Side effects
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
38% of Combined pill reviewers reported vaginal dryness
Combined pill rare side effects
Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews
4% of Combined pill reviewers reported hair loss
3% of Combined pill reviewers reported a latex allergy
3% of Combined pill reviewers reported migraine with aura
Possible Combined pill side effects
Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews
- Tender breasts (52%)
- Breast enlargement (48%)
- Vaginal discharge (46%)
- Period like cramps (43%)
- Vaginal dryness (38%)
- Lower back pain (33%)
- Nausea or vomiting (29%)
- Sweating more than usual (28%)
- Thrush (22%)
- Headaches (18%)
- Cystitis (13%)
- High blood pressure (13%)
- Body hair increase (11%)
- Dizziness (9%)
- Body hair getting darker (8%)
- Migraines (8%)
- Discomfort wearing contact lenses (5%)
- Pelvic infection (5%)
- Hair loss (4%)
- A latex allergy (3%)
- Migraine with aura (3%)
Reviews
2.8
2656 reviews
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Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Helped treat my painful cystic acne, good contraceptive. I take continuously and have a break every 3 months if I dont get a period in between. Cramps are worse but lighter periods. Increased sweating (like, drenched), night and day (after minimal activity)
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
I have been put on Dianette to assist with hirsutism, endometriosis and acne. It has helped with acne. I unfortunately have seen no change in endometriosis symptoms or hirsutism. I have experienced a massive increase in weight, particularly face, arms, stomach which has really impacted my confidence.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
The first month WILL be hard, I had intense mood swings and nausea, but by month 3 I promise you it will settle down. Personally, I wanted to switch to yasmin due to the fact the cramps and the bad mood coming on/off after a break etc were too intense for me. No weight gain, only loss. My sex drive has not been affected whatsoever. There is a lot of fear-mongering surrounding the pill, but I think some of it comes from placebo, so don't over worry yourself.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
My completely lost my sex drive and was always upset and in a really bad mood.I was on this pill consistently for 1 year and about 6 months and I had to stop for awhile and when I went back on it for 1 month and the side effects were horrible my skin was breaking out I was constantly bloated I started having 2 /3 periods A MONTH iam currently trying to change the pill iam on but iam nervous in it’s worse .
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
When I first started levest It gave me bad acne around my chin and enlarged breasts and a slight change in mood but after three months I have literally no side effects and my skin is starting to clear, in fact I’ve actually lost weight on it. This pill suits me more than others I have been on.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I have PCOS and had been told this would be my best option after having tried between 6-8 other pills and patches over the last 5 years. The main concern was facial acne, body acne and lack of periods all of which this pill is incredible for. My skin has completely cleared despite taking around 2-3 months to do so, particularly stubborn back acne and periods are as they should be. However in the short time I’ve been taking this I’ve gained 4-5kg. My job is physical and I work out often so there’s not much I can put it to but the pill. Additionally I have had extreme hair loss, zero sex drive and very flatlined emotions. All in all a great pill for clearing skin though when it comes to other side effects I do think I will be stopping this once I run out.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I went on it for PMDD symptoms, and they completely went away! Also made me gain a cup size which I liked. First year I loved it, but after taking it long term with no breaks it kinda tanked my libido :/ overall though, pretty positive experience for birth control
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I’ve had a pretty good experience with this pill. I went on my first pill at age 19 (Rigevidon) and I experienced quite a lot of nausea with it so got given Millinette 30/75. The nausea persisted and I felt sick almost every time I ate with no particular pattern, so they put me on Millinette 20/75 which has slightly less oestrogen. I have had a pretty good experience but at almost the 2 year mark of taking it, I have started to experience a lot of brain fog and almost feeling like a shell of myself! Sex drive is very low too as well as vaginal dryness and my first ever case of thrush. These however are the only side effects I’ve experienced now apart from some headaches when I have a pill break. I’m open to trying something new but don’t want to rock the boat as I haven’t had the worst experience. But that being said I do feel like it is affecting mine and my partner’s sex life. Could anyone advise me of another option that may help get my libido back on track?
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Ever since I started using Ovreena I started feeling this thrush-like sensation down there. It was unbearable itchiness that came usually after showers/sexual intercourse and no I didn't have any visible changes to my skin other than mild swelling weirdly only the left side of my labia and clitoral area. I've taken all sorts of tests from STD's, vaginal infections to going to multiple gynaecologists and dermatologists. Nothing they diagnosed me with was adding up until I stopped the pill. One dermatologist that thought I might have Lichen Sclerosis (Though I had no visible changes to my skin or any of those symptoms other than the itching), she recommended to use Aqueous cream as a form of vaginal wash and a steroid topical cream on top of a thin layer of vaseline to the affected area with a higher dose of antihistamines for prescription. This helped me get rid of the symptoms to help me sleep and function during the night and throughout the day but when it wore off it came back. After I stopped taking Ovreena it took about a month for the itching to stop completely so long story short it started when I started taking the pill I had this issue and then after I stopped it went away. I hope this helps for anyone with similar symptoms.
Decreased sex drive
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Been taking for around 4 years, almost flawless except totally ruined any sex drive/libido and that sucks so bad. Great for skin though and regulating periods/lighter periods, which is why I went on it in the first place👍🏼
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments