Birth control shot vs Combination birth control pill
Birth control shot ingredients
Main hormones in Birth control shot
Combination pill ingredients
Main hormones in Combination pill
estrogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
36% somewhat negative
42% stopped periods
33% lost sex drive
46% gained weight
39% no impact on skin
40% in 3-6 months
29% no impact on mood
31% lighter periods
37% lost sex drive
44% no impact
41% improved skin
38% in 1 month
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Birth control shot reviews
33 reviews
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
17 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 13th Aug 25
I've been on Depo Provera since 2023 and for the first few months it helped and stopped my period as I am transgender, But I've been dealing with a great amount of discharge that has been severely effecting my daily life. Warmth makes it worse and even though I'm a incomplete Paraplegic, it constantly feels like there's liquid coming out of me. When I do get my periods sometimes it's heavy spotting and whenever I use a tampon there's never any blood, but when I don't use a tampon then there is a massive amount of blood. I was once bleeding everyday for a month straight maybe even longer. I was never told any of the side effects besides it stopping my period.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 9th Aug 25
My right breast has swelling so bad that it have my body aching this is different from just regular breast swelling from had a baby it honestly got me a lil scared cuz it making me weak have any one had this happen while on b.c
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 12th Jul 25
Been on it for 4 years, I’ve gained 50lbs from it, went up 4 cup sizes, I throw up so much I have to take meds to keep it down, my hair is ALWAYS falling out, my body is always aching and I haven’t had a single period since I started it. Not to mention I get dizzy, sweat non stop, and have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep now.
Increased sex drive
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
17 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 13th Aug 25
I've been on Depo Provera since 2023 and for the first few months it helped and stopped my period as I am transgender, But I've been dealing with a great amount of discharge that has been severely effecting my daily life. Warmth makes it worse and even though I'm a incomplete Paraplegic, it constantly feels like there's liquid coming out of me. When I do get my periods sometimes it's heavy spotting and whenever I use a tampon there's never any blood, but when I don't use a tampon then there is a massive amount of blood. I was once bleeding everyday for a month straight maybe even longer. I was never told any of the side effects besides it stopping my period.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 9th Aug 25
My right breast has swelling so bad that it have my body aching this is different from just regular breast swelling from had a baby it honestly got me a lil scared cuz it making me weak have any one had this happen while on b.c
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 12th Jul 25
Been on it for 4 years, I’ve gained 50lbs from it, went up 4 cup sizes, I throw up so much I have to take meds to keep it down, my hair is ALWAYS falling out, my body is always aching and I haven’t had a single period since I started it. Not to mention I get dizzy, sweat non stop, and have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep now.
Increased sex drive
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Combination birth control pill reviews
126 reviews
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
18 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
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
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
44 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 month ago
Decreased sex drive
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
50 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 month ago
Very negative mood
2 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
18 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
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
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
44 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 month ago
Decreased sex drive
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
50 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 month ago
Very negative mood
2 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 24th Aug 25
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
Used for 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 24th Aug 25
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
Used for 3 - 5 yr
48 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3rd Aug 25
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
23 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2nd Aug 25
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
19 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1st Aug 25
The only side effects for me personally, is when every time I am starting the first hormonal pill again after the placebo week, I wake up very nauseous. But on the second day your body should adjust to it again and it will go away. Other ones is decreased sex drive, slight vagina, dryness, and I also cry more often. Other than that, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. So I like this one.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
46 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 26th Jul 25
Works to regulate period but did a number on me mentally.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 21st Jul 25
I've been continuously cycling with these pills (skipping periods) and I've found a lot of my period and pre-period symptoms have improved! My doctor recommended this because of my PMDD and hormonal acne and I've found that both are easier to manage on this pill.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
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