Side effects
Marvelon pill common side effects
Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews
53% of Marvelon pill reviewers reported vaginal discharge
48% of Marvelon pill reviewers reported period like cramps
47% of Marvelon pill reviewers reported breast enlargement
43% of Marvelon pill reviewers reported tender breasts
40% of Marvelon pill reviewers reported vaginal dryness
Marvelon pill rare side effects
Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews
5% of Marvelon pill reviewers reported pelvic infection
3% of Marvelon pill reviewers reported migraine with aura
1% of Marvelon pill reviewers reported hair loss
Possible Marvelon pill side effects
Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews
- Vaginal discharge (53%)
- Period like cramps (48%)
- Breast enlargement (47%)
- Tender breasts (43%)
- Vaginal dryness (40%)
- Nausea or vomiting (33%)
- Sweating more than usual (28%)
- Lower back pain (28%)
- Thrush (19%)
- Cystitis (13%)
- Headaches (12%)
- High blood pressure (11%)
- Dizziness (8%)
- Migraines (8%)
- A latex allergy (8%)
- Discomfort wearing contact lenses (7%)
- Body hair getting darker (7%)
- Body hair increase (7%)
- Pelvic infection (5%)
- Migraine with aura (3%)
- Hair loss (1%)
Reviews
3.2
75 reviews
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Community reviews
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 24th Dec 23
I have been using marvelon for 3 years to manage severe period pain from 2 large fibroids when all NSAIDS didnt work. The pain reduced but not very much. Still the period affecting my QOL. So the doctor asked me to change to yasmin but after only one tablet of yasmin i got very severe nausea disturbing sleep and rapid heart beat and anxiety attacks ( feeling my heart is crushed) so i went back to marvelon immediately to stop these weird side effects of yasmin. But it managed my periods only 30%.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 24th Dec 23
I was taking marvelon to reduce period pain that was very severe before starting it bcz i have 2 large fibriods, but still the period pain didnt improve much on it. So the doctor told me to skip placebo pills to skip my period. But it was completely impossible on it to skip periods more than 40 days. So if i skip periods more than 40 days i have very terrible side effects of mild nausea and breakthrough bleeding and cramping and PMS (aka period) so the doctor asked me to change to yasmin.after the first pill of yasmin i have very severe nausea distrubing my sleep and panic attacks ( feeling that my heart is crushed) so immediately i went back to marvelon to restore my hormone balance.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
48 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 25th Oct 23
I was recommended “marvellous” Marvelon by an NHS women’s health nurse when I was 23 and looking for a pill that would t leave me moody with breakthrough bleeding. 36 years later (!!) I’m still taking it. I now run it on every month so zero bleeding. Every few months I’ll skip a day to see if I still ovulate (and I do). After 10 years (age 33) I stopped it to conceive. Ovulated the first month (I get distinct ov pain) and resumed regular cycles immediately. I conceived 2 months later. After my second baby I had a Mirena which was fine but couldn’t get the little wire sitting there out of my head so had it removed and went back on Marvelon. So all up about 5 years off. Hairdresser noticed my hair thickened up (after loosing lots postnatal).again I noticed no side effects apart from no ov pain. I’m planning to stay on it until my early 50s or so and will then consider HRT options. So I’m very happy with my oestrogen topped up! I’ve had zero negative symptoms and am a very well, fit, optimistic and thriving GenXer!! Marvellous.
Top side effects not reported
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 21st Jun 23
As someone who has never got along with hormonal contraception, I’ve tried many pills over the years and Marvelon is definitely one of the best. Sadly I have to come off this pill due to depression (which was non-existent before starting) but the other side effects were more manageable and gradual: tender breasts, nausea, acne. Really gutted it’s caused such low mood as I would have happily continued otherwise.
Top side effects not reported
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
47 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 20th Jun 23
I was on Marvelon from the age of 14 until 30 when my GP took me off it. I really didn't want to to cover off it but as a smoker I had no choice. I was so lucky that the first pill I tried was perfect for me, no side effects except bad headaches for the first six months.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 20th Dec 22
This is my first experience on hormonal birth control. I was nervous to start because of potential mood swings and low libido. Thankfully I have not experienced dramatic changes in my mood and body. However, my mood has been neutral and at times almost numb. I have developed vaginal dryness and my libido has lowered significantly. This defeats the purpose of me being on birth control so I'm considering changing pill or to the copper coil. Everyone is different, but I have previously struggled with severe acne and painful periods. My skin was mostly clear and Marvelon has not exacerbated any breakouts. My periods have remained the same, perhaps shortening in length slightly. So far, it's been a mostly neutral experience but I want to update this review in a few month's time.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
2 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 9th Jan 22
I was put on the combi-pill in secondary school/college years and it was to help regulate my periods which it did but I kept getting extremely bad migraines the first day/just before my period came and I would have to have the day off and stay in bed in the dark. So once I explained this to my Dr we both agreed that I would come if it and switch to a different pill. Which I did but that wasn’t any better so then that lead me to getting the Depo-Injection
Top side effects not reported
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 16th Nov 21
It was convenient and pain-free, but after I stopped taking it, my partner and I both noticed that I felt less depressed and my libido increased. I am considering restarting the pill due to suspected endometriosis to help reduce pain, but I'm worried that I will feel more depressed if I do.
Top side effects not reported
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 8th Nov 21
At first it's was good for the first 8/10 months of using this pill. After the first year I noticed a dramatic difference in my mood and down there being sore quite often. Had cystitis twice and thrush was a pain to get rid of. Currently still taking it but I want to stop using this as it's done me no favours.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
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