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 3.4

17 reviews

3 weekly

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.3

150 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

41% no impact on mood

Bleeds

41% lighter periods

Sex drive

59% lost sex drive

Weight

47% no impact

Skin

41% no impact on skin

Cycle return

40% in 1 month

Mood

28% no impact on mood

Bleeds

33% lighter periods

Sex drive

37% no impact

Weight

42% no impact

Skin

39% improved skin

Cycle return

35% 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

17 reviews

Vaginal ring  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
33 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2nd Feb 26

NuvaRing  

Used for 2,5 years, really lowed my libido after some month of use, get me a complete loss after some years. Later suspended for this same reason and because I had a vaginal yeast infection (not used precautions, such as vaginal ovuli with lactobacilli, useful in every hormonal contraception use). Tried years later, but had big problems with increased vaginal discharge (got a vaginal irritation caused by the costant humidity in my lady parts). Very practical (you can forget about it for 3 weeks), but lots of collateral effects (at least for me). You have to try ii to discover if it's good for you or if gives you difficult side effects (it's very personal). If none, can be a very good choise.

Read more

Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  31st Jul 25

NuvaRing  

I was put on the pill at 18 for irregular periods, had no problems after the normal first months of weight gain and mood changes. Later on I started a shift job in which I was on alternating shifts, 7a-7p, 11a-11p, 3p-3a, 7p-7a it was impossible to continue taking the pill at the same time everyday. Also I was working in a different state than my OBGYN and traveled alot so planning a procedure was not feasible. I was started on the ring and it was so much easier! My mood swings, breast tenderness were less, I lost some weight. Only thing was having all the symptoms of a 5 day period shoved into 3 days-so more blood and worse cramps. Previously I never needed a heating pad or meds-now I do BUT its only for 3 days. Overall best decision ever to switch to NuvaRing.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  30th Jun 25

NuvaRing  

Easy to use. However started having severe night sweats and have to sleep with AC very low. Love having regular periods. Went from 7 days of medium heavy bleeding to 3-4 light days. I did have a significant drop in my sex drive and it's now almost nonexistent which I did not know was a side effect. Overall though excellent birth control option


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
33 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2nd Feb 26

NuvaRing  

Used for 2,5 years, really lowed my libido after some month of use, get me a complete loss after some years. Later suspended for this same reason and because I had a vaginal yeast infection (not used precautions, such as vaginal ovuli with lactobacilli, useful in every hormonal contraception use). Tried years later, but had big problems with increased vaginal discharge (got a vaginal irritation caused by the costant humidity in my lady parts). Very practical (you can forget about it for 3 weeks), but lots of collateral effects (at least for me). You have to try ii to discover if it's good for you or if gives you difficult side effects (it's very personal). If none, can be a very good choise.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  31st Jul 25

NuvaRing  

I was put on the pill at 18 for irregular periods, had no problems after the normal first months of weight gain and mood changes. Later on I started a shift job in which I was on alternating shifts, 7a-7p, 11a-11p, 3p-3a, 7p-7a it was impossible to continue taking the pill at the same time everyday. Also I was working in a different state than my OBGYN and traveled alot so planning a procedure was not feasible. I was started on the ring and it was so much easier! My mood swings, breast tenderness were less, I lost some weight. Only thing was having all the symptoms of a 5 day period shoved into 3 days-so more blood and worse cramps. Previously I never needed a heating pad or meds-now I do BUT its only for 3 days. Overall best decision ever to switch to NuvaRing.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  30th Jun 25

NuvaRing  

Easy to use. However started having severe night sweats and have to sleep with AC very low. Love having regular periods. Went from 7 days of medium heavy bleeding to 3-4 light days. I did have a significant drop in my sex drive and it's now almost nonexistent which I did not know was a side effect. Overall though excellent birth control option


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments


Combination birth control pill reviews

150 reviews

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
29 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  4 days ago

Mili birth control pill  

I had my first baby in 2024 and decided to breastfeed for about 9 months. After I was done, I decided to get on birth control pills. I have never really been on birth control pills in my life. I have struggled with hormonal acne since I was in 8th grade. It has really affected the way I feel about myself. I was very happy with how my skin looked while on this pill. However, after being on it for about a year, I started noticing averse side effects “down there”. I have absolutely no desire or sex drive which is not normal, it’s dry, and occasionally would cause itching and burning and skin discoloration. I have decided that it’s just not worth it anymore, and I decided to quit taking this pill. I’m very lucky to not have had any other side effects. I’m crossing my fingers that my body and hormones return to the way they were pre pregnancy and pre birth control.


