Combination birth control pill vs Birth control shot
Combination pill ingredients
Main hormones in Combination pill
estrogen
Birth control shot ingredients
Main hormones in Birth control shot
What Lowdown reviewers say
28% no impact on mood
32% lighter periods
38% lost sex drive
43% no impact
41% improved skin
39% in 1 month
35% somewhat negative
41% stopped periods
35% lost sex drive
48% gained weight
35% no impact on skin
40% in 3-6 months
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Combination birth control pill reviews
113 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 days ago
I have pmdd and the progesterone in this pill is known to not be great for that, so take this review with a grain of salt. The first day I was a little nauseous and had some headaches but nothing that major. My boobs hurt for the first month and after that the pain started to subside. What got me was the emotional side effect. When I get pms I tend to get really depressed and anxious and I get extra sensitive to how people act around me. On Audra, every day of the active pills was like that. There was a point towards the end of the first pack where I felt so depressed that I could barely get myself out of bed. Things that wouldn’t bother me usually started causing mental breakdowns. I started avoiding people because I felt like everyone hated me and that everything I said was wrong. All of the feelings were similar to what I experience with my pmdd, but it can be very debilitating experiencing that everyday rather than a few days every month. The only relief I got was when I started the placebo pills, I felt like myself for the first time since starting the pills, and my roommate even mentioned I seemed happier all of the sudden, though I do think it’s made my period cramps last longer (I’m usually fine after day one but on day three I was still feeling slight cramps). The second month wasn’t as bad but I was still crying everyday about things that did not warrant me crying lol. I ended up talking to my doc and we’ve decided to switch pills because I don’t think I can deal with this anymore. The first two days being off were rough since I stopped in the middle of the second pack. I started crying hysterically about something the first night and then spent the next day feeling numb and lying in bed. But after that I had my period and I finally feel like myself again. Hopefully the next pill will work better.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 week ago
I’ve heard this birth control is supposed to be helpful for acne, but I have been flushed since I started taking it and seen a couple breakouts, and I haven’t even finished my first pack yet. I have also been sweating profusely off and on since the second week of taking it. Those are the most significant side effects I’ve noticed. I did just have my Mirena IUD removed after my uterus tried to absorb it, so these effects could be related to that. I’ve been on many different birth control pills over the past 15 years and usually I have no side effects after the first month or two, so we’ll see.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
It is not bad. The bad thing about it is it did make me gain weight and made my boobs go from a C to a DD and it kind of hurts my back. I gained like 10-15 lbs and I am unable to lose it no matter what diets I do. My skin has cleared up and my hair isn’t as oily and my periods have stopped which is really nice though.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 days ago
I have pmdd and the progesterone in this pill is known to not be great for that, so take this review with a grain of salt. The first day I was a little nauseous and had some headaches but nothing that major. My boobs hurt for the first month and after that the pain started to subside. What got me was the emotional side effect. When I get pms I tend to get really depressed and anxious and I get extra sensitive to how people act around me. On Audra, every day of the active pills was like that. There was a point towards the end of the first pack where I felt so depressed that I could barely get myself out of bed. Things that wouldn’t bother me usually started causing mental breakdowns. I started avoiding people because I felt like everyone hated me and that everything I said was wrong. All of the feelings were similar to what I experience with my pmdd, but it can be very debilitating experiencing that everyday rather than a few days every month. The only relief I got was when I started the placebo pills, I felt like myself for the first time since starting the pills, and my roommate even mentioned I seemed happier all of the sudden, though I do think it’s made my period cramps last longer (I’m usually fine after day one but on day three I was still feeling slight cramps). The second month wasn’t as bad but I was still crying everyday about things that did not warrant me crying lol. I ended up talking to my doc and we’ve decided to switch pills because I don’t think I can deal with this anymore. The first two days being off were rough since I stopped in the middle of the second pack. I started crying hysterically about something the first night and then spent the next day feeling numb and lying in bed. But after that I had my period and I finally feel like myself again. Hopefully the next pill will work better.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 week ago
I’ve heard this birth control is supposed to be helpful for acne, but I have been flushed since I started taking it and seen a couple breakouts, and I haven’t even finished my first pack yet. I have also been sweating profusely off and on since the second week of taking it. Those are the most significant side effects I’ve noticed. I did just have my Mirena IUD removed after my uterus tried to absorb it, so these effects could be related to that. I’ve been on many different birth control pills over the past 15 years and usually I have no side effects after the first month or two, so we’ll see.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
It is not bad. The bad thing about it is it did make me gain weight and made my boobs go from a C to a DD and it kind of hurts my back. I gained like 10-15 lbs and I am unable to lose it no matter what diets I do. My skin has cleared up and my hair isn’t as oily and my periods have stopped which is really nice though.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Birth control shot reviews
29 reviews
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 4 days ago
Getting off birth control and having cramps idk why I only been off for like a month or so
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 month ago
I have been on this form of birth control for 3 months now. I got my first dose on the last day of my cycle. This is my first time ever on birth control. After the first dose my cycle went away. I got my second dose 2 weeks later than what I was supposed to, because my gynecologist rescheduled my appointment (because they’d be closed that day). I started bleeding a medium-light flow 7 days after i was Supposed to get my second dose. I have been bleeding for 28 days straight now. The flow is the lightest it has been so far today, but it’s annoying to deal with. I get my third dose of depo in 2 months, and I’m honestly thinking of quitting it.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 15th May 25
I’ve been on Depo for 4 years and I’m almost 2 months off of it and I’m actively trying for a baby and my body is definitely all out of wack trying to regulate I’ve spotted for a week I’ve had bad cramps and stomach aches and I still haven’t ovulated yet but hopefully I will soon !!! All I can say is coming off the shot take it easy and get rest because your body is trying to get everything back in order and it’s not entirely fun
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 4 days ago
Getting off birth control and having cramps idk why I only been off for like a month or so
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 month ago
I have been on this form of birth control for 3 months now. I got my first dose on the last day of my cycle. This is my first time ever on birth control. After the first dose my cycle went away. I got my second dose 2 weeks later than what I was supposed to, because my gynecologist rescheduled my appointment (because they’d be closed that day). I started bleeding a medium-light flow 7 days after i was Supposed to get my second dose. I have been bleeding for 28 days straight now. The flow is the lightest it has been so far today, but it’s annoying to deal with. I get my third dose of depo in 2 months, and I’m honestly thinking of quitting it.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 15th May 25
I’ve been on Depo for 4 years and I’m almost 2 months off of it and I’m actively trying for a baby and my body is definitely all out of wack trying to regulate I’ve spotted for a week I’ve had bad cramps and stomach aches and I still haven’t ovulated yet but hopefully I will soon !!! All I can say is coming off the shot take it easy and get rest because your body is trying to get everything back in order and it’s not entirely fun
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1st May 25
Started the shot as an easy way to get on BC. Didn't have to get another shot for another 3 months; however, it was the worst decision I made. I had spotting and sometimes even heavy bleeding for 18 consecutive days straight. Gained weight as well for the following 3 months.
Worse skin
1 more effect
11 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
18 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 25th Apr 25
My skin is brighter, my hair is healthier. I’m losing weight, I went from 127 to 116 in the 3 months I’ve had it. I went from having no sex drive to being turned on all of the time. My only complaint is that even though I’m always turned on, it’s still a little difficult to get wet, and I experience alot of weird discharges
Very positive mood
3 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 16th Apr 25
Improved skin
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 28th Mar 25
The beginning i bled a lot, 40 plus day periods with few breaks in between. After about a year my periods went away and I only have spotting now. I recently found out I should only be using this form for no more than 2 years but this is my best option. It has been affecting my bones because I experience pain in my knees and hips that I haven't before this birth control. It does control my acne and is reliable which is a plus for me, i haven't experienced weight gain which is a common side effect. I have migraines more often after my shot and leading up to it as well. Overall I don't care for birth control in general and will be looking for other options.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 24th Feb 25
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 21st Feb 25
I became depressed and experienced pregnancy symptoms. I had it for a year. Half way through that year is when I realized it was the birth control that was making me feel out of wack. I had a horrible reaction receiving last shot and that was it. I continued using it because I thought my body was suppose to get use to it. I’ve changed a lot since then and not in a positive way.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 2nd Nov 24
Very positive mood
3 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
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