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
30% no impact on mood
33% lighter periods
36% lost sex drive
44% no impact
45% improved skin
39% in 1 month
37% somewhat negative
37% stopped periods
37% lost sex drive
53% gained weight
42% no impact on skin
50% in 3-6 months
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Combination birth control pill reviews
69 reviews
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 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 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 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
Birth control shot reviews
19 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 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
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 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 18 mo - 3 yr
25 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 21st Jun 24
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
38 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 20th Jun 24
I never had any real big side affects when I was on depo over a decade ago but now that I'm older and went back on it, the breast tenderness (only 1) and slight discharge is becoming nearly unbearable. It happens about 3-5days after getting the shot and lasts 4-7days. I gotta decide if this is worth it.
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 17th Jun 24
I am having pigmentation down there and its always a thrush always itching causing discomfort .
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
23 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 24th May 24
Made me very moody for the first month. Also seems to be concerning long term side effects.
Very negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
19 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 4th Apr 24
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 15th Mar 24
It’s not for me gave me lots of acne and constant mood swings.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
33 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 7th Mar 24
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
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