Contraception Reviews

Natural family planning vs Combination birth control pill

Natural family planning

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Combination birth control pill

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Overview

Rated 2.9

5 reviews

Daily

Frequency

77% - 98%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.3

129 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Natural family planning ingredients

Fertility awareness methods is an umbrella term for a method of birth control that works by being able to identify when in the menstrual cycle you are fertile through a range of factors.

Combination pill ingredients

Main hormones in Combination pill

estrogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

Mood

29% no impact on mood

Bleeds

69% stopped periods

Sex drive

56% lost sex drive

Weight

48% gained weight

Skin

57% no impact on skin

Cycle return

38% don’t know impact

Mood

29% no impact on mood

Bleeds

31% lighter periods

Sex drive

37% lost sex drive

Weight

43% no impact

Skin

40% improved skin

Cycle return

36% in 1 month

Benefits: What this birth control can help with

There are no benefits that are recognised in scientific research or guidelines for this birth control

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

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Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Natural family planning reviews

5 reviews

Natural family planning  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  28th Mar 25

Breastfeeding (Lactational Amenorrhoea Method or LAM)  

So Great

Read more

Very positive mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Natural family planning  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  28th Dec 23

Natural Cycles App  

Overall, I felt that this was a safer option. I only switched to the mini pill in an effort to get a handle on my PCOS pelvic pain.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Natural family planning  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  25th Jul 23

Natural Cycles App  

I was previously on the contraceptive pill, and as soon as i came off it i was immediately more in tune with my body, could feel the sex drive boost around ovulation etc and lost the weight the pill had put on me.


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Natural family planning  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  28th Mar 25

Breastfeeding (Lactational Amenorrhoea Method or LAM)  

So Great


Very positive mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Natural family planning  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  28th Dec 23

Natural Cycles App  

Overall, I felt that this was a safer option. I only switched to the mini pill in an effort to get a handle on my PCOS pelvic pain.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Natural family planning  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  25th Jul 23

Natural Cycles App  

I was previously on the contraceptive pill, and as soon as i came off it i was immediately more in tune with my body, could feel the sex drive boost around ovulation etc and lost the weight the pill had put on me.


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments


Combination birth control pill reviews

129 reviews

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  today

Junel 21 1/20 birth control pill  

I started taking this pill post partial hysterectomy for worsening PMDD symptoms. Within week 1 I totally lost my libido (I generally have a super high drive and have sex daily with my partner). I have had a couple of headaches as well since starting which is not a frequent thing for me. After the first few days I felt bloated as well. I do not have to worry about pregnancy since having a partial hysterectomy, however the other side effects are uncomfortable enough I do not want to continue this pill.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  6 days ago

Junel Fe 1.5/30 birth control pill  

It was fine, but not the best. I noticed feeling increasingly agitated often and it made my cramps a lot worse when I had a pill period. Overall wasn't a bad med, but not my favorite. Main symptom that made me get off it was really bad hot flashes everyday.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Junel Fe 1/20 birth control pill  

It’s worked and been totally fine.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  today

Junel 21 1/20 birth control pill  

I started taking this pill post partial hysterectomy for worsening PMDD symptoms. Within week 1 I totally lost my libido (I generally have a super high drive and have sex daily with my partner). I have had a couple of headaches as well since starting which is not a frequent thing for me. After the first few days I felt bloated as well. I do not have to worry about pregnancy since having a partial hysterectomy, however the other side effects are uncomfortable enough I do not want to continue this pill.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  6 days ago

Junel Fe 1.5/30 birth control pill  

It was fine, but not the best. I noticed feeling increasingly agitated often and it made my cramps a lot worse when I had a pill period. Overall wasn't a bad med, but not my favorite. Main symptom that made me get off it was really bad hot flashes everyday.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Junel Fe 1/20 birth control pill  

It’s worked and been totally fine.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
18 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  27th Sep 25

Hailey Fe 1/20 birth control pill  

hey readers! i’m 18 and have been on it since 15. my periods were 50-70 days late and now i can pin it down on a calander! i’ve always been slimmer due to my sickness (cvs) and this has helped it tremendously too, i haven’t noticed much weight gain. (shoutout to my gyno) that being said my friends have had some other feedback so it is very personal to your body. but for me it has been life changing! i am considering maybe a shorter period length now that mine are 4 days and not 7.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
44 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  16th Sep 25

Vienva birth control pill  

Irregular periods and it's got worse.


Decreased sex drive

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
50 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  8th Sep 25

Junel 21 1.5/30 birth control pill  

weight gain. nausea. migraine


Very negative mood

2 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  24th Aug 25

Junel Fe 1.5/30 birth control pill  

Made my chin area have uncontrollable hormonal acne. Breakthrough bleeding from intimacy and pretty bad PMS symptoms for days before.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  24th Aug 25

Yasmin birth control pill  

Went on Yasmin for helping acne and breakthrough bleeding. Completely cleared my skin. I did have a full heavy period for 3 weeks out of 4. Waited out incase it would go away. It did not


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
48 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3rd Aug 25

Altavera birth control pill  

I loved this for helping prevent migraines (taking continuously) and helping even out my moods. But I just realized it is probably what is causing my hair loss. Looking to change to a lower androgen pill like Yasmin


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
23 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2nd Aug 25

Combination birth control pill  

Stopped eating for 2 days


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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