Side effects

Combined pill side effects

2.8

2795 reviews

What Lowdown reviewers say

Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews

31% somewhat negative

47% lighter periods

46% lost sex drive

48% no impact

43% improved skin

Cycle return

36% don’t know impact

Combined pill

Combined pill common side effects

Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews

52% of Combined pill reviewers reported tender breasts

48% of Combined pill reviewers reported breast enlargement

46% of Combined pill reviewers reported vaginal discharge

43% of Combined pill reviewers reported period like cramps

37% of Combined pill reviewers reported vaginal dryness


Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews


Reviews

2.8

2795 reviews

Filter reviews

Community reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Microgynon 30 pill  

I started Microgynon30 becase my previous mini-pill (Cerelle) made me bleed every other week. Pharmacist advised the combined would regulate the periods. Unfortunately within 24h of starting Microgynon30 I have severely painful breasts, swollen and itchy (I went up a full cup size and it's not fun, I can't fit into my bras and running has become impossible). Nipples are itchy and sensitive and get scabby and dry. I have sore muscles as if I was constantly PMSing. The worst side effect though has been migraines with aura. Never had migraines in my life before, and now I do. I'm gonna switch to Slynd now, I don't ever wanna go back on a combined pill ever again.

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Top side effects not reported

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0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Gedarel 30/150 pill  

Only lasted a month on this pill as it made me incredibly low and irritable. Severe bloating


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Levest pill  

Generally my mood on it was brilliant however it caused severe bloating and cravings so I gained weight


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Gedarel 20/150 pill  

I have tried a few contraceptives including the implant, mini pill and a different combined pill before landing on this one and it was by far the best. Lighter periods, can predict them starting to the hour. No cramps or pains or nausea which i did have before contraception. I do have hormonal headache leading up to and during the break week. Moods were awful on the progesterone only pills but on gedarel I am very level to the point of sometimes feeling a bit numb.


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Yacella pill  

I have been happy with this pill and haven’t really noticed anything significant and has been working as it should, however over the past 15ish months i have been having recurring thrush and i have worked it down to i believe being this pill. i have gone to the pharmacy today and gotten a new pill to try so fingers crossed but yeah turns out thrush is a symptom i believe 1 in 10 people on it


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Yasmin pill  

no comment


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
39 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Zoely pill  

Brilliant medication, the bio identical oestrogen is definitely kinder and easier to manage. I managed to gain weight and keep it, it's something I struggled with massively before. I have nicer bust size too 😁. Tbh is better than Eloine and I have less tension in my body. I recommend it to neurodiverse ppl for certain.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Eloine pill  

I have been taking for a month now and I was TERRIFIED after trying rigevidon when I was 16 (I’m 24 now). I have PMS (I believe PMDD) so I got to the point where I was desperate for help. My acne, fatigue and low moods were just too much for life and I needed to do something about it! The first couple of weeks I felt a tiny bit nauseous (no where near as bad as rigevidon which I assume is bc of the lower oestrogen in Eloine) and I got some night sweats which have calmed down also after a couple of weeks. I have also experienced some slight fluttering anxiety and heavy chest when I wake up (I take it at 11pm due to my schedule) which isn’t ideal but as someone who used to be extremely anxious I haven’t found this particularly overwhelming or affecting my life. It hasn’t been through the day so I believe it’s because of the time I am taking it but not a major issue. I have insatiable hunger but again, as someone who didn’t eat much and had low appetite (especially the week leading up to my period) this has had a majorly positive effect on my life, I’m fuelling myself more which is probably also helping my fatigue and mood in itself! Regarding weight gain, I have had no water retention type of weight gain from it, any weight gain will be due to eating more bc of the hunger but personally I have not noticed any gain yet. However, PMDD wise, it has changed my life so far. The week I usually feel down and sleep 14 hours I didn’t even realise that week had passed (I’m taking it continuously without the placebos). No acne, no low moods no fatigue, I just finally feel normal 🙏🏻 If you’re looking into this for PMS and PMDD that is becoming too much, I would honestly give this a go. As someone who had awful nausea with rigevidon, it took me two years to get the courage to try another but I’m so so happy I did. I used to spend the PMDD weeks struggling and my normal weeks recovering, now every week is just normal


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Drovelis pill  

I haven’t used it for long but the side effects aren’t bad or huge.


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Qlaira pill  

I went on Qlaira after reading reviews that it helped with recurring thrush caused from other combination pills. It did - I haven't had thrush since being on this pill! However, definitely experience more mood swings and I bleed lightly for around 10 days which is really frustrating. Considering changing because of the bleed. First month of bleeding was also much more painful but think I was just getting used to it.


Increased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

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