Contraception Reviews

Vaginal ring vs Combination birth control pill

Vaginal ring

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Combination birth control pill

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Overview

Rated 3.2

13 reviews

3 weekly

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.4

103 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Vaginal ring ingredients

Main hormones in Vaginal ring

progestin


Combination pill ingredients

Main hormones in Combination pill

estrogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

Mood

46% no impact on mood

Bleeds

31% regular periods

Sex drive

54% lost sex drive

Weight

54% gained weight

Skin

31% improved skin

Cycle return

40% in 1 month

Mood

27% no impact on mood

Bleeds

32% lighter periods

Sex drive

40% lost sex drive

Weight

42% no impact

Skin

41% improved skin

Cycle return

41% in 1 month

Benefits: What this birth control can help with

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

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

Vaginal ring reviews

13 reviews

Vaginal ring  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 day ago

NuvaRing  

Easy, lacks significant side effects (for me), has worked thus far, BUT I think my period is heavier and the body cramps are worse than normal

Read more

Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

NuvaRing  

I love being able to control when I can start my period but my low to no sex drive isn’t for me. My cramping is just as bad (if not worse) than before going on it (the whole reason my gyn prescribed it) but I also now have more clots and dark blood on my period. I can tell my hormones are more regulated though and that’s been good for me mental health most days.


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 8+ yr
42 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

NuvaRing  

I used nuva ring for 10+ years and had no side effects I left it in for 1 month removed it and put in a new ring and never had a period.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 day ago

NuvaRing  

Easy, lacks significant side effects (for me), has worked thus far, BUT I think my period is heavier and the body cramps are worse than normal


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

NuvaRing  

I love being able to control when I can start my period but my low to no sex drive isn’t for me. My cramping is just as bad (if not worse) than before going on it (the whole reason my gyn prescribed it) but I also now have more clots and dark blood on my period. I can tell my hormones are more regulated though and that’s been good for me mental health most days.


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 8+ yr
42 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

NuvaRing  

I used nuva ring for 10+ years and had no side effects I left it in for 1 month removed it and put in a new ring and never had a period.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments


Combination birth control pill reviews

103 reviews

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
44 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 days ago

Nikki birth control pill  

Headaches when using placebo pills. Improved when taken continuously but then had weeks of spotting. Thighs noticeably bigger. Weight increase 2-3 pounds over 3 months. Previously on Yaz in my late 20s and early 30s - loved it. This one did not work for me in my mid 40s


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Mili birth control pill  

No see drive. Gained 15 pounds over 6 years, mostly at the start. Can't seem to lose weight. It's the only bc pill that doesn't seem to affect my heart arrhythmia. Got pregnant twice on this stuff though!


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Estarylla birth control pill  

I actually really enjoyed the effect Estarylla had on my mood. It helped me through PPD (in combination with prenatals and exercise). However, it gave me nasty cystic acne, so I had to switch. Other birth controls have messed with my mood negatively, so I was really bummed to give this one up after the positive effect it had. The sex was good, too.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
44 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 days ago

Nikki birth control pill  

Headaches when using placebo pills. Improved when taken continuously but then had weeks of spotting. Thighs noticeably bigger. Weight increase 2-3 pounds over 3 months. Previously on Yaz in my late 20s and early 30s - loved it. This one did not work for me in my mid 40s


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Mili birth control pill  

No see drive. Gained 15 pounds over 6 years, mostly at the start. Can't seem to lose weight. It's the only bc pill that doesn't seem to affect my heart arrhythmia. Got pregnant twice on this stuff though!


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Estarylla birth control pill  

I actually really enjoyed the effect Estarylla had on my mood. It helped me through PPD (in combination with prenatals and exercise). However, it gave me nasty cystic acne, so I had to switch. Other birth controls have messed with my mood negatively, so I was really bummed to give this one up after the positive effect it had. The sex was good, too.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
43 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Combination birth control pill  

Not at all


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Vienva birth control pill  

I don’t know so I can’t tell you


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
43 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  23rd Mar 25

Loryna birth control pill  

The only negative is loss of sex drive, other than that it has helped my mood


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  9th Mar 25

Vienva birth control pill  

My moods increased, I lost 50 lbs, and my acne got better. I was using Aviane before this and I was ovulating on it. Since switching to Vienva I have not had any issues.


Very positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  12th Feb 25

Kurvelo birth control pill  

I’ve experienced these issues around or during my period


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  11th Feb 25

Junel Fe 1/20 birth control pill  

Had nausea the first week of both months 1 and 2. Only side effect was significant breast and butt enlargement, which led me to stop taking it.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
52 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  5th Feb 25

Nortrel 7/7/7 birth control pill  

no noted side effects very happy with this medication was switched to sprintec and not happy at all with sprintec


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control alternatives and comparisons

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