do get the PMS symptoms. No spots but I do get abdominal pain here and there. Whenever I have stomach pains they are 5 times as worse due to the coil. I never had these problems before… I am scared to have it taken out because I know it will hurt lol but otherwise it is effective and prevents pregnancy just not a fan of the other health problems I now have because of it.


Gained weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Mirena coil  

Insertion was incredibly painful and had cramping for 3-4 days following. It's mostly been fine and no massive changes apart from excessive bloating and nausea. Since going on the coil I've been diagnosed with IBS which I didn't have symptoms for before so I wonder if it's linked. I had no periods for 5 months and now just really light or spotting for a few days.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
42 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Mirena coil  

I had to come off Mirena after about 8 months and paid to have it removed as the NHS were taking too long. My mood was through the floor, like really bad PMS but all of the time, I hated myself. This lifted almost immediately when it was removed. My periods were lighter but they were also really long, 12-14 days after normally being 4-6. Not much use as contraception if you're always on a period. The biggest side effect and reason for stopping though was heart palpitations. These are not listed on the side effects but a quick google will show you how common this is for women on mirena. They used to take my breath away when i was talking. As soon as I stopped, so did they so I have no doubt they were connected. A horrible experience and such a shame as I really was on the bottom of the list of options having tried most other things and I had really high hopes as this was working great for my sister.


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Kyleena coil  

I started getting very painful periods so was suggested to start Kyleena. It’s massively helped with that, my periods don’t disrupt my life any longer. I have started noticing a lot more vaginal dryness, which never used to be a problem for me but now is.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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