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

47%

No change

16%

Don't know

7%

Out of the 2604 reviews for the combined pill, 270 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
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

My experience is overall positive. For the first month I had breakthrough spotting almost every day, it was light and painless, just a bit worrisome, but it settled in the 2nd month. I started taking Drovelis for painful periods, and I have to say that while they are shorter and lighter, it's not like it completely changed around. I used to take around 4 painkillers a day on my period, now I'm down to one: so it is a big change, but I can't say the periods are painless. In the first month I also had some mood swings, but I can't be sure if that's due to the pill. I'm writing this review because I was very scared of taking birth control after reading so many negative opinions, but overall it's a net positive experience. No changes to my weight, my libido is stable, overall it's nothing too scary.

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Top side effects not reported

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0 comments

Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Stopped the mini pill after 3 years and switched to the combined to see if my skin and moods would improve. My skin definitely has improved and is similar to my post-accutane skin I had before I started hormonal birth control. My mood swings remained awful. I took the packs typically back to back but on a couple occasions I had breakthrough bleeding so took a 4 day break. I never had a yeast infection/thrush before taking this pill but in the 10 months of taking the combined pill I’ve had about 7 cases of thrush. Doctors kind of dismissed me saying it must be something else but it’s the only thing in my life that has changed, must be the estrogen! Finally had enough of the recurrent yeast infections affecting my relationship and sex life as well as day to day comfort so decided to switch to the copper coil last week. Fingers crossed my hormones will balance out!


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 6 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Used Rigevidon for 6 months, had to stop due to mood. It didn't make me depressed or anxious just a lot more sensitive, took my quite a while (another 6 months) for my hormones to finally balance out again. My weight didn't change a massive deal, I gained a little bit, probably more due to me being more upset than usual. Stopped period pain and made periods a lot lighter and easier and grew my boobs a bit. Also very clear skin which is a bonus. Overall okay pill I just didn't like the mood swings.


Somewhat negative mood

3 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

43% of the combined pill reviewers reported period like cramps

38% 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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