Mini pill vs Cap or diaphragm
Mini pill ingredients
Main hormones in Mini pill
progestin
Cap or diaphragm ingredients
What Lowdown reviewers say
32% no impact on mood
42% spotting
40% lost sex drive
38% no impact
36% no impact on skin
56% don’t know impact
67% no impact on mood
100% no change
67% no impact
100% no impact
100% no impact on skin
Not enough data to say
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Mini pill reviews
50 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
I can't tell if this birth control is helping me or not and its so frustrating because i have endometriosis and i smoke so i have to be on a progesterone only pill but ever since i started taking this pill i've had a heat intolerance which they say is not a side effect but it 100% started when i started taking the pill, and they told me my goal is to not have a period and im 2 months in and still am getting my period and ovulating and experiencing breakthrough bleeding and cramps.
Worse skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
39 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 12th Aug 26
Lots of spotting in the beginning and some of my periods are coming while on active pills. Very depressed for the first 1-2 months but that has subsided. The biggest side effect is a large increase in sweating while active. Like dripping from my head and face.
Somewhat positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 27th Jul 26
terrible experience, dry mouth 24/7, dehydrated, nausea, throat irritated from this pill drying me and heavy diuretic component. made me so tired and depressed and ill caused acne
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
I can't tell if this birth control is helping me or not and its so frustrating because i have endometriosis and i smoke so i have to be on a progesterone only pill but ever since i started taking this pill i've had a heat intolerance which they say is not a side effect but it 100% started when i started taking the pill, and they told me my goal is to not have a period and im 2 months in and still am getting my period and ovulating and experiencing breakthrough bleeding and cramps.
Worse skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
39 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 12th Aug 26
Lots of spotting in the beginning and some of my periods are coming while on active pills. Very depressed for the first 1-2 months but that has subsided. The biggest side effect is a large increase in sweating while active. Like dripping from my head and face.
Somewhat positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 27th Jul 26
terrible experience, dry mouth 24/7, dehydrated, nausea, throat irritated from this pill drying me and heavy diuretic component. made me so tired and depressed and ill caused acne
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Cap or diaphragm reviews
3 reviews
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 17th Apr 25
I’ve been using the FemCap for years now and honestly, I’m so impressed. It’s non-hormonal, super discreet, and once you get the hang of insertion, it’s incredibly easy to use. Highly recommend it to anyone looking for a hormone-free option.
Top side effects not reported
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
36 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 7th Jan 25
I had to come off hormonal contraception due to health reasons so needed a barrier method. It was quite awkward to insert and always had to keep checking it in case it dislodged itself, was sometimes painful or uncomfortable, my partner could feel it. I was also using an approved spermicide with it but still became pregnant within a month of use.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 21st Sep 23
My very favorite thing about the Caya is that there really are no side effects. I am not putting anything into my body that is changing the way my body functions- I put it in, leave it in a while, and then I remove it. No hormones, nothing! I’ve been advised that while the Caya can be 80+% effective when used correctly, it’s best to use it with spermicide and condoms. It is tricky to insert the first few times but super easy to remove and I quickly got the hang of a quick and easy insertion! I did find it really difficult to find a pharmacy that sold the Caya (I guess they aren’t as popular now)- but all in all, it’s been fantastic so far! I love that my body gets to function as it normally would but that the Caya helps prevent pregnancy
Top side effects not reported
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 17th Apr 25
I’ve been using the FemCap for years now and honestly, I’m so impressed. It’s non-hormonal, super discreet, and once you get the hang of insertion, it’s incredibly easy to use. Highly recommend it to anyone looking for a hormone-free option.
Top side effects not reported
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
36 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 7th Jan 25
I had to come off hormonal contraception due to health reasons so needed a barrier method. It was quite awkward to insert and always had to keep checking it in case it dislodged itself, was sometimes painful or uncomfortable, my partner could feel it. I was also using an approved spermicide with it but still became pregnant within a month of use.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 21st Sep 23
My very favorite thing about the Caya is that there really are no side effects. I am not putting anything into my body that is changing the way my body functions- I put it in, leave it in a while, and then I remove it. No hormones, nothing! I’ve been advised that while the Caya can be 80+% effective when used correctly, it’s best to use it with spermicide and condoms. It is tricky to insert the first few times but super easy to remove and I quickly got the hang of a quick and easy insertion! I did find it really difficult to find a pharmacy that sold the Caya (I guess they aren’t as popular now)- but all in all, it’s been fantastic so far! I love that my body gets to function as it normally would but that the Caya helps prevent pregnancy
Top side effects not reported
2 helpful
0 comments
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