Side effects
Qlaira pill common side effects
Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews
26% of Qlaira pill reviewers reported vaginal discharge
26% of Qlaira pill reviewers reported period like cramps
26% of Qlaira pill reviewers reported lower back pain
21% of Qlaira pill reviewers reported vaginal dryness
21% of Qlaira pill reviewers reported breast enlargement
Qlaira pill rare side effects
Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews
5% of Qlaira pill reviewers reported sweating more than usual
5% of Qlaira pill reviewers reported body hair increase
5% of Qlaira pill reviewers reported thrush
Possible Qlaira pill side effects
Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews
- Vaginal discharge (26%)
- Period like cramps (26%)
- Lower back pain (26%)
- Vaginal dryness (21%)
- Breast enlargement (21%)
- Tender breasts (21%)
- Hair loss (21%)
- Headaches (21%)
- Nausea or vomiting (16%)
- Migraine with aura (11%)
- Discomfort wearing contact lenses (5%)
- Dizziness (5%)
- Sweating more than usual (5%)
- Body hair increase (5%)
- Thrush (5%)
- Cystitis (0%)
- Migraines (0%)
- Body hair getting darker (0%)
- High blood pressure (0%)
- A latex allergy (0%)
- Pelvic infection (0%)
Reviews
3.4
19 reviews
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Community reviews
Used for 6 - 12 mo
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
I was prescribed this by a gynecologist to treat PMDD. It has worked amazingly, my mood has been very stable since I started it 10 months ago. My symptoms are gone, my energy levels are normal, I’ve been more patient with the kids. The only issues are hair loss when I started (which sorted itself out after a few months), low sex drive (but it was low any way). The only issue is the slight clotting risk due to oestrogen, it fills me with fear. It is supposed to be lower than other combined pills but due to my age and other risk factors it concerns me. I am considering trying Slynd to see if it has a similar effect, but I’d happily go back to this if need be. A very good pill!
Very positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4th Oct 24
I initially wanted a pill that would help decrease my light acne, address mood swings, and alleviate awful cramps. I also hated using pads as it made my skin irritated. In the first month, it was all fine; shortly after, my acne was pretty much gone with just a few pimples left at the end of the month due to PMS. My period almost stopped completely, and my cramps were significantly lowered. After 2 months of usage, I noticed a pattern: 3 weeks with constant anxiety and depression, and then in the fourth week, I felt normal, a few days before the end of the pills. It proceeded to be this way for 5 months. Then I started to feel nauseous, and my awful cramps were back, alongside the increased breakthrough bleeding. I'm now trying to find a combined pill that meets my needs and doesn't give me severe anxiety and depression for 3 weeks of the month. My advice is: if you are like me and naturally have long PMS, I don't recommend this pill. I've tried other birth control pills before, but none were worse than this one. My doctor said it happened due to the fact that Qlaira tries to imitate the natural flow by altering the hormone quantity throughout the month, and keeps up the promise, but when you naturally have bad mood swings, it is not a good thing.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 9th Aug 24
This pill has been really great for me with regards to my severe PMS and mood swings. I came on the pill as I was suffering with severe PMS and cyclical insomnia. So far, this has been a game changer for me. Pros: -Bioidentical oestrogen, meaning no thrush (I used to get this on every single combined pill in the past, and it was impossible to eradicate). -Bioidentical oestrogen also means no large, swollen, painful breasts. No change here (although mine are tiny so could have done with a boost!) -Only a two day break from any hormones. Mood swings are vastly decreased. I only have mild ones on the final two days. -The constant supply of oestrogen means my insomnia is virtually gone. I still struggle on the last four days of my cycle on this pill (where oestrogen is at 1mg for two days, then none for the next two), but it's only four days out of the month. I will take that over the 14 I was having pre pill. -My very early (I'm only 34) peri-menopausal symptoms have gone. Cons: -I have permanent breakthrough bleeding from around days 15-28. I use a pantyliner though and it doesn't stop me going about my day, or reduce sexual activity. -My sex drive has decreased somewhat - I have a very high sex drive naturally, but this has significantly dropped. However, I don't see this as a huge con, since my partner's sex drive is significantly lower than mine. So it's helped to even out any differences and arguments we were having around this.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 28th May 24
overall, i am very pleased with the qlaira pill. i have been using it for 11 months now, after first using the ‘regular’ birth-control pill. i switched because the regular pill gave me very heavy mood swings and depressive feelings. this is something that i have not experienced while using qlaira. i do, however, feel a bit more sensitive around certain places on my body. i usually do not wish to be touched on intimate places by my partner, which is a side effect of this contraceptive. my cycles are now very regular, and my period usually lasts only 2/3 days. i definitely recommend this pill to anyone who has experienced heavy side effects from a regular birth control pill.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 20th May 24
Qlaira started off pretty great after the 6 month window for symptoms to subside when starting new hormonal contraception. Being on it long term though, I've noticed symptoms such as low sex drive and fatigue. These symptoms are quite severe. It's been almost 5 years and I'm currently considering quitting hormonal birth control.
Worse skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 11th May 24
Sadly this pill effected my mood very very badly. During the 17 pills where the progestin used in it was at its highest I suffered extreme suicidal thoughts and couldn't get out of bed for several days. I realised it was the pill and immediately stopped taking it and my mood stabilised pretty quickly once it was out my system. Obviously we are all different and I think I'm quite sensitive to synthetic progesterone, I also already struggle with pms and very low mood before my period. That is actually why I was trying this pill to try and help my pms but it made everything even worse. So it might be fine for you but for me it was a massive no.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
1 helpful
1 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
43 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 11th Apr 24
I'm 43 and was suggested Qlaira because it has a supposedly more safe estrogen component. I've always had slightly elevated sensitive CRP and during the use of Qlaira it did drop to nothing so that was a positive finding. I had no bloating or weight gain. I would get breakthru bleeding on the active pills usually a week before my actual withdrawal bleed, which would last approx. 5 days. So all in all I was bleeding approx 12 days per month. And because you can*t skip the placebo pills on Qlaira, I found it was too much bleeding days compared to non-bleeding days. Another major side effect and the reason I wanted to stop using Qlaira was complete loss of libido. I felt almost repulsed by the idea of sex and I had trouble getting aroused. Altho my natural libido is quite low to begin with, Qlaira took it to completely new levels of zero. Hence why I stopped it after 6 months.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 20th Nov 23
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2nd Nov 23
I have used Zoely, Yasminelle and Qlaira previously. i had really bad hormonal acne that was cured with accutane and i am on pills so that my hormones dont make my skin breakout again. Zoely and Yasminelle kept my skin clear but with Qlaira my skin has breakouts. Not bad as I had while having acne, but some pimples here and there. Also my periods are so random with this pill. Sometimes I have to worst period pain and ovulation pain and sometimes I dont have periods at all. Also my sex drive has lowered. I got back to Zoely, since that has been the best pill for me.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 24th Oct 23
I took the pill for only 1 month but within that month it caused me to have severe cramps during days that I didn't have my period and it extended my bleeding days as well when I did get my period. It also resulted in some severe mood swings and I was also far more irritable.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments