Combined pill and lighter periods

How our community feel the combined pill has affected their periods

Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews

Lighter

48%

No change

16%

Don't know

7%

Out of the 2523 reviews for the combined pill, 1200 people (48%) reported lighter periods.

Reviewers that reported lighter periods as a side effect

Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews

Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

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.

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Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 6 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

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

Used for 3 - 6 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Having previously tried 12 birth control pills, this was one of the better ones I've tried. I'm very sensitive to progesterone. I was on this pill for about 5 months and I noticed no change to my mood, my skin was significantly clearer and I skipped periods every 3 months which was great as mine are very heavy and painful. i definitely gained weight which is very common for me and birth control but it was also lifestyle changes too. Unfortunately this pill made my IBS so intolerable that I had to stop taking it. I would have continued on it otherwise so it was very annoying. I'm now on the Evra patch and loving it- very similar side effects but no IBS!


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill common side effects

Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews

53% of the combined pill reviewers reported tender breasts

48% of the combined pill reviewers reported breast enlargement

47% of the combined pill reviewers reported vaginal discharge

44% of the combined pill reviewers reported period like cramps

39% of the combined pill reviewers reported vaginal dryness


Possible the combined pill side effects

Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews

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