Hey 👋 How can The Lowdown help you?
Like TripAdvisor for your vagina
Explore reviews for every method and birth control brand.
Explore reviews for every method and birth control brand. Read more reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 5 days ago
Have been nonstop throwing up and being nauseous and dizzy, lost a lot of weight from that alone. Have a bad fever and a lot of hot flashes, very uncomfortable and won’t ever do this again. Ever. Ever. Ever again.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
I first started receiving the shot as a teenager (for 2 years) and the only side effect I experienced was no periods, which is what I wanted. I started back on it 5 years ago after trying 2 other types of BC that I did not like. Once again, my periods stopped, but this time I also gained about 30 lbs, my breasts grew, and I suffered from excessive sweating/ hot flashes. The weight gain was no issue to me since I have always been very tall and skinny. Putting on some extra weight was a plus. It was the constant sweating and hot flashes that made me stop taking the shot. I would even sweat from my head and *down there*, which I never used to before. It was very embarrassing and difficult for me to control. I was showering 3-4 times a day in between trying to work and go to school. Not to mention all of the different types of deodorant I had to try to remedy this issue. If I can find a viable solution, I would most definitely restart this BC.
Gained weight
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
I was on this pill for about 4-5 months. I’m just going to try to sum this up the best way I can; No change with boobs, no change with weight, acne cleared up, no change with hair growth or loss. Dizziness, several headaches a week. Fatigue, low mood and feeling numb. First 3 months was constant spotting and bleeding with about a week to week and half of nothing in between. Then I stopped taking placebos and zero bleeding or spotting for two months. Also around this time I experienced a huge drop in libido, barely able to get turned on and unable to get wet. The few times I tried to have sex I kept getting a perineal tear in the same spot and this was with a significant amount of lube. Finally found a doctor who told me this was because of my birth control. It impacted my hormones and changed my hormones down there to the point I was unable to have sex. My lips also looked like a prune and were wrinkly. I’ve been off the pill for over a week and my lips are pink, full and plush, and I was able to get wet when kissing my husband which had not happened in months. I feel like I’m coming alive again. Personally done with hormones, we are doing nfp and condoms. I don’t want to scare anyone but this was my experience if you happen to go through the same it may be this pill causing the tearing issue and other sexual function issues (which is listed as a side affect)
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
at first i experienced a lot of anxiety and mood swings but after a few years seemed to die down. Weight gain and libido have been the really only symptoms I have experienced. Have not had a period the whole time.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 month ago
I have been on birth control for a year and a half now. The pharmacy switched what brand they gave me, and even though it had the “same ingredients” it’s like you’re starting a whole new pill so your body has to adjust all over again. Im on month 6 of taking this one and Im consistently having break through bleeding the week before my placebo pill week, so im bleeding for two weeks every month. Im about to go off of it the beginning of September anyway, so i’m just pushing through, but if I have to take one in the future i will 100% be asking for a different pill. Ive had no other side effect except that which is great but the bleeding extra and the dull cramps that stick around those two weeks are annoying.
Somewhat positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 month ago
Depo Provera stopped my periods completely. After being on it for more than a year, I can’t fit into my favorite belt that I easily could a year ago. Mind you, last year I was more sedentary — this year I’ve been training for 5Ks. That’s how much weight I’ve gained on Depo.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 month ago
I didnt really notice much of a change. I was only on .1/.02 mgs. I did notice a lot of nausea especially in the mornings and one night i was throwing up nonstop.
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 month ago
I never know when I'm just "overreacting" or when it's the effect of birth control. However, depending on the time of day I take my birth control, I may feel headache or nausea symptoms and it tends to be pretty obviously connected to the birth control (i.e definitely not because of anything else).
Improved skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 25th Jun 24
I like it, helps me a lot with my cramps
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 22nd Jun 24
To start, I gained about 20 pounds. My periods were sometimes non existent and then I would have a two week period, then two days of no bleeding, followed by another two week period. After a while the implant migrated in my arm and started to cause aches whenever I exercised. I could handle most side effects but the real issue was low libido. The implant made me actively avoid sex and even be a little repulsed by it. It definitely hurt my relationship. I did love the security of it and how little I had to worry about getting pregnant.
Decreased sex drive
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Trusted by women like you
Join the thousands of women who trust in our community
Louise
via Trustpilot
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
via Trustpilot
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
via Trustpilot
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
via Trustpilot
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
via Trustpilot
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
via Trustpilot
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
via Trustpilot
They are always available at the other end of the phone (WhatsApp), and reply promptly to messages. Reasonable pricing and prompt delivery.
VB
via Trustpilot
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
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.
A community on a mission to make women heard
![Instagram photo](https://the-lowdown-public-images.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/homepage-carousel-1.png)
![Instagram photo](https://the-lowdown-public-images.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/homepage-carousel-2.png)
![Instagram photo](https://the-lowdown-public-images.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/homepage-carousel-3.png)
![Instagram photo](https://the-lowdown-public-images.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/homepage-carousel-5.png)
![Instagram photo](https://the-lowdown-public-images.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/Mask+Group-11.webp)
![Instagram photo](https://the-lowdown-public-images.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/homepage-carousel-6.png)
![Instagram photo](https://the-lowdown-public-images.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/homepage-carousel-7.png)
![Instagram photo](https://the-lowdown-public-images.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/homepage-carousel-8.png)
![Instagram photo](https://the-lowdown-public-images.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/homepage-carousel-9.png)
![Instagram photo](https://the-lowdown-public-images.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/homepage-carousel-10.png)
Popular birth control
Combination pillImplantShotThe legal stuff
Terms of usePrivacy & cookieContent policy©The Lowdown 2024