The combined pill – your guide to the different brands

A detailed guide to the different brands of combined pill in the UK; from Cilest to Yasmin, and everything in-between.
Acne returning when coming off the pill

Hormonal contraception can come with a multitude of benefits, including clearer skin. However, this won’t be a permanent fixture in most of our lives, and where acne is concerned, this presents a problem: what happens when you stop taking the pill?
Does contraception affect your sex drive?

Aroused, libidinous, turned on or just plain horny: sexual drive has a million weird and wonderful names. But does hormonal contraception have an impact on it?
Can I change the time I take my pill?

Whether you’re off on holiday, starting a new routine or just want to spice up the monotony of life, you may be wondering, can I change the time I take my pill? Get the lowdown here on ‘safe windows’ and keeping yourself protected.
Periods on the pill – are they real or fake?

Periods, withdrawal bleeding, and everything in-between. We take a look at the facts. Period.
What’s the difference between Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)?

1 in 20 women and people with periods are affected by a severe form of premenstrual syndrome called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). But what’s the difference? We take a deep dive into the symptoms, causes and the contraceptive options that could help.
Can you smoke weed while on birth control?

Does smoking weed affect the effectiveness of the birth control pill? Are there combined side effects? Get the lowdown in our guide to cannabis and contraception.
Why we need a blood pressure reading when ordering the combined pill

Dr Fran explains why it’s important to have a blood pressure reading before being prescribed the combined pill, where you can have your blood pressure taken, how often you need to have it done and what a healthy reading will look like.
What’s the best contraceptive pill for acne?

Birth control can help or hinder your dreams of clear skin. Find out how each type of contraception affects acne – and the best way to treat it
The Lowdown pill ‘groups’ explained

Many contraceptive pill brands contain exactly the same hormonal ingredients as each other, but are simply branded with a different name. To make it easier to understand the differences, we put them into groups.