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 3.0

9 reviews

3 weekly

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.3

76 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

33% no impact on mood

Bleeds

44% lighter periods

Sex drive

56% lost sex drive

Weight

67% gained weight

Skin

33% improved skin

Cycle return

33% in 1 month

Mood

29% no impact on mood

Bleeds

32% lighter periods

Sex drive

38% lost sex drive

Weight

45% no impact

Skin

43% improved skin

Cycle return

40% 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

9 reviews

Vaginal ring  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  6th Jun 24

NuvaRing  

I like the ring, I have gained a bit of weight though. I am also very nervous about blood clot risk so I might switch to minipill, but the ring has made my periods very bearable and I can choose to only have them every two months! I also had a decrease in body acne on the ring, particularly on my back. I would recommend this method if you are not overweight, smoke, or are over 35 as the risk of blood clots goes does a lot and it’s easy to use! I also have experienced headaches for the first time in my life since being on this, they’re mild but not fun.

Read more

Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
38 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  17th Mar 24

Annovera ring  

This birth control caused me to have 2 strokes and I almost died. I do not recommend it at all. My doctor insisted I use it and within the first year I had more frequent and more severe headaches. I gained a ton of weight and my cholesterol shot up despite my being a very active vegetarian and working with a dietician. After 18 months on it I had my first stroke and it went undiagnosed, I had a severe headache and I went blind. The hospital sent me home and told me it was "just a migraine." 10 months later I had a massive bilateral stroke that has ruined my life. I am only in my 30s. Run far away from this medication.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 8+ yr
29 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2nd Feb 24

NuvaRing  

I was on this birth control for 10 years until I got a blood clot and had to be on blood thinners for a month. Not fun.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  6th Jun 24

NuvaRing  

I like the ring, I have gained a bit of weight though. I am also very nervous about blood clot risk so I might switch to minipill, but the ring has made my periods very bearable and I can choose to only have them every two months! I also had a decrease in body acne on the ring, particularly on my back. I would recommend this method if you are not overweight, smoke, or are over 35 as the risk of blood clots goes does a lot and it’s easy to use! I also have experienced headaches for the first time in my life since being on this, they’re mild but not fun.


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
38 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  17th Mar 24

Annovera ring  

This birth control caused me to have 2 strokes and I almost died. I do not recommend it at all. My doctor insisted I use it and within the first year I had more frequent and more severe headaches. I gained a ton of weight and my cholesterol shot up despite my being a very active vegetarian and working with a dietician. After 18 months on it I had my first stroke and it went undiagnosed, I had a severe headache and I went blind. The hospital sent me home and told me it was "just a migraine." 10 months later I had a massive bilateral stroke that has ruined my life. I am only in my 30s. Run far away from this medication.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 8+ yr
29 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2nd Feb 24

NuvaRing  

I was on this birth control for 10 years until I got a blood clot and had to be on blood thinners for a month. Not fun.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments


Combination birth control pill reviews

76 reviews

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

Mili birth control pill  

I have had mood swings and loss of sex drive


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Hailey Fe 1.5/30 birth control pill  

I have been on this for less than a week, and I've cried more times in the past two days than I could in a year. I have been so depressed and moody, even my coworkers are noticing. It is sad. I have been debating on stopping this pill. I also have had all the worst cramps while not even bleeding. It just has not been a good week! and it is really taking a toll on me, I feel like I have my period all day everyday for the week just without the blood.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  6th Aug 24

Sprintec birth control pill  

I had one day of breakthrough bleeding, which was nice. At about day 9, I had sudden intense cramping, and I thought it was my ovary. Still haven't confirmed this, but I have not experienced that until I started the pill. I had cramps for the 6 weeks I was on it, and many days I was nauseous. I had a headache everyday, but I thought I could handle these physical symptoms since I felt it improved my mood some days. However, after having my first period on the pill (longer than usual, bad cramps, nausea), my mood dropped and I got very suicidal and had to stop taking the pill.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mili birth control pill  

I have had mood swings and loss of sex drive


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Hailey Fe 1.5/30 birth control pill  

I have been on this for less than a week, and I've cried more times in the past two days than I could in a year. I have been so depressed and moody, even my coworkers are noticing. It is sad. I have been debating on stopping this pill. I also have had all the worst cramps while not even bleeding. It just has not been a good week! and it is really taking a toll on me, I feel like I have my period all day everyday for the week just without the blood.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  6th Aug 24

Sprintec birth control pill  

I had one day of breakthrough bleeding, which was nice. At about day 9, I had sudden intense cramping, and I thought it was my ovary. Still haven't confirmed this, but I have not experienced that until I started the pill. I had cramps for the 6 weeks I was on it, and many days I was nauseous. I had a headache everyday, but I thought I could handle these physical symptoms since I felt it improved my mood some days. However, after having my first period on the pill (longer than usual, bad cramps, nausea), my mood dropped and I got very suicidal and had to stop taking the pill.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  6th Aug 24

Yasmin birth control pill  

I had a month long headache with a complete lack of energy and nausea. Now my head hair is falling out while my body hair gets darker. Terrible pill. I also had very scary circulation issues. I could feel blood struggling to pump through my legs.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  6th Aug 24

Tri Lo Mili birth control pill  

I've only been on the pill for three months and it made me feel really sick. The breakthrough lasted a month, however my hormonal acne cleared quite a bit.


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 8+ yr
46 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  30th Jul 24

Viorele birth control pill  

I’m on this pill to help with my migraines. While I don’t feel the pill prevents migraines caused by my chronic vascular and cervicalgenic migraines, it controls my hormonal shifting during the month to prevent hormone-caused migraines.


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  29th Jul 24

Combination birth control pill  

It’s been years since I used birth control because I’m in my 70 s. At the time I was satisfied because I didn’t want to get pregnant again except that the one time I did get pregnant I had an abortion and I regret that very much


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  8th Jul 24

Lo Loestrin Fe birth control pill  

at first i experienced a lot of anxiety and mood swings but after a few years seemed to die down. Weight gain and libido have been the really only symptoms I have experienced. Have not had a period the whole time.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3rd Jul 24

Volnea birth control pill  

I have been on birth control for a year and a half now. The pharmacy switched what brand they gave me, and even though it had the “same ingredients” it’s like you’re starting a whole new pill so your body has to adjust all over again. Im on month 6 of taking this one and Im consistently having break through bleeding the week before my placebo pill week, so im bleeding for two weeks every month. Im about to go off of it the beginning of September anyway, so i’m just pushing through, but if I have to take one in the future i will 100% be asking for a different pill. Ive had no other side effect except that which is great but the bleeding extra and the dull cramps that stick around those two weeks are annoying.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3rd Jul 24

Vienva birth control pill  

I didnt really notice much of a change. I was only on .1/.02 mgs. I did notice a lot of nausea especially in the mornings and one night i was throwing up nonstop.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Vaginal ring with other birth control

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