Contraception Reviews

Natural family planning vs Mini pill

Natural family planning

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Mini pill

Want to switch birth control?

Overview

Rated 2.9

5 reviews

Daily

Frequency

77% - 98%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.3

43 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

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.

Mini pill ingredients

Main hormones in Mini pill

progestin

What Lowdown reviewers say

Mood

28% no impact on mood

Bleeds

69% stopped periods

Sex drive

56% lost sex drive

Weight

48% gained weight

Skin

54% no impact on skin

Cycle return

38% don’t know impact

Mood

37% no impact on mood

Bleeds

37% stopped periods

Sex drive

37% no impact

Weight

42% no impact

Skin

37% no impact on skin

Cycle return

56% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this birth control can help with

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

Period pain

Heavy menstrual bleeding

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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


Mini pill reviews

43 reviews

Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 days ago

Slynd birth control pill  

I really discourage anyone from trying this pill, I think its just too high of a dose. I was on for 3 months and noticed immediate headaches which coincided with nausea. This continued all throughout the 3 months and made me feel so ill I had to stop taking it. Its so rough. I couldn't stand it but gave it my best shot. I did lose some water weight initially, but eventually started gaining weight because it messed with my blood sugar and this just made me CRAVE sugar and put weight back on. Awful. I am going back on Noriday (norethisterone mini pill) because although I get a bit of water weight on it, I dont have ANY other side effects and my libido is also not affected (unlike Slynd) so overall it feels healthier and more stable than Slynd.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Slynd birth control pill  

mild joint pain and cramping in calfs and shoulders! Breasts grew two cup sizes. On it for PMDDD, first month in I have noticed less anxiety and mood swings. Hoping it continues!


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  29th Mar 26

Slynd birth control pill  

I have been on this for 2 days, day 1 I had unmanageable migraines that made me want to cry and lower back pain, day 2 I am experiencing migraines and severe abdominal cramps and lower back pain. I dont know if I want to take this another day 😕


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 days ago

Slynd birth control pill  

I really discourage anyone from trying this pill, I think its just too high of a dose. I was on for 3 months and noticed immediate headaches which coincided with nausea. This continued all throughout the 3 months and made me feel so ill I had to stop taking it. Its so rough. I couldn't stand it but gave it my best shot. I did lose some water weight initially, but eventually started gaining weight because it messed with my blood sugar and this just made me CRAVE sugar and put weight back on. Awful. I am going back on Noriday (norethisterone mini pill) because although I get a bit of water weight on it, I dont have ANY other side effects and my libido is also not affected (unlike Slynd) so overall it feels healthier and more stable than Slynd.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Slynd birth control pill  

mild joint pain and cramping in calfs and shoulders! Breasts grew two cup sizes. On it for PMDDD, first month in I have noticed less anxiety and mood swings. Hoping it continues!


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  29th Mar 26

Slynd birth control pill  

I have been on this for 2 days, day 1 I had unmanageable migraines that made me want to cry and lower back pain, day 2 I am experiencing migraines and severe abdominal cramps and lower back pain. I dont know if I want to take this another day 😕


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
40 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  27th Mar 26

Slynd birth control pill  

I was really hopeful about starting Slynd. My purpose for starting Slynd was not a kit birth control but more about controlling heavy, painful periods, as well as the bodily changes as I entered my 40s. My previous experience with birth control has not been great, however I remained hopeful. Unfortunately, I could only take the side effects from Slynd for a little over 2 months. As a health professional, I understand that these medications require time, but this was making my life more miserable. Here are some of the side effects I experienced: Month 1 through Month 2 Late period (10-12 days late) Prolonged period (over 2 weeks long) then continuous spotting Nausea daily Migraine Pimples (I’ve never experienced this many pimples in my entire life!) Cramping (during missed period & during period) Fatigue (extreme) Back pain By the 3rd pack, I gave up due to increased cramping, back pain with spotting and increased irritability from the pain. At this point, I’ve gone from regular heavy, painful periods to daily, painful spotting. I’m definitely not myself and would like to end this misery! I truly don’t believe in giving up, I understand every woman is different. This birth control is just not for me!


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  19th Mar 26

Slynd birth control pill  

i have had really bad headaches on this pill, and i never had headache before taking it. i have also had a large amount of bleeding, i bled for 11 days 2 weeks into taking my first pack and I also had lost part of my uterine lining at the begging of those 11 days. since then i have had spotting which i also have never had before. i am considering taking a new pill but i don't know which one yet.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
23 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  4th Mar 26

Mini pill  

Still affected by a bit of acne, but not experiencing mood swings like when I was on Yaz. However, I am having severe break through bleeding every few weeks, and it lasts for 1-2 weeks every time unless I stop taking the pills and let it happen.


Worse skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  28th Feb 26

Slynd birth control pill  

I like Slynd except it has caused almost daily headaches. No effect on libido which I always have with estrogen-containing pills, but high is great. But more spotting than normal.


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  11th Feb 26

Slynd birth control pill  

I had break through bleeding for about the first 4 months. After my period stopped completely. I'm a bit more tired, but no depression or mood swings.


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
25 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  10th Feb 26

Slynd birth control pill  

I do have a heart problem hence as to why my obgyn has switched me to a progestin only bc. I do like that i dont get my period anymore but i HATE the vaginal dryness. Im considering moving on to something else because i cant take it anymore honestly.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
35 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  18th Jan 26

Norethindrone 0.35 birth control pill  

Worked fine for many years and helped with having much lighter, shorter periods with less cramps, but after briefly switching to the shot and then switching back to the pill I have been having breakthrough bleeding every other week for months now and my periods are no longer lighter or shorter so I'm trialing a different type now.


Top side effects not reported

3 helpful

0 comments

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Compare the Natural family planning with other birth control

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