Birth control shot vs Mini pill
Birth control shot ingredients
Main hormones in Birth control shot
Mini pill ingredients
Main hormones in Mini pill
progestin
What Lowdown reviewers say
33% somewhat negative
42% stopped periods
36% lost sex drive
47% gained weight
39% no impact on skin
33% in 3-6 months
32% no impact on mood
42% spotting
40% lost sex drive
38% no impact
36% no impact on skin
56% don’t know impact
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Birth control shot reviews
36 reviews
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 26th Jan 26
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 9th Nov 25
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 30th Oct 25
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 26th Jan 26
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 9th Nov 25
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 30th Oct 25
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Mini pill reviews
50 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
I can't tell if this birth control is helping me or not and its so frustrating because i have endometriosis and i smoke so i have to be on a progesterone only pill but ever since i started taking this pill i've had a heat intolerance which they say is not a side effect but it 100% started when i started taking the pill, and they told me my goal is to not have a period and im 2 months in and still am getting my period and ovulating and experiencing breakthrough bleeding and cramps.
Worse skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
39 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 12th Aug 26
Lots of spotting in the beginning and some of my periods are coming while on active pills. Very depressed for the first 1-2 months but that has subsided. The biggest side effect is a large increase in sweating while active. Like dripping from my head and face.
Somewhat positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 27th Jul 26
terrible experience, dry mouth 24/7, dehydrated, nausea, throat irritated from this pill drying me and heavy diuretic component. made me so tired and depressed and ill caused acne
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
I can't tell if this birth control is helping me or not and its so frustrating because i have endometriosis and i smoke so i have to be on a progesterone only pill but ever since i started taking this pill i've had a heat intolerance which they say is not a side effect but it 100% started when i started taking the pill, and they told me my goal is to not have a period and im 2 months in and still am getting my period and ovulating and experiencing breakthrough bleeding and cramps.
Worse skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
39 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 12th Aug 26
Lots of spotting in the beginning and some of my periods are coming while on active pills. Very depressed for the first 1-2 months but that has subsided. The biggest side effect is a large increase in sweating while active. Like dripping from my head and face.
Somewhat positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 27th Jul 26
terrible experience, dry mouth 24/7, dehydrated, nausea, throat irritated from this pill drying me and heavy diuretic component. made me so tired and depressed and ill caused acne
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 21st Jul 26
I wanted to love this pill. As a body builder I was excited for something that does not cause bloat. It cleared my skin up soooooo much. But the mood swings and dizziness were unbearable for me. Took it once month and had to stop.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 7th Jul 26
I was told this newer birth control is generally better received than others like it and my main concern was mood change. Generally I am depressed more and have a loss of appetite which after being pregnant sticks out to me as a definite side effect. I definitely feel like this throws my hormones out of balance. I haven’t experienced this much hair loss before. I want to quit taking it but right now I don’t know a better option since me and my husband both hate using condoms. My sex drive is definitely lowered so I guess that in itself works as a birth control…
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 4th Jul 26
I love the slynd pills because i usually have constant cramping pain when i ovulate or weeks before my period they get so intense but it’s been great I have little to no pain and my skin has been great too. The only thing I can really complain about is headaches mostly in the beginning when starting the new pack.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 8th Jun 26
Honestly this pill helped me correct extreme anemia and I had far less severe side effects than combination pills I’ve tried. It’s been about 5 months and I do still have some irritability and bloating/weight gain from the initial adjustments but it seems to be getting better over time. I was terrified to take any kind of hormonal birth control because I have severe PMDD and it made it worse in the past, but this was actually manageable and I don’t go through 3 different personalities every month
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 18th May 26
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3rd May 26
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 29th Mar 26
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
Popular birth control
Combination pillImplantShotThe legal stuff
Terms of usePrivacy & cookieContent policy©The Lowdown 2026
