Mini pill vs Birth control shot
Mini pill ingredients
Main hormones in Mini pill
progestin
Birth control shot ingredients
Main hormones in Birth control shot
What Lowdown reviewers say
29% very negative
36% irregular periods
43% no impact
64% no impact
57% no impact on skin
33% 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
Mini pill reviews
14 reviews
Used for 3 - 6 mo
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 25th Jun 24
I like it, helps me a lot with my cramps
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 5th Jun 24
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
Used for 3 - 6 mo
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 25th Jun 24
I like it, helps me a lot with my cramps
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 5th Jun 24
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
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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