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

35 reviews

Every 2-3 months

Frequency

94% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

Short term

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.3

129 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

34% somewhat negative

Bleeds

43% stopped periods

Sex drive

37% lost sex drive

Weight

46% gained weight

Skin

40% 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

43% no impact

Skin

40% improved skin

Cycle return

36% 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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Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Birth control shot reviews

35 reviews

Birth control shot  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  5 days ago

Depo-Provera shot  

I have been on the shot for about 15 months now. Initially I went to the doctor because for 1 year (year 33 to 34) I was experiencing major sweats, headaches, body aches, and fevers prior to periods. The doctor suggested I get on birth control to reverse my effects. The first dosage, my symptoms stopped and I felt great. During the second dosage, I bled severely and was using medium to heavy pads. Then on my third dosage I was spotting light to medium and wearing panty liners. Then on my 14th month right before my fourth dosage, my bleeding completely stopped. It was a long process before my periods stopped but I was hopefully. I don’t want to get a tubal ligation because I’m traumatized after experiencing preeclampsia during the delivery of my daughter. However, I did have headaches, dizziness, and nausea throughout the course. A plus is that the shot has cursed my appetite and some gain weight but I lost weight. I think this is great because I’ve always had a hard time losing weight. Overall, I think I’ll stay on the shot.

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Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Birth control shot  

Irregular periods


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control shot  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
17 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  13th Aug 25

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 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  5 days ago

Depo-Provera shot  

I have been on the shot for about 15 months now. Initially I went to the doctor because for 1 year (year 33 to 34) I was experiencing major sweats, headaches, body aches, and fevers prior to periods. The doctor suggested I get on birth control to reverse my effects. The first dosage, my symptoms stopped and I felt great. During the second dosage, I bled severely and was using medium to heavy pads. Then on my third dosage I was spotting light to medium and wearing panty liners. Then on my 14th month right before my fourth dosage, my bleeding completely stopped. It was a long process before my periods stopped but I was hopefully. I don’t want to get a tubal ligation because I’m traumatized after experiencing preeclampsia during the delivery of my daughter. However, I did have headaches, dizziness, and nausea throughout the course. A plus is that the shot has cursed my appetite and some gain weight but I lost weight. I think this is great because I’ve always had a hard time losing weight. Overall, I think I’ll stay on the shot.


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Birth control shot  

Irregular periods


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control shot  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
17 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  13th Aug 25

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


Combination birth control pill reviews

129 reviews

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

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
  •  2 weeks 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
  •  1 month 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
  •  2 weeks ago

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
  •  2 weeks 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
  •  1 month 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

Birth control alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Birth control shot with other birth control

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