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
37% somewhat negative
37% stopped periods
37% lost sex drive
53% gained weight
42% no impact on skin
50% in 3-6 months
29% very negative
36% irregular periods
43% no impact
64% no impact
57% no impact on skin
33% in 1 month
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Birth control shot reviews
19 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 5 days ago
Have been nonstop throwing up and being nauseous and dizzy, lost a lot of weight from that alone. Have a bad fever and a lot of hot flashes, very uncomfortable and won’t ever do this again. Ever. Ever. Ever again.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
I first started receiving the shot as a teenager (for 2 years) and the only side effect I experienced was no periods, which is what I wanted. I started back on it 5 years ago after trying 2 other types of BC that I did not like. Once again, my periods stopped, but this time I also gained about 30 lbs, my breasts grew, and I suffered from excessive sweating/ hot flashes. The weight gain was no issue to me since I have always been very tall and skinny. Putting on some extra weight was a plus. It was the constant sweating and hot flashes that made me stop taking the shot. I would even sweat from my head and *down there*, which I never used to before. It was very embarrassing and difficult for me to control. I was showering 3-4 times a day in between trying to work and go to school. Not to mention all of the different types of deodorant I had to try to remedy this issue. If I can find a viable solution, I would most definitely restart this BC.
Gained weight
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 month ago
Depo Provera stopped my periods completely. After being on it for more than a year, I can’t fit into my favorite belt that I easily could a year ago. Mind you, last year I was more sedentary — this year I’ve been training for 5Ks. That’s how much weight I’ve gained on Depo.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 5 days ago
Have been nonstop throwing up and being nauseous and dizzy, lost a lot of weight from that alone. Have a bad fever and a lot of hot flashes, very uncomfortable and won’t ever do this again. Ever. Ever. Ever again.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
I first started receiving the shot as a teenager (for 2 years) and the only side effect I experienced was no periods, which is what I wanted. I started back on it 5 years ago after trying 2 other types of BC that I did not like. Once again, my periods stopped, but this time I also gained about 30 lbs, my breasts grew, and I suffered from excessive sweating/ hot flashes. The weight gain was no issue to me since I have always been very tall and skinny. Putting on some extra weight was a plus. It was the constant sweating and hot flashes that made me stop taking the shot. I would even sweat from my head and *down there*, which I never used to before. It was very embarrassing and difficult for me to control. I was showering 3-4 times a day in between trying to work and go to school. Not to mention all of the different types of deodorant I had to try to remedy this issue. If I can find a viable solution, I would most definitely restart this BC.
Gained weight
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 month ago
Depo Provera stopped my periods completely. After being on it for more than a year, I can’t fit into my favorite belt that I easily could a year ago. Mind you, last year I was more sedentary — this year I’ve been training for 5Ks. That’s how much weight I’ve gained on Depo.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Mini pill reviews
14 reviews
Used for 3 - 6 mo
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
I was on this pill for about 4-5 months. I’m just going to try to sum this up the best way I can; No change with boobs, no change with weight, acne cleared up, no change with hair growth or loss. Dizziness, several headaches a week. Fatigue, low mood and feeling numb. First 3 months was constant spotting and bleeding with about a week to week and half of nothing in between. Then I stopped taking placebos and zero bleeding or spotting for two months. Also around this time I experienced a huge drop in libido, barely able to get turned on and unable to get wet. The few times I tried to have sex I kept getting a perineal tear in the same spot and this was with a significant amount of lube. Finally found a doctor who told me this was because of my birth control. It impacted my hormones and changed my hormones down there to the point I was unable to have sex. My lips also looked like a prune and were wrinkly. I’ve been off the pill for over a week and my lips are pink, full and plush, and I was able to get wet when kissing my husband which had not happened in months. I feel like I’m coming alive again. Personally done with hormones, we are doing nfp and condoms. I don’t want to scare anyone but this was my experience if you happen to go through the same it may be this pill causing the tearing issue and other sexual function issues (which is listed as a side affect)
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 25th Jun 24
I like it, helps me a lot with my cramps
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 5th Jun 24
Had a terrible experience with a combined BC pill (depression, exhaustion, weight gain), the mini-pill has been GREAT. I get my period only twice a year, and the only side effects are some breast tenderness an occasionally ovarian cysts before my period, but never serious. No mood side effects.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
I was on this pill for about 4-5 months. I’m just going to try to sum this up the best way I can; No change with boobs, no change with weight, acne cleared up, no change with hair growth or loss. Dizziness, several headaches a week. Fatigue, low mood and feeling numb. First 3 months was constant spotting and bleeding with about a week to week and half of nothing in between. Then I stopped taking placebos and zero bleeding or spotting for two months. Also around this time I experienced a huge drop in libido, barely able to get turned on and unable to get wet. The few times I tried to have sex I kept getting a perineal tear in the same spot and this was with a significant amount of lube. Finally found a doctor who told me this was because of my birth control. It impacted my hormones and changed my hormones down there to the point I was unable to have sex. My lips also looked like a prune and were wrinkly. I’ve been off the pill for over a week and my lips are pink, full and plush, and I was able to get wet when kissing my husband which had not happened in months. I feel like I’m coming alive again. Personally done with hormones, we are doing nfp and condoms. I don’t want to scare anyone but this was my experience if you happen to go through the same it may be this pill causing the tearing issue and other sexual function issues (which is listed as a side affect)
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 25th Jun 24
I like it, helps me a lot with my cramps
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 5th Jun 24
Had a terrible experience with a combined BC pill (depression, exhaustion, weight gain), the mini-pill has been GREAT. I get my period only twice a year, and the only side effects are some breast tenderness an occasionally ovarian cysts before my period, but never serious. No mood side effects.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
38 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 28th May 24
Took OPill after pregnancy, to fill the gap before going back to IUD. Ease of access is a big plus (picked up at grocery store, no prescription needed). First period was weird: started spotting at around the normal time of month, but just stayed like that for about a week before starting "in earnest", at which point it was fairly normal. Feeling a reduction in libido and sexual sensitivity, but could also be related to post-pregnancy hormone fluctuations.
Decreased sex drive
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
38 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 9th May 24
I used to be able to skip periods but my old birth control gave me monthly migraines so I switched to the mini pill. My migraines are decreasing and my periods are regular now.
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 20th Apr 24
When I started take this pill 3 weeks in I noticed my hair falling out I took it almost 2 months iv been off of it 3 weeks and my hair is still falling out when will it stop
Very negative mood
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2nd Feb 24
Worked out great until I started losing my hair. Had more ovary pain too.
Gained weight
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
29 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 16th Jan 24
Some irregular bleeding and headaches in the first few weeks but overall a good experience. This is the first birthcontrol pill that did not give me mood swings and depressive feelings.
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
25 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2nd Nov 23
Chosen due to migraine with aura risk, had hair loss but could be unrelated. I did not bleed for first 3 months, now I do not bleed on the placebo week, but in the third week of a new pack
Worse skin
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
57 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 10th Oct 23
I didn't experience any side effects or issues while taking the pill. The hardest thing was remembering to take the pill at the same time every day. And, while I was traveling, I always brought the pill in my purse so I had it if my baggage got lost. My experience with the pill was great- effective and easy.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
1 comments
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