Contraception Reviews

Your birth control.
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The site to rate, review and compare birth control. Use our tools to find the right one for you.
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Explore reviews for every method and birth control brand.
Explore reviews for every method and birth control brand. Read more reviews
Hormonal IUD  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  4 days ago

Kyleena IUD  

I've tried all the pills out there for BC, but my last resort was the hormonal IUD to stop me hemorrhaging every month. For the last 9 months, I've had 4 UTIs and constant pelvic pain. I've seen a urologist twice, and the hypothesis is that the IUD is drying out not only my skin but my vaginal tissues as well. I wish I could get it out to remove myself this constant UTI type pain, but I haven't bled a lot in the last couple of months. It's a very bad negative for a semi positive.

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Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  4 days ago

Mili birth control pill  

I really enjoy taking this brand. It still feels like I am me at the end of the day and I’m in control of my emotions and not hindered by excessive hormones.


Very positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
48 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  5 days ago

Vienva birth control pill  

Omg the lower back pain and the leg pain was unreal. I thought something was very very wrong with me but when I stopped taking this is went away.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Hormonal IUD  

The insertion did cause me a great deal of pain, and the following days after I was cramping constantly. I am on my 2nd month of Kyleena and I do still experience some cramping in my day to day. It has made my period lighter but I have been bleeding for 22days.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
49 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Lo Loestrin Fe birth control pill  

I went on this pill for pre-menopause symptoms that were driving me crazy (hot flashes, really bad sleep disruptions). It worked really well, but there was one side effect that I couldn't handle. I couldn't wear my contacts anymore, and my eyes were always really dry and itchy. When I tried to wear my contacts, they would get a film on them after only and hour or two of wearing, which would make it seem like I was looking through a mist, and lights had halos around them, which made night driving totally unsafe. If it wasn't for that I'd still be taking them. I really liked how much lighter and shorter my period was while I was on it, because my normal period was really heavy and and crampy and lengthy.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Slynd birth control pill  

I have been on this for 2 days, day 1 I had unmanageable migraines that made me want to cry and lower back pain, day 2 I am experiencing migraines and severe abdominal cramps and lower back pain. I dont know if I want to take this another day 😕


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Kyleena IUD  

No major changes but i started to have ovarian hemorrhagic cyst 3 times in the last 3 years. Got scared and now i am focusing on family planning technique, specifically measuring Basal Body Temperature (BBT). So super excited with this. Also using this amazing app called Cosia where I am not only tracking but also getting practical lifestyle tips to make my hormonal balance settle.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
40 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Slynd birth control pill  

I was really hopeful about starting Slynd. My purpose for starting Slynd was not a kit birth control but more about controlling heavy, painful periods, as well as the bodily changes as I entered my 40s. My previous experience with birth control has not been great, however I remained hopeful. Unfortunately, I could only take the side effects from Slynd for a little over 2 months. As a health professional, I understand that these medications require time, but this was making my life more miserable. Here are some of the side effects I experienced: Month 1 through Month 2 Late period (10-12 days late) Prolonged period (over 2 weeks long) then continuous spotting Nausea daily Migraine Pimples (I’ve never experienced this many pimples in my entire life!) Cramping (during missed period & during period) Fatigue (extreme) Back pain By the 3rd pack, I gave up due to increased cramping, back pain with spotting and increased irritability from the pain. At this point, I’ve gone from regular heavy, painful periods to daily, painful spotting. I’m definitely not myself and would like to end this misery! I truly don’t believe in giving up, I understand every woman is different. This birth control is just not for me!


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
41 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Mirena IUD  

Absolutely loved my Mirena IUDs (I've had 3) compared to the other forms of birth control I've used. I did develop irritable bowel and didn't realize it was because of the IUD until I removed it and it went away (my doctor's also never suspected the IUD so I spent a lot of money and time with specialists only to find out it's a listed side effect in the insert). I've also had a steep decrease in migraines since removing my IUD, but besides the migraines and IBS, it was great!


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Nextstellis pill  

Pretty good but negativity effects mood.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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I started taking the Pill when I was 16, and the side effects really impacted my life. I set up The Lowdown to help women like me take control of their reproductive health

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An amazing organization. The lowdown is focused just on womens health and this makes for focused expertise. I had a fantastic consultation where I got focused, excellent advice. In a 30 minute appointment 20 years of poor service from every other Dr I've ever spoken to was undone and rectified. I wish I had this in my 20s! If you are considering this please book an appointment. You will not regret it.

EG

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Brilliant, non judgmental and informative, changing the conversation about contraception. The website is also brilliant, a really good source of informative and interesting information. I’m so pleased I know about this website, it is changing contraceptive knowledge for the better! Keep it up girls!!

Yasemin Ali

Trustpilot

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Like most I can’t get in front of my nurse or GP so have resulted in buying my contraception online. It feels like a womens clinic, just online. Couldn’t fault them.

Louise

Trustpilot

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Completely lost faith in my local contraceptive clinic. Started searching online with the intent to purchase the contraceptive of my choice instead. This is when I stumbled across the Lowdown, and they have been fantastic ever since. An abundance of info on the site, which I felt was important to enable me to make an informed decision.

Kerry C

Trustpilot

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Website was very easy to use, and is the only resource I have found of this kind, which compares different types of pills and gives detailed information about potential side effects and pros/cons. I had not registered with my local GP after moving, and was running out of my pill. My order arrived the next day - would definitely use again!

Anna Leitner

Trustpilot

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Making contraception easier to access… It should be this easy, stress free, not time consuming…Best customer service. Best way to receive contraception. Will recommend this place - especially to those who get anxious or frustrated about going to their local clinic//GP

Lou

Trustpilot

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They are always available at the other end of the phone (WhatsApp), and reply promptly to messages. Reasonable pricing and prompt delivery.

VB

Trustpilot

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I had a consultation with Fran who was super friendly and personable. The consultation was amazing to the point I cried with the relief. Fran explained what methods were open to me based on my preferences, answered all of my many questions and I am now trialling out the things she has suggested. Cannot express how grateful I am for this service is available and am looking to see what else the website can offer.

Ana-Sofica

Trustpilot

via Trustpilot

Great service. The process is straightforward and even if you don't know what you want/need there's a handy questionnaire available and if further support is needed there is the option to book an appointment with a clinician. Prices are fair and depend on the brand and length of subscription. Also the process of cancelling the subscription is very straightforward and transparent. Thanks.

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