Progestogen-only / Mini pill and lighter periods

How our community feel progestogen-only / Mini pill has affected their periods

Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews

Stopped

44%

No change

3%

Don't know

2%

Out of the 1372 reviews for progestogen-only / Mini pill, 117 people (9%) reported lighter periods.

Reviewers that reported lighter periods as a side effect

Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews

Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

this was my first contraceptive pill i tried. in the first three months, i did struggle with lower mood and had consistent light bleeding that would last for over a week. later on, i adjusted better and eventually stopped having a period, with the occasional light bleeding from time to time. i experienced decreased sex drive and mentally has not been great but it has been manageable. i decided to stop this after 10 months due to suddenly getting worsened acne, which is not something i have struggled with since i was a young teenager

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Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 6 mo
46 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Hi in my experience the breakthrough bleeding was too much for me. I had to change pill due to starting on hrt. Previously used microgynon which was great periods were like clockwork. Short 4 days and fairly light. I stopped using it and now use noriday.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

I have been taking Hana for 4-5 months now. Generally I have enjoyed the effects of taking a POP, but the specific effect Desogestrel had has led me to trying Slynd instead. Aside from the contraceptive effect, I mainly started taking this pill to combat low mood, hormonal headaches and to hopefully lighten my period. I did find all of these things improved on Hana, but I found that inconsistent and increasingly frequent bleeding was killing my sex drive, making it a touch redundant and prompting the switch. I would have likely reluctantly kept taking Hana (or tried a different brand) as I do feel my mood has benefited overall, and it is advised that bleeding can settle down over time, but now that Slynd was finally available in the UK, I see no need to compromise. In my first month on the pill, I had no bleeding at all (as you would expect). I also generally didn't notice many other side effects. I did have some mood swings - which took me by surprise, but were easier to handle once I identified what was happening and generally settled down after the first month. I also noticed slight vaginal dryness (not uncommon for me in my luteal phase and nothing a bit of lube can't fix) but have been unable to determine if this has also settled. As I got to the last week of pills in my first pack, I had a withdrawal bleed, which again was not unexpected. I was pleased to note that this was much lighter than my normal period, even if it lasted longer, because I could essentially just wear period underwear instead of my normal underwear and that would last all day. In my second month, I noticed some light but otherwise entirely manageable spotting. This alone would not have dissuaded me from taking this pill. I again had a withdrawal bleed around the start of the last week in the pack and would have been happy with that cadence. This is where the problems started, however. Through the course of the third month, I noticed that the light spotting was turning into more prolonged bleeding, which by the end of the month was almost constant and in some cases led me to leak through my clothes. Having done some research online, I decided to try taking two pills instead of just one - this did seem to make the bleeding lighter but it has continued. While I feel that the hormones have overall had a positive impact on my sex drive, it is very hard to feel attractive or think about sex when you are constantly bleeding.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill common side effects

Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews

50% of progestogen-only / Mini pill reviewers reported tender breasts

46% of progestogen-only / Mini pill reviewers reported period like cramps

42% of progestogen-only / Mini pill reviewers reported vaginal discharge

40% of progestogen-only / Mini pill reviewers reported breast enlargement

37% of progestogen-only / Mini pill reviewers reported vaginal dryness


Possible progestogen-only / Mini pill side effects

Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews

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