What is the difference between an oral hormonal contraceptive like (e.g. Yaz) and an intrauterine device hormonal contraceptive (e.g. Mirena)? The reason I ask is that my girlfriend was told by her gynecologist that the pill was a better option than the IUD, stating that it would help her skin, hair, and nails, whereas the IUD doesn't deliver the hormones the same way so it wouldn't have these benefits. What is your take on this matter?

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Originally Posted by seordin

What is the difference between an oral hormonal contraceptive like (e.g. Yaz) and an intrauterine device hormonal contraceptive (e.g. Mirena)? The reason I ask is that my girlfriend was told by her gynecologist that the pill was a better option than the IUD, stating that it would help her skin, hair, and nails, whereas the IUD doesn't deliver the hormones the same way so it wouldn't have these benefits. What is your take on this matter?

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My "take" is to believe a trained Physician over what strangers on the Internet think.

If you read the warnings and info Mirena is absorbed directly into the blood, does not pass through the digestive pact. Mirena, therefore, has smaller dosages of "hormones."