Contraception Reviews

Birth control shot vs Combination birth control pill

Birth control shot

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Combination birth control pill

Want to switch birth control?

Overview

Rated 3.0

33 reviews

Every 2-3 months

Frequency

94% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

Short term

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.3

121 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Birth control shot ingredients

Main hormones in Birth control shot


Combination pill ingredients

Main hormones in Combination pill

estrogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

Mood

36% somewhat negative

Bleeds

42% stopped periods

Sex drive

33% lost sex drive

Weight

46% gained weight

Skin

39% no impact on skin

Cycle return

40% in 3-6 months

Mood

29% no impact on mood

Bleeds

31% lighter periods

Sex drive

37% lost sex drive

Weight

44% no impact

Skin

41% improved skin

Cycle return

39% in 1 month

Benefits: What this birth control can help with

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Period pain

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

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Real life reviews from people like you

Birth control shot reviews

33 reviews

Birth control shot  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
17 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Depo-Provera shot  

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.

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Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control shot  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Depo-Provera shot  

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

Birth control shot  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  12th Jul 25

Depo-Provera shot  

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

Birth control shot  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
17 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Depo-Provera shot  

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

Birth control shot  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Depo-Provera shot  

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

Birth control shot  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  12th Jul 25

Depo-Provera shot  

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

121 reviews

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

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
  •  3 weeks ago

Combination birth control pill  

Stopped eating for 2 days


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
19 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Tri Estarylla birth control pill  

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

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

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
  •  3 weeks ago

Combination birth control pill  

Stopped eating for 2 days


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
19 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Tri Estarylla birth control pill  

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

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
46 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Tri Lo Mili birth control pill  

Works to regulate period but did a number on me mentally.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  21st Jul 25

Isibloom birth control pill  

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

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
23 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  8th Jul 25

Aviane birth control pill  

i’ve been on sronyx for 6+ years and since its been discontinued my pharmacy gave me aviane. i took one pack for the month and experienced the worst anxiety, nausea, mood swings, irritability, and general pain. it also caused heavy period like breakthrough bleeding and i do NOT ever want to take this afain


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
23 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  8th Jul 25

Sronyx birth control pill  

been on sronyx for 6 years and it’s been great. only take like 3 periods a year and literally no issues ever. so sad this has been discontinued bec i am terrified to switch


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  30th Jun 25

Syeda birth control pill  

The pill was a great experience for me. I’d recommend it if you are someone capable of remembering to take it at the same time everyday. Also, I always know exactly when my period will be. Acne went away and no major side effects. The only potential negative is you have to deal with pharmacies and getting your prescription renewed regularly. I’m about to start a demanding job and am switching to an IUD for convenience.


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  24th Jun 25

Aubra birth control pill  

I have pmdd and the progesterone in this pill is known to not be great for that, so take this review with a grain of salt. The first day I was a little nauseous and had some headaches but nothing that major. My boobs hurt for the first month and after that the pain started to subside. What got me was the emotional side effect. When I get pms I tend to get really depressed and anxious and I get extra sensitive to how people act around me. On Audra, every day of the active pills was like that. There was a point towards the end of the first pack where I felt so depressed that I could barely get myself out of bed. Things that wouldn’t bother me usually started causing mental breakdowns. I started avoiding people because I felt like everyone hated me and that everything I said was wrong. All of the feelings were similar to what I experience with my pmdd, but it can be very debilitating experiencing that everyday rather than a few days every month. The only relief I got was when I started the placebo pills, I felt like myself for the first time since starting the pills, and my roommate even mentioned I seemed happier all of the sudden, though I do think it’s made my period cramps last longer (I’m usually fine after day one but on day three I was still feeling slight cramps). The second month wasn’t as bad but I was still crying everyday about things that did not warrant me crying lol. I ended up talking to my doc and we’ve decided to switch pills because I don’t think I can deal with this anymore. The first two days being off were rough since I stopped in the middle of the second pack. I started crying hysterically about something the first night and then spent the next day feeling numb and lying in bed. But after that I had my period and I finally feel like myself again. Hopefully the next pill will work better.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  19th Jun 25

Loryna birth control pill  

I’ve heard this birth control is supposed to be helpful for acne, but I have been flushed since I started taking it and seen a couple breakouts, and I haven’t even finished my first pack yet. I have also been sweating profusely off and on since the second week of taking it. Those are the most significant side effects I’ve noticed. I did just have my Mirena IUD removed after my uterus tried to absorb it, so these effects could be related to that. I’ve been on many different birth control pills over the past 15 years and usually I have no side effects after the first month or two, so we’ll see.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

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Compare the Birth control shot with other birth control

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