Combined pill and spotting

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 2549 reviews for the combined pill, 260 people (10%) reported spotting.

Reviewers that reported spotting as a side effect

Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews

Used for 1 - 3 mo
44 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

I was put on zoely to treat symptoms of perimenopause. It actually made my symptoms worse. I took it for 1 month and found I had more frequent night sweats and hot flashes, my mood felt unstable and erratic, insomnia was worse also. I constantly had spotting every day for the month and then no period. My exhaustion was even worse than it had been before starting it. I've stopped it now and feel better already after 6 days.

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Very negative mood

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Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

I got this as it’s the same quantity of hormones as microgynon what I had taken before & that helped my acne. This one though the same ingredients has broken me out terribly, oilier skin/hair & I am sooo touchy I’m in such a bad mood. Also I’ve had so much spotting which I didn’t experience with microgynon I don’t understand how a different brand could affect you so differently can’t wait to change to another


Very negative mood

2 more effects

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

Made the mistake of changing to the Progestogen-only/mini pill 'Desogestrel' August 2023. Caused me to be deeply depressed while on it, and I also experienced serious gastro-related episodes (twice) where I woke in the middle of the night and nearly fainted while on the toilet, with bad stomach aches then following for the next week or so. More relevant now, that pill also caused my skin to break out badly, the worse I'd ever had it (being a person before who had ever only experienced a few spots here and there). These spots were almost always appearing around my mouth around. Once I realised this pill was causing all of these symptoms, I came straight off and was advised to go back on a previous combined I'd been on for years. Depression and the gastro episodes cleared up, but the acne did not. I then experimented with coming off hormonal contraception altogether, hoping my skin would go back to normal. It did not, so I consulted the GP about a pill that was known for clearing up acne effectively. She put me on Yasmin, which I started 25/1/25. In the first month I did experience some feelings of nausea that I have heard people talk about, but that was only in the first few weeks on it. Also had one headache that went on for a couple of days, which is unusual for me, however I had also read that was common and I haven't experienced one since. Regarding my skin, it seemed to get a little worse for the first month, plus maybe a couple of weeks. I am now almost 2 months on this pill (having taken one 4 day break after my first pack, and now in the process of taking 3 packs consecutively) and I am hopeful that the frequency of spots is steadily going down. I also worked with ChatGPT (my very own virtual PA, haha) to create an oil-reducing skincare routine, so that might also be helping. Another positive is that my breasts have gotten larger, but no weight gain other than that! Will update again when I'm at 3 months on.


Top side effects not reported

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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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