Femodette pill reviews

2.5

29 reviews

Femodette pill has an average rating of 2.5 out of 5 stars from a total of 29 reviews when used as a contraceptive. These are self-reported reviews where users of Femodette pill review their satisfaction with this contraceptive and any side effects they feel they experienced whilst using.
Femodette is a low oestrogen combined pill that contains a type of progestogen called gestodene. It's similar to its sister Femodene, which has more oestrogen in it. Femodette might be a good option if you are suffering from side effects related to oestrogen with other combined pills, like nausea and sore boobs.

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Femodette pill

Reviews

2.5

29 reviews

Filter reviews

Community reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  16th Feb 23

Femodette pill  

Went on the pill to regulate my cycle after months of intermenstrual bleeding (suspected cause for which was a prolonged period of stress). The pill's been great in bringing my cycle back to normal and I've been taking it for 13 months now. The withdrawal bleeds at the end of each set of pills are very light and I have almost no cramps compared to what I had during my natural menstruation. The pill has also helped me with hair issues and I no longer have breast tenderness. No mood, no skin, no libido issues, etc. The only side effect however is vaginal dryness and it has been quite the issue issue - will likely switch to another pill just because of that.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  15th Nov 21

Femodette pill  

I went on Femodette after using Microgynon and I immediately noticed a few improvements. Mental health-wise I started to feel more like myself again within about a week, and my appetite went back to normal after being constantly hungry on Microgynon. However, my sex drive completely disappeared, my breasts hurt constantly, and while my moods were nowhere near as low as they had been on Microgynon, after coming off Femodette I realised that it had still made me quite angry and emotional.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Aug 21

Femodette pill  

I was looking for contraception to manage my painful periods, heavy bleeding that doesn't help my anaemia and my period also sometimes causes my IBD to flair. I had been having no periods for almost a year because of getting sick from IBD. When the periods returned, I wanted to go continuous pill to stop the blood loss, but Microgynon didn't work for me before so I decided to try Femodette as I'd been on it as a teenager. Within 3 days of taking this my mood became extremely unstable, it was quite scary. I now think my depression and self harming in my teens may have been at least partially related to being on this pill!


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  20th May 21

Femodette pill  

For the first few years I thought this pill was so much better than the ones I had previously been on, but in the last few years I definitely noticed it impacting my moods, my breasts were constantly swollen and sore and I had no sex drive. I only realised these were all side effects after coming off the pill, I feel so much better after stopping it.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  7th May 21

Femodette pill  

Like lots of people, I was moved onto Femodette after Loestrin 20 was discontinued. It's been better than some others I've tried and overall I feel like the side effects are mild and manageable. But lately I've had more mood swings and I feel for the first time I've gained weight just around my middle (I've always been a healthy eater and never struggled with weight gain before). Maybe it's just my age (now early 30s) but I do wonder if this pill brand has an effect. I always look bloated and it's hard to shift.


Gained weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  18th Apr 21

Femodette pill  

Getting used to this pill was no issue really how ever I noticed my emotions are very bad and I’m now quite sensitive to everything which I never really used to be. My sex drive wasn’t affected that much until I decide to stop taking a break which is said to be ok after the 2/3rd month my sex drive had completely gone. Periods are regular and short which is a positive


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  23rd Nov 20

Femodette pill  

I was put on this pill after loestrin 20 was discontinued. The first 3 weeks were OK, however, my mood was lower, during the fourth week I had intense depression and anxiety/hysterical mood swings during my week off when I had my period. During the second month, I started bleeding heavily, am experiencing extreme exhaustion and anxiety, so much so, I have had to stop taking this pill.


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  22nd Nov 20

Femodette pill  

This pill didn’t cause any massive negative effects initially as I transferred from Loestrin 20 which is a similar strength. I struggle to maintain weight on this pill, it feels like a constant battle not to gain weight, I am a healthy eater so it should not be so hard. I do have enlarged breasts on this, partly because of weight gain. I definitely have decreased mood, I generally feel quite down with little energy most of the time. Sex drive has disappeared. My periods have stayed lighter and manageable, some cramping but only the first day. Overall the side effects are manageable but not ideal.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2nd Oct 20

Femodette pill  

Took for around 3 years, suddenly realised it was my pill causing weight gain which i honestly couldn’t shift. Stopped it and within a week my appetite is normal, I’m not emotional eating and my boobs have gone down a cup size. In a week!