Improved skin

1 more effect

1 helpful

2 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Junel Fe 1/20 birth control pill  

Feel miserable and made depression worse, consistently crying all the time over stupid things, waking up is evil


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Aviane birth control pill  

I've been taking Aviane for years, to help regulate my periods. Before Aviane, they were irregular (it could be a month and a half before The Dot.) and could last 5-7 days, and my mental health was terrible the week before. (PMDD) I have terrible memory at times, but I know for a fact that Aviane has regulated my periods and has shortened them! They're now only 3 days long, if that tells you anything! I can't remember much about my first few months taking the pills, but overall, it's been helpful!


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
29 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  4 days ago

Mili birth control pill  

I had my first baby in 2024 and decided to breastfeed for about 9 months. After I was done, I decided to get on birth control pills. I have never really been on birth control pills in my life. I have struggled with hormonal acne since I was in 8th grade. It has really affected the way I feel about myself. I was very happy with how my skin looked while on this pill. However, after being on it for about a year, I started noticing averse side effects “down there”. I have absolutely no desire or sex drive which is not normal, it’s dry, and occasionally would cause itching and burning and skin discoloration. I have decided that it’s just not worth it anymore, and I decided to quit taking this pill. I’m very lucky to not have had any other side effects. I’m crossing my fingers that my body and hormones return to the way they were pre pregnancy and pre birth control.


Improved skin

1 more effect

1 helpful

2 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Junel Fe 1/20 birth control pill  

Feel miserable and made depression worse, consistently crying all the time over stupid things, waking up is evil


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Aviane birth control pill  

I've been taking Aviane for years, to help regulate my periods. Before Aviane, they were irregular (it could be a month and a half before The Dot.) and could last 5-7 days, and my mental health was terrible the week before. (PMDD) I have terrible memory at times, but I know for a fact that Aviane has regulated my periods and has shortened them! They're now only 3 days long, if that tells you anything! I can't remember much about my first few months taking the pills, but overall, it's been helpful!


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mili birth control pill  

I’ve been on birth control for over 10 yrs by far the worst pill ever. Created an account just to put this review. Please just don’t do it, HORRIBLE.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
39 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Nortrel 0.5/35 birth control pill  

I really liked this birth control for a year. But now I don’t know what happened. My periods used to be very light like nothing at all. But recently I started getting cramps before my 3 month placebo week and I took my placebo week and have been bleeding very heavily for over 7 days into my active pills


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  16th Jun 26

Nikki birth control pill  

Take in the morning, gets nauseous and loses appetite around dinner time everyday


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
40 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  30th May 26

Nikki birth control pill  

I'm on this pill post-hysterectomy to manage cysts/tumors recurring on my remaining ovary as an alternative to additional surgeries. The nausea has been brutal and I've recently started having major tooth sensitivity. My doctor, whom I trust, told me to give it 3 months for my body to adjust to Nikki. I would have stopped taking it already due to the nausea and dizziness but I'm really trying to avoid another surgery, so I'm sticking with it for now. Maybe I can update after the 3 month mark.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
14 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  30th Apr 26

Tri Lo Mili birth control pill  

I started taking this pill for painful period cramps and it has worked wonders! My period is more regular as well and shorter and less painful. My skin cleared up really well the only problem i have is the migraines and my blood sugar. The migraines are very painful but only last a few minutes luckily and since started taking the pill my blood sugar sky rockets or falls rather quickly.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  14th Apr 26

Mili birth control pill  

I really enjoy taking this brand. It still feels like I am me at the end of the day and I’m in control of my emotions and not hindered by excessive hormones.


Very positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combination birth control pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
48 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  14th Apr 26

Vienva birth control pill  

Omg the lower back pain and the leg pain was unreal. I thought something was very very wrong with me but when I stopped taking this is went away.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control alternatives and comparisons

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