Vaginal ring vs Combination birth control pill
Vaginal ring ingredients
Main hormones in Vaginal ring
progestin
Combination pill ingredients
Main hormones in Combination pill
estrogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
46% no impact on mood
31% regular periods
54% lost sex drive
54% gained weight
31% improved skin
40% in 1 month
27% no impact on mood
32% lighter periods
40% lost sex drive
42% no impact
41% improved skin
41% in 1 month
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Vaginal ring reviews
13 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 day ago
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
Used for 3 - 6 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
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
Used for 8+ yr
42 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 day ago
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
Used for 3 - 6 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
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
Used for 8+ yr
42 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
44 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 days ago
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
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
44 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 days ago
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
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
43 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
43 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 23rd Mar 25
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
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 9th Mar 25
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
Used for 5 - 8 yr
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 12th Feb 25
I’ve experienced these issues around or during my period
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 11th Feb 25
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
Used for 12 - 18 mo
52 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 5th Feb 25
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
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