Side effects
Hana pill common side effects
Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews
47% of Hana pill reviewers reported headaches
42% of Hana pill reviewers reported period like cramps
37% of Hana pill reviewers reported nausea or vomiting
37% of Hana pill reviewers reported tender breasts
32% of Hana pill reviewers reported sweating more than usual
Hana pill rare side effects
Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews
5% of Hana pill reviewers reported hair loss
5% of Hana pill reviewers reported lower back pain
5% of Hana pill reviewers reported pelvic infection
Possible Hana pill side effects
Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews
- Headaches (47%)
- Period like cramps (42%)
- Nausea or vomiting (37%)
- Tender breasts (37%)
- Sweating more than usual (32%)
- Vaginal dryness (26%)
- Vaginal discharge (21%)
- Migraines (21%)
- Breast enlargement (21%)
- Dizziness (16%)
- High blood pressure (16%)
- Discomfort wearing contact lenses (11%)
- Body hair getting darker (11%)
- Migraine with aura (5%)
- Body hair increase (5%)
- Hair loss (5%)
- Lower back pain (5%)
- Pelvic infection (5%)
- Cystitis (0%)
- A latex allergy (0%)
- Thrush (0%)
Reviews
2.9
17 reviews
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Community reviews
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
Hana has worked like a charm for me. I was a bit worried about starting it, as I had a horrendous experience with the combined pill, but my periods are heavy and painful, and I just couldn't stand it anymore. Not getting pregnant was a reason to start Hana, but I was mostly looking for period relief, and it really has delivered. At the beginning I had a few unusual periods - some shorter, some longer, and a bit irregular, but they were immediately lighter and less painful. After about 3 months, things had evened out, and now 2.5 years later, I can't even remember the last time I had a period, only that it lasted about a day or so and was so light I barely even needed a pad. My partner and I have had no pregnancy scares, and it works wonderfully for me. I think my mood is absolutely fine - it felt maybe a tiny bit flat at the beginning, but more because it was no longer fluctuating so much during my cycle. Now it's like I get to be at the end of the first week after my period, all the time. My main negative with starting Hana is that it really increased my appetite at the beginning - about 6 hours after taking it, I *had to* eat snacks. It felt impossible not to. This contributed to some weight gain, and while I've gotten used to the snack-attacks now and can manage them, I haven't been able to shift the weight, despite using methods of weight loss that have worked for me in the past. I can't say for sure if this is because Hana is making it harder for me to lose weight, or if it's just because I'm getting older. I am currently contemplating taking a break from Hana to see if I can lose the weight off it, but I'm reluctant to as it has had such a positive impact on my quality life. If you're also experiencing an increase in appetite, and want some advice, it really helped me to change the time I take Hana - I moved it to later, so that my craving hits much closer to dinner time, which is perfect. All in all, Hana has worked much better for me than I could've even hoped, and I would recommend trying it to see if it works for you.
Decreased sex drive
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 29th Mar 24
I have PCOS, so I don't have periods normally as is and hormonal birth control effects me differently. My review is for the other PCOS girlies who have amenorrhea (lack of/no menses). I started cramping almost immediately. I take the pill at noon everyday, and the cramping sets in 30 minutes later. It is worse at night before bed. As far as emotional side effects, I've noticed I am more apathetic than usual, but otherwise fine.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 14th Mar 24
Hana was my first experience of taking a contraceptive at the age of 33. It was generally a positive experience. It really reduced the PMDD symptoms I was experiencing and made the week before my period more manageable. My period was lighter and less painful overall. There were some negatives,my sex drive completely disappeared and I experienced vaginal dryness. My periods were less regular and sometimes I would have two back to back with just a few days in between. Because they were so light it wasn't a huge problem. The biggest issue was I realised that in balancing out my hormonal mood swings it felt like it had gone too far and I was overall emotionally flat. I realised that I wasn't really myself, it was subtle and it took me a while to realise.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 27th Dec 23
I feel like I haven't been on it long enough to give it a chance but I've been spotting from the day I started 3.5weeks a go and I've had enough. I've also had terrible heartburn and nausea too.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 24th Nov 23
I was worried about side effects going on to Hana but had zero side effects apart from breast tenderness for the the first two weeks, and a regular period (although slightly lighter and shorter than normal) in week 3. I started seeing some spotting in week 5, I'm in week 7 now and on day 16 of continuous bleeding. It's reasonably light but inconvenient. No PMS symptoms other than the breast tenderness, which started in week 1/2 and is the same as the breast tenderness I got with PMS. I'm going to stick with it for now but if the breast tenderness and continuous bleeding hasn't stopped after 3 months I may give up on it as it's pretty inconvenient.
Top side effects not reported
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
39 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 28th Sep 23
It started off well 3 weeks no bleeding then a light period for a week, mood was more mellow and just abit lower, no sex drive at all. Started second pack and had a week no bleeding at beginning and 3 weeks non stop bleeding to the point I just finished my lst pill and I’m giving up. I currently have another migraine and bleeding is getting heavier again I have no sex drive my mood is mellow in a way I’m just so frustrated about the bleeding it just making me feel gross so my mood is getting worse by the day . I think all mini pills are like this with me I tried another one three years ago and had similar side effects. Definately not for me. If I didn’t get the headaches still and had less bleeding maybe I’ll stick with it but maybe some women are just not meant for this synthetic hormone pill.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3rd Sep 23
I deeply appreciate the ease it took for me to get this medication. The pharmacist helped me understand what I was getting, and the pharmacist was so kind and helping ease my fears. She actually recommended that I go to my GP if I want to remain on this medication because the GP can prescribe it for free. The side effects were horrific and got worse the longer I was on them. I got halfway through my second pack before I genuinely couldn't do it anymore. I was sweating so much I was having to shower three times a day, my tummy was hard and distended. My anxiety got so bad I couldn't bring myself to even open my curtains and I couldn't even self-soothe. I was writing on a whiteboard and my head felt it was about to explode. Multiple times it felt like my eyes were coming up from my socket (this side effect is not written on any slip and I believe it is described as having difficulty putting contact lenses in, I don't wear contact lenses but my eyes fell out they were coming out) I thought after I finished my first month things would get easier, They didn't The side effects just got worse and worse and worse. To the point I was considering calling for an ambulance because I had a severe migraine with an aura that lasted for 3 days (I have not experienced one since stopping Hana) Just because Hana doesn't work for you don't write off all birth control. After some trial and error I have found something that works for me. I am sad that Hana caused me so much grief because it fitted in so well with my lifestyle, being able to walk into any pharmacy and getting it over the counter.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
1 helpful
1 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 13th Aug 23
I was possibly already a bit low but the side effect of feeling suicidal was horrendous and I immediately felt better once I stopped taking the pill. I lasted just over 2 weeks and wasn’t in a place to keep trying.
Very negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 27th Jun 23
It stopped my periods which was great, but it made me incredibly depressed and I noticed a positive change in my mental health when I came off it. I also think it decreased my sex drive a bit and made me dryer.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 19th Jun 23
I used this pill short term after coming off the implant. No side effects and a very positive experience for first 3 months. I stopped using it after the side effects I had experienced on my implant started to resurface- intense vaginal dryness, pain and tearing during sex, and low libido.
Improved skin
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments