Contraception Reviews

Mini pill vs Combination birth control pill

Mini pill

Want to switch birth control?

Combination birth control pill

Want to switch birth control?

Overview

Rated 3.4

28 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.3

114 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Mini pill ingredients

Main hormones in Mini pill

progestin


Combination pill ingredients

Main hormones in Combination pill

estrogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

Mood

32% no impact on mood

Bleeds

36% stopped periods

Sex drive

43% no impact

Weight

50% no impact

Skin

39% no impact on skin

Cycle return

60% don’t know impact

Mood

29% no impact on mood

Bleeds

32% lighter periods

Sex drive

38% lost sex drive

Weight

43% no impact

Skin

41% improved skin

Cycle return

39% in 1 month

Benefits: What this birth control can help with

Period pain

Heavy menstrual bleeding

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

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Want to switch birth control?

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Mini pill reviews

28 reviews

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  26th May 25

Mini pill  

I lost so much hair. I’m done using this. My periods are more painful, I’m so tired now

Read more

Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  21st Apr 25

Mini pill  

Best bc pill experience I've had


Worse skin

1 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  16th Apr 25

Slynd birth control pill  

Really love it! I can skip my periods, don't experience migraines and my acne cleared up!


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  26th May 25

Mini pill  

I lost so much hair. I’m done using this. My periods are more painful, I’m so tired now


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  21st Apr 25

Mini pill  

Best bc pill experience I've had


Worse skin

1 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  16th Apr 25

Slynd birth control pill  

Really love it! I can skip my periods, don't experience migraines and my acne cleared up!


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments


Combination birth control pill reviews

114 reviews

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

Syeda birth control pill  

The pill was a great experience for me. I’d recommend it if you are someone capable of remembering to take it at the same time everyday. Also, I always know exactly when my period will be. Acne went away and no major side effects. The only potential negative is you have to deal with pharmacies and getting your prescription renewed regularly. I’m about to start a demanding job and am switching to an IUD for convenience.


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  6 days ago

Aubra birth control pill  

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

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Loryna birth control pill  

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

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

Syeda birth control pill  

The pill was a great experience for me. I’d recommend it if you are someone capable of remembering to take it at the same time everyday. Also, I always know exactly when my period will be. Acne went away and no major side effects. The only potential negative is you have to deal with pharmacies and getting your prescription renewed regularly. I’m about to start a demanding job and am switching to an IUD for convenience.


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  6 days ago

Aubra birth control pill  

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

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Loryna birth control pill  

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

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Loestrin 21 1/20 birth control pill  

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

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Yaz birth control pill  

I had severe anxiety on this pill, and also all of the sudden got motion sick all the time. I was nauseous everyday and lost weight because I couldn't eat. It did definitely help with acne and my previously irregular periods. However, I lost 20 pounds and had to eventually stop. Within a week of stopping, my mood returned to normal and I wasn't panicking all the time. Within a few months, however, my acne got way worse and I started getting cystic acne along my jawline. I also still suddenly get motion sick sometimes, and this isn't something I ever had before.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 8+ yr
41 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  20th May 25

Yaz birth control pill  

I’ve tried the shot, the ring, different pills, this is the one. Weight gain was an important factor as was acne. I have not gained weight and have had only an occasional acne bump likely due to another cause. For birth control, just make sure you take the pill daily at the same time. I no longer experience mood swings or pms in anyway. I also do not have periods bc with my doctor’s approval, I take the pill straight through each month due to endometriosis.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  18th May 25

Apri birth control pill  

Na


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
36 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  6th May 25

Combination birth control pill  

Not pleasant. Slynd seems to yes, decrease my flow, but the side effects are horrendous


Worse skin

1 more effect

12 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3rd May 25

Loryna birth control pill  

Began experiencing yeast infections almost immediately after beginning medications, even though I’ve had zero history of yeast infections in the past. Also experienced increase vaginal dryness with painful intercourse. Last but not least, I feel like my depression has been worse.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

12 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  30th Apr 25

Yasmin birth control pill  

.


Improved skin

12 helpful

0 comments

Birth control alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Mini pill with other birth control

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