Natural family planning vs Combination birth control pill
Natural family planning ingredients
Combination pill ingredients
Main hormones in Combination pill
estrogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
29% no impact on mood
70% stopped periods
56% lost sex drive
49% gained weight
58% no impact on skin
38% don’t know impact
29% no impact on mood
30% lighter periods
39% lost sex drive
42% no impact
41% improved skin
40% in 1 month
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Natural family planning reviews
4 reviews
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 28th Dec 23
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
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 25th Jul 23
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
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 21st Jul 23
I feel like I've gotten to know my body! I really like the partner view so my husband knows when I'm fertile and won't try to initiate sex. After a terrible experience with hormonal birth control, this makes me feel in control and it has taught me so much!
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 28th Dec 23
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
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 25th Jul 23
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
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 21st Jul 23
I feel like I've gotten to know my body! I really like the partner view so my husband knows when I'm fertile and won't try to initiate sex. After a terrible experience with hormonal birth control, this makes me feel in control and it has taught me so much!
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Combination birth control pill reviews
97 reviews
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
My moods increased, I lost 50 lbs, and my acne got better. I was using Aviane before this and I was ovulating on it. Since switching to Vienva I have not had any issues.
Very positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 12th Feb 25
I’ve experienced these issues around or during my period
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 11th Feb 25
Had nausea the first week of both months 1 and 2. Only side effect was significant breast and butt enlargement, which led me to stop taking it.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
My moods increased, I lost 50 lbs, and my acne got better. I was using Aviane before this and I was ovulating on it. Since switching to Vienva I have not had any issues.
Very positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 12th Feb 25
I’ve experienced these issues around or during my period
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 11th Feb 25
Had nausea the first week of both months 1 and 2. Only side effect was significant breast and butt enlargement, which led me to stop taking it.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
52 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 5th Feb 25
no noted side effects very happy with this medication was switched to sprintec and not happy at all with sprintec
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
23 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 4th Feb 25
I actually didn't really have any "normal" side effects with this pill, I felt like I was mostly normal. But I did notice that my hair was gradually thinning, and it felt like it triggered some form of chronic hair loss for me. Interestingly enough, while it wasn't a huge issue, I noticed that I had "stinky" periods? I stopped having them after I stopped the pill.
Worse skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 28th Jan 25
Being on this actually helps me to get fewer menstrual migraines. I don’t seem to have had any truly bad side effects over the years I’ve been taking it.
Improved skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 22nd Jan 25
I got major mood swings when skipping the placebo week, which is why I stopped.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
45 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 15th Jan 25
Very positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
39 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 17th Dec 24
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
3 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 10th Dec 24
Worse skin
2 more effects
3 helpful
0 comments
Popular birth control
Combination pillImplantShotThe legal stuff
Terms of usePrivacy & cookieContent policy©The Lowdown 2025