Contraception Reviews

Combination birth control pill vs Mini pill

Combination birth control pill

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Mini pill

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Overview

Rated 3.4

69 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.3

14 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Combination pill ingredients

Main hormones in Combination pill

estrogen


Mini pill ingredients

Main hormones in Mini pill

progestin

What Lowdown reviewers say

Mood

30% no impact on mood

Bleeds

33% lighter periods

Sex drive

36% lost sex drive

Weight

44% no impact

Skin

45% improved skin

Cycle return

39% in 1 month

Mood

29% very negative

Bleeds

36% irregular periods

Sex drive

43% no impact

Weight

64% no impact

Skin

57% no impact on skin

Cycle return

33% in 1 month

Benefits: What this birth control can help with

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

Period pain

Heavy menstrual bleeding

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Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Combination birth control pill reviews

69 reviews

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Lo Loestrin Fe birth control pill  

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.

Read more

Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Volnea birth control pill  

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

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Vienva birth control pill  

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

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Lo Loestrin Fe birth control pill  

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

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Volnea birth control pill  

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

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Vienva birth control pill  

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


Mini pill reviews

14 reviews

Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Slynd birth control pill  

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

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  25th Jun 24

Norethindrone 0.35 birth control pill  

I like it, helps me a lot with my cramps


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  5th Jun 24

Norethindrone 0.35 birth control pill  

Had a terrible experience with a combined BC pill (depression, exhaustion, weight gain), the mini-pill has been GREAT. I get my period only twice a year, and the only side effects are some breast tenderness an occasionally ovarian cysts before my period, but never serious. No mood side effects.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Slynd birth control pill  

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

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  25th Jun 24

Norethindrone 0.35 birth control pill  

I like it, helps me a lot with my cramps


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  5th Jun 24

Norethindrone 0.35 birth control pill  

Had a terrible experience with a combined BC pill (depression, exhaustion, weight gain), the mini-pill has been GREAT. I get my period only twice a year, and the only side effects are some breast tenderness an occasionally ovarian cysts before my period, but never serious. No mood side effects.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
38 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  28th May 24

Mini pill  

Took OPill after pregnancy, to fill the gap before going back to IUD. Ease of access is a big plus (picked up at grocery store, no prescription needed). First period was weird: started spotting at around the normal time of month, but just stayed like that for about a week before starting "in earnest", at which point it was fairly normal. Feeling a reduction in libido and sexual sensitivity, but could also be related to post-pregnancy hormone fluctuations.


Decreased sex drive

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
38 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  9th May 24

Norethindrone 0.35 birth control pill  

I used to be able to skip periods but my old birth control gave me monthly migraines so I switched to the mini pill. My migraines are decreasing and my periods are regular now.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  20th Apr 24

Norethindrone 0.35 birth control pill  

When I started take this pill 3 weeks in I noticed my hair falling out I took it almost 2 months iv been off of it 3 weeks and my hair is still falling out when will it stop


Very negative mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2nd Feb 24

Norethindrone 0.35 birth control pill  

Worked out great until I started losing my hair. Had more ovary pain too.


Gained weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
29 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  16th Jan 24

Slynd birth control pill  

Some irregular bleeding and headaches in the first few weeks but overall a good experience. This is the first birthcontrol pill that did not give me mood swings and depressive feelings.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
25 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2nd Nov 23

Slynd birth control pill  

Chosen due to migraine with aura risk, had hair loss but could be unrelated. I did not bleed for first 3 months, now I do not bleed on the placebo week, but in the third week of a new pack


Worse skin

1 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
57 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  10th Oct 23

Mini pill  

I didn't experience any side effects or issues while taking the pill. The hardest thing was remembering to take the pill at the same time every day. And, while I was traveling, I always brought the pill in my purse so I had it if my baggage got lost. My experience with the pill was great- effective and easy.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

1 comments

Birth control alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Combination birth control pill with other birth control

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