Search contraception reviews

Compare contraception with reviews from people like you, then order to your door in just a few clicks

Filter reviews

Community reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Yasmin pill  

Has been really helpful for my moods as i would get bad pms, i feel a lot more stable through the months. i gained a lot of weight at one point but then lost it. my boobs consistently got bigger, at certain times in the month they are very very tender. i had lost my sex drive for a few months when i first started but it then came back, but i was really not eager for anything for ages. It’s helped my back and chest acne, and my face is better but has flare ups. I get a period every 3 months but it lasts like 14 days but not that heavy.


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mirena coil  

I had three Mirenas over the course of about 9 years. The first two were perfect, with no side effects and stopping my periods. For me the insertions and removals were fine. Maybe a 3 out of 10 pain wise and some mild cramps afterwards. Unfortunately I know that's not everyone's experience. After about 3.5 years of each Mirena, I got lots of breakthrough bleeding and my GP decided to change it early to prevent this. Unfortunately my third Mirena gave me unpredictable bleeding for months, which was affecting my life as I was always worried I'd bleed through clothes or during sex. I also kept getting recurrent thrush, which I'd not experienced before. For me another negative was that the strings always seemed to be really prominent and my boyfriend could feel them during sex. Overall a mixed experience - after years of hassle-free birth control I eventually changed to the POP due to the unpredictable bleeding I was getting with Mirena.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Slynd pill  

Generally happy with this pill, which I'm now able to get from my GP. It's much better than Desogestrel for me. I haven't had a period since I started it and no breakthrough bleeding either. My skin is great on this pill and my weight hasn't changed - if anything I lost a bit of weight, which unfortunately made my boobs smaller. I read this pill has a diuretic effect but I haven't noticed that at all. Initially I had headaches and some disturbed sleep, but these went away after the first month. My sex drive is lower but not to the point of it being an issue. I love that it has the safety of a 24-hour window, plus it's made my mood really stable and has stopped my periods.


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 8+ yr
50 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

NuvaRing  

I have had the Nuva-ring for years. It's brilliant, no side effects, it gives the hormone dose at the point in my body I need it so I know less hormone is swirling around my body and going through my liver. Surely that's a good thing. I don't think GPs prescribe it here in the UK nearly enough as possibly more expensive than the pill? I was living in Europe after the birth of my second child, initially I was put on the mini-pill and immediately fell into a very low mood which I hadn't felt the weeks after the birth so knew it was the mini-pill that had effected me. I was taken off it straight away and it was suggested I avoid progesterone-only contraceptive as I am probably progesterone-intolerant (beware anyone on the Merina-coil - so many don't realise progesterone can give you depression). I was then given the Nuvaring which I have been on ever since. Oestrogen and me are happy bed fellows. I am also now on HRT which I can take with the ring. When my oestrogen levels dipped as I hit 50 yo the oestorgen in HRT once again lifted my mood. It's all trial and error but only we know what works and what doesn't.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 days ago

Yasmin pill  

I have been on 3 different pills 10 years ago of which the last one was a pill prescribed for acne, before I decided to switch to a non-hormonal IUD, which resulted into heavy-flow periods that looked like someone had stabbed me everytime I got my period. I never had a heavy flow period but the copper IUD definitely increased this. After 2 years, I switched to the hormonal IUD Mirena and no complaints except that my hormonal acne is still present. I actually lost weight and no more periods. I went to my Gyno to ask for a solution against my acne and she prescribed the Yasmin pill. I took it and stopped after 9 days because I got super lethargic, emotional and cried almost every day, I started getting cystic acne even though I never had any cystic acne before, but a few small pimples on my jawline & chin. My breast were tender and in pain, I felt nauseous and I got 4 headaches in 9 days. Generally I don't get 5 headaches, maybe a maximum of 3-5 per year and that's it and my breasts are tender & in pain only when I am on my period. Needless to say that, I was not willing to go through the 3-month period with these symptoms just to see if my acne can disappear. I feel like there is no miracle solution and that's the most difficult to accept. My dermatologist prescribed spironolactone for my acne, which apparently has similar effects than the pill in terms of acne, without all the side effects.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Dianette pill  

I started taking Dianette as my first ever contraception pill. It is a combined pill which gives me migraines for a period of time. I was told to stop using it immediately as it put me at an increased risk of having blood clots and stroke. Now I am left not knowing what to do. Overall it did not give me any other side effect and I see a big difference on my skin. It is just me having a reaction to estrogen-related pills.


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Yasmin pill  

Worked really great for many years. Still had the ocassionally leg cramp, and my breast started to be really tender. After some years I got panic attacks and anxiety. Quit the pill in june 2023, still strugeling with panic and anxiety at times


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6 days ago

Microgynon 30 pill  

It went smoothly in the start. No side effects other than weight gain. Slowly the mood startet to be affected. I startet to swear more and react more angrily towards situations and people around me. Felt almost like I was a child and could not contain myself. My husband told me I had to get of because I was horrible to live with. The anger subsided when I stopped


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

Rigevidon  

I essentially started crying almost every day and couldn't fully function like normal because of how low my mood was. I took it for bad period cramps and it definitely helped with this but had to get off it because of the effect on my mood


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Yasmin pill  

I had a heavy painfull n long period after usage so i stoped it after 8 days but im still bleeding with pain after 2 weeks


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

The Lowdown Footer

Women's health, reviewed.

Get the best women’s health info in your inbox

You are signing up to receive The Lowdown's latest findings and news in women's health. Your data will be used in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie policy

Built by doctors and experts

Our tools are made by medical professionals for your peace of mind

Our website uses affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click on them