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

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Mirena coil  

I had mirena fitted on 8/1/25. Insertion was absolutely fine, didn't feel anything at all. Since mirena fitted I was lightly bleeding for 3 weeks. Than stopped for 3 days and than I had my period(on time) so started again. Period is much lighter ( 1 pad a day) no cramps, or any other sides effects. Hopefully it will settle soon with my body if not and I will still bleeding or spotting I will go to remove it because I can compare a few days with periods then constantly bleeding or spotting. I feel absolutely fine.

Read more

Lost weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  

there will always be side effects to any contraceptive pill, but if it wotks, it works


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Qlaira pill  

I become badly depressed and anxious while taking this. I lost all motivation to do anything - I knew it was a severe bad side effect. I suffered bad foot edema, I was in pain even just lying down , walking was painful on my feet.


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Hormonal coil (IUS)  

Best one yet for me. I used to have mirena but thought hormones made me depressed. Especially when initially inserted. So opted for lower does coil as love it and I do feel better with it.


Very positive mood

0 helpful

1 comments

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

Hormonal coil (IUS)  

I really struggled to come to terms with removing the copper coil as it was the best option for me after having my first child and realising how much I’d changed with hormonal contraception however, after 18 months the copper coil just didn’t agree with me causing periods that were so heavy I’d soak through the biggest tampon you could get within an hour. My periods would also last 8-10 days and be so painful, it stopped me from being able to look after my little girl properly.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

1 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Cerazette pill  

Was on this pill for about 4/5 months. Positives were that it got rid of any cramps/ period symptoms - great as I was previously prescribed meds for dysmenorrhea. However, it gave me constant spotting and light bleeding - I bled for about 75% of the time while on this pill and it didn’t get any better. Doctor recommended that I doubled dose (from 75 to 150mg) - this killed my sex drive and didn’t fix the bleeding issue, so I eventually came off.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal coil (IUS)  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Mirena coil  

I have endometriosis and I tried so many different pills, the kyleena IUD too. All with very bad side effects. This is the first solution that is making my life a bit better than anything else. Overall, my daily life has improved versus no hormone solution , but I do struggle quite a bit with bad lower back pain and also bloating . But it’s still better than any other solution I’ve tried ..


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Zoely pill  

I took Zoely for 2 months and a half, it was one of the worst experiences of my life. In the first month I had such a bad nausea that I couldn’t eat much anymore so I lost 7kg in around 1 month and a half and got me very bad pimples. What’s worse is the effect on my mental health. I’ve always been a positive person even if in my family there are cases of depression, with this I started to have it, having always negative thoughts, I could never see the positive in anything, and I spiraled in a very bad anxiety, making me think that everything was going for the worse so I was crying so often for very stupid things. I was also very irritable for nothing while usually I’m a very calm person. I wanted to get to three months to see if the symptoms could get better but when my boyfriend broke up with me because he could no longer stand my attitude I decided to quit it immediately and I wish I did it much sooner. It took me around 1 month and a half to feel a bit normal again, I would never recommend Zoely to anyone, taking it was one of the worst decisions of my life.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Yasmin pill  

I tried Yasmin due to the positive reviews and experiences of friends. Unfortunately, it just goes to show how individual birth control can be, as I didn't get on well with it, unlike my friends. I went on it hoping it would clear my skin up, but sadly my skin got a lot worse- really nasty cystic acne on and around my chin/mouth. I also had extremely sore boobs the whole time- the point where I couldn't even lift my arms above my head and i had to wear a sports bra 24/7 due to the pain. It also made my IBS intolerable and it was just generally unpleasant experience. I wanted to share my experience as I'd heard such positive things about it, but it just wasn't for me. I'm now on the Evra Patch and I absolutely love it.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Gedarel 30/150 pill  

I've tried 12 birth control pills previously and learned that I'm very sensitive to progesterone. I took Gedarel for 2-3 months or so and it wasn't for me. It made me bleed so heavily the whole 2-3 months time that I had endometrial lining expel out of me, at the time it was quite scary as I didn't know what it was! I have also been on Cerelle the mini pill that also has Desogestrel in and I also had extremely heavy bleeding on that, so I think I'm just unlucky with progesterone. I'm now on the Evra patch and i love it


Top side effects not reported

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