Gained weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  11th Sep 20

Femodette pill  

Looking back, after 2 years of taking femodette I gained weight and have struggled ever since exactly when I began taking this pill. I plan to stop as soon as i’ve found a new pill. I’ve also found my mood swings to be quite intense and bad vaginal dryness.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Femodette pill FAQs


Some studies shows that the combined pill can negatively impact moods - whilst others suggest the opposite. In all honesty, there's no clear answer, however there is no proven evidence that taking Femodette causes depression. You can find out more about this in our guide to contraception and mood . It's also worth checking out our user-generated reviews to see how our community report Femodette affects their emotions.

The combined pill contains both oestrogen and progestogen and can improve acne in some people. Most women who take the combined pill see an improvement in their acne. However it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. Make sure to check out our user-generated reviews to see how our community report Femodette affects their skin. Find out more in our guide to the contraceptive pill and acne .

There is no proof that the combined pill causes weight gain - or weight loss. However there are a number of related factors that could impact your weight. Combined methods (which contain both oestrogen and progestogen) can affect how the body retains water, stores fat and our appetite. Make sure to check out our user-generated reviews to see how our community report Femodette affects their weight. You can also find out more in our guide to contraception and weight .

Absolutely! You can order Femodette online through The Lowdown from £7 per month (including delivery). Head to our Pill Prescriptions service to fill in a short questionnaire about you and your medical history. Your request will then be reviewed by our pharmacy. We'll post a 3 month supply of your chosen pill directly to your door in discreet packaging.

Like other combined pills, Femodette can help with symptoms associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) including acne, abnormal hair growth and irregular or no periods. You can find out more in the benefits section or check out our guide to contraception and PCOS .

Femodette is a type of combined pill, a small tablet you swallow daily that contains the hormones oestrogen and progestogen. It prevents pregnancy in three ways – by stopping ovulation, making the fluid in your cervix thicker (which makes it more difficult for sperm to enter the womb), and by preventing the lining of your womb from thickening enough for a fertilised egg to implant into it. Femodette is around 93% effective with typical use which means that 7 in 100 women fall pregnant whilst taking the pill each year. Find out more about how clinical effectiveness is determined. There are a few things that can stop the combined pill from working properly including vomiting, some antibiotics, or missing a pill. Take a look at our complete guide to the combined pill to find out more. You can also use our Missed pill calculator to help you understand what to do if you miss a pill.

You should take your Femodette pill around the same time every day. We recommend keeping your pill packet somewhere you look at everyday (like your makeup bag) to remind you to take it, or set an alarm on your phone. Femodette is designed to be taken for 21 days followed by a 7 day break during which you'll experience a withdrawal bleed (like a period). If you want to, you can choose to shorten this break or miss it out altogether (check out our blog on taking your pill back to back ). Depending on where you are in your cycle when you start the pill, you might not be protected against pregnancy straight away. Find out more by reading our complete guide to the combined pill . Coming off Femodette is easy - you just stop taking it. When you do, you’re no longer protected from pregnancy. If you want to stop the pill but do not wish to become pregnant then you should complete your current packet before stopping and consider switching to another form of contraception before you stop taking your pill. If you have unprotected sex and stop your pill before the packet is finished you may ovulate (release an egg from the ovary) and could become pregnant. You can use our Missed pill calculator if you have missed any pills from your packet. Read our complete guide to coming off the pill for more advice.

Femodette is safe to take. There are however some small risks associated with taking the pill. With any combined type of hormonal contraception that contains oestrogen, there is a slightly increased risk of developing blood clots in your veins and arteries. The combined pill may also increase your blood pressure. Your doctor will check your individual risk before prescribing the pill. Use of the combined pill is also associated with small increased risks of breast cancer and cervical cancer. These reduce with time after stopping. It's also important to remember that the combined pills does not protect you from STIs.

Compare contraceptives

Use our handy tool to see how they stack up


Femodette pill benefits

Some of the benefits that are recognised in scientific research or guidelines for this contraceptive

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

Femodette pill ingredients

Main hormones in Femodette pill

Less-Androgenic progestogen

Femodette pill alternatives

Contraceptives that work in similar ways, or brands that have close or exactly the same hormonal ingredients

Compare contraceptives

Use our handy tool to see how they stack up

Order online

Order online now

Use our online prescription in under 5 mins

  • No GP appointment needed

  • Free standard delivery

Speak to a doctor

Not sure yet? Speak to a doctor

Schedule an appointment now

87% of women are happier with their contraceptive choice after speaking with one of The Lowdown's doctors

Get Femodette for free

No GP appointment needed

The Lowdown Footer

Women's health, reviewed.

Get the best women’s health info in your inbox

You are signing up to receive The Lowdown's latest findings and news in women's health. Your data will be used in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie policy

Built by doctors and experts

Our tools are made by medical professionals for your peace of mind

Our website uses affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click on them