Side effects
Hormonal coil (IUS) common side effects
Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews
63% of Hormonal coil (IUS) reviewers reported period like cramps
45% of Hormonal coil (IUS) reviewers reported tender breasts
42% of Hormonal coil (IUS) reviewers reported vaginal discharge
29% of Hormonal coil (IUS) reviewers reported lower back pain
27% of Hormonal coil (IUS) reviewers reported breast enlargement
Hormonal coil (IUS) rare side effects
Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews
3% of Hormonal coil (IUS) reviewers reported hair loss
3% of Hormonal coil (IUS) reviewers reported high blood pressure
2% of Hormonal coil (IUS) reviewers reported a latex allergy
Possible Hormonal coil (IUS) side effects
Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews
- Period like cramps (63%)
- Tender breasts (45%)
- Vaginal discharge (42%)
- Lower back pain (29%)
- Breast enlargement (27%)
- Vaginal dryness (22%)
- Thrush (20%)
- Body hair increase (18%)
- Sweating more than usual (15%)
- Nausea or vomiting (14%)
- Cystitis (13%)
- Body hair getting darker (13%)
- Headaches (9%)
- Pelvic infection (6%)
- Migraines (6%)
- Dizziness (5%)
- Migraine with aura (4%)
- Discomfort wearing contact lenses (4%)
- Hair loss (3%)
- High blood pressure (3%)
- A latex allergy (2%)
Reviews
3.5
752 reviews
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Used for 8+ yr
46 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
I had my first Mirena fitted after the birth of my second child. It seemed to work well although my periods became even more irregular than then they were before and I had weeks of spotting at a time especially as I was approaching the 5 year mark. However overall I was satisfied and opted to have it replaced when it expired. This was quite traumatic and took a very long time as the strings had moved making it hard to access. However, the GP was able to remove it and I had a second one fitted which worked much like the first one. However, when it came time to have that one removed and a third one fitted my cervix went into spasm at the point of fitting the new one which was extremely painful and after what felt like forever the GP told me they were unable to fit a new coil that day and to come back. I went back and tried again a month later and the same thing happened. A month after that I was admitted to hospital with an abscess in my fallopian tube caused by repeated failed attempts to insert the coil. I was in hospital for 4 days and off work for over 3 weeks due to the pain/side effects of the antibiotics I had to take.
Top side effects not reported
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Used for 6 - 12 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
I started it after changing from the copper coil. Having previously had no issues with the mirena coil i thought this would be fine but instead i got constant spotting, bled after sex, had a painful and irritated cervix and lost my sex drive.
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Used for 1 - 3 mo
43 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
I have pmdd, I could not track my cycle with an iud fitted, it helped initially then made me so much worse. I seen 3 doctors who didn't help, I'm now treating holistically, tracking my cycle and tailoring my food, lifestyle, exercising to my cycle and Somatic healing.
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Used for 6 - 12 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
This was the first coil I had put in and the process itself was okay but felt very woozy and nearly fainted on the way home. Overall it was not a pleasant experience! I have since swapped to the copper coil and this process, whilst not fun, went a lot smoother! I had the hormonal coil removed primarily due to it's effect on my mood (feeling very low a lot of the time) and big drop in sex drive. It's worked very well for many of my friends but really just didn't suit me!
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Used for 6 - 12 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
The insertion process took longer place at my GP without the local anaesthetic and it was much less scary than made out to be. It took 10 minutes, I experienced a few cramps the day of and for the following few days but was otherwise ok. Initially I had no bleeding but from around 5 days post insertion to 6 weeks post insertion, I had significant spotting which affected my mood and my sex drive. Eventually this stopped. I did have irregular periods, however when they did come, they were the same as usual, no lighter. I suffered with acne and intermenstrual cramps during this time. I put up with it for 12 months to ensure I had time for it to settle in but unfortunately this was not the right choice for me.
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Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
44 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I’m 44 with recently diagnosed PCOS and endometriosis which is why my specialist told me to try the Mirena to lighten the lining of my uterus and help with my awful periods. I had to go off of the pill at 40 and suffered for 2 years while debating what to do. I got the mirena in at 42 and have had it 2.5 years now. I do get pelvic pain and cramping twice a month for a few days randomly and feel like I can tell which ovary is active but it is still better than dealing with the bleeding and irregular periods I had previously. My periods are non existant apart from spotting for a few days but not enough to even merit wearing a liner! Sex drive is definitely lower and dryness comes and goes as well but breasts have grown which I’m not upset about! I’m leaving it for another 2 years then will decide if I should opt for a hysterectomy.
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Used for 12 - 18 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Wish I'd got the Mirena coil sooner it's been great for me! I have no side effects, my periods have almost stopped except for a little spotting once a month. Insertion for me was a little painful and I had immediate cramps but by the end of the day they had passed (I had an anaesthetic injection which probably helped with the pain). My first period after insertion was heavier and more painful than usual and I had some spotting throughout the month for about 6 months, but now my periods have almost stopped.
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Used for 3 - 5 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I had an awful time getting it in and out. I have never given birth, which can make it worse. The cramping pain was so bad, I vomited when getting it in and they had to use arterial forceps to remove it as the strings got lost (ouch). My skin was better and my moods were more stable. My period also stopped which saved a lot of money. I gained a lot of weight, though and the amount and intensity of my migraines increased a lot. I also had terrible cramping pain despite no periods, which was linked to PCOS. I haven’t had any symptoms since getting it removed 2 years ago.
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Used for 3 - 5 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
the coil was much better than the pill for me, especially in terms of my mental health.
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Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
jaydess coil. i wanted a low hormone coil after bad experiences with pills. best thing ive tried. some negative mood and quite a few cramps initially, but pretty good now.
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What are the Hormonal coil (IUS) with the least side effects?
Here are the brands with the highest overall satisfaction rating at The Lowdown