Cap or diaphragm vs Progestogen-only / Mini pill

I’ve enjoyed using the cap around my fertile window but struggle to feel 100% confident I have inserted it correctly. When removing the cap I notice a lot of discharge but not after use, only when removing. Way better than the pill or condoms for me.

Apart from the issue I'm currently dealing with (it getting stuck inside of me), I LOVE the diaphragm. I found out I wasn't never fitted (which is why it kept getting stuck upon removal), so my new, awesome doctor actually sized me. It's easier than popping in a tampon once you learn how to do it and then ya pop it out the morning after sex. No side effects, no hormones, no emotional hangover. It's very hard to find though. Pharmaceutical companies don't want women to buy one silicone object that lasts for the rest of your life, so finding the right size and actually getting it has been a challenge. My mom used it and only got pregnant to have me (her only child) and I've been using it for 5+ years with no issues.

I've used Caya several times over the past couple years (they last up to 2 years- due for a new one now). I use it on the edges of my fertile window (with fertility awareness) and/or combined with withdrawal or condoms to boost efficacy during the fertile window. Always use with Caya/Contragel- they come with an applicator to re-insert the gel into the vagina, as you need to reapply the gel each time you have sex. Watching the YouTube instructions on how to put it in (plus the instruction manual in the box!) helped me understand how to use it properly and to have an idea of how it was inserted properly.

Overall, Slynd has been better for me than any other hormonal contraceptive ive tried befofe. I do get some spotting every once in a while and my sex drive is a little bit lower (compared to when i used to ovulate) but its been good. I have no period pain and no severe mood swings which was my goal. Have started to get some minimal acne on my forehead and chin now that im 5 months into it, fingers crossed it will settle down soon. Nothing major though!

I switched to Slynd having previously taken Hana but been unsatisfied with the experience, and can't ask much more from it. I found that my mood almost immediately improved, and I continued to experience a more stable mood. I do occasionally experience headaches around the time of the placebo break, but this was normal for me without medication anyway, and it's better overall to know exactly when this will happen. In my first month taking Slynd, I did experience a lot of bleeding - but I had been bleeding constantly on Hana, and I think this is down to the Hana pill insufficiently thinning my uterine lining and then the Slynd pill starting to work correctly, meaning I had to shed the build-up. In the second month I didn't bleed at all. After that, I did start to bleed in the placebo break, and experience increasing spotting between breaks, but this was still a very light amount overall (I am starting to think I might have just been a heavy bleeder to begin with!). After around 6 months of taking the pill, I did have one day of very heavy bleeding at the start of my Placebo break. From the next day I returned to having no spotting and a lighter bleed the next month. I am happy with this cadence personally, and I do suspect that someone who already bled lightly wouldn't experience this at all.

Genuinely hate this pill. I have always experienced acne but rarely on my body until now. My back chest and shoulders are covered. I have had bleeding about 2 times a month with no changes to the pain scale. I have gained a bit of weight. Where on the last pill I was on I had lost some. Which certainly effected my already down mood. Just is not working for me.

Using Sltnd for Endo rather than a contraceptive, this is my second month. First month I had breakthrough bleeding for 23 days but no period this month. Not had awful ovulation pain like before and my pain has reduced somewhat. Headaches are a bit of a pain as I am not a headachy person usually. Had a very stressful two months so not sure if my mood is stress or the pill. It has affected my sex drive but this can be affected alot by pain so we manage that anyway. So far I feel like it's helped with pain definitely need to give it longer. I don't take the placebo pills until month 3 so I take slynd constantly till month 3 as doctor recommended to do so.

It's my 4th month, and I hate it. I have anxiety and a depressive mood, and I am so irritated with everyone and everything constantly for no reason, and I don't want it to affect my loved ones because I know this is not who I am. My hair's thinning vigorously, and my period, which was 5 days long, has increased to 15 and counting! And it's not just 15 days of light spotting, it's a full-on heavy period which has left me so damm tired and dizzy all the time with all the iron loss. yes i missed one day of the pill which i know can create spotting but that was 2 months ago. i have been consistantly taking my pills since and its just getting worse and worse for me. i honestly dont want to continue but i have heard it gets better after a while of use. but from what i see its doing to my body and mental state i just dont think i can continue like this. I dont know what to do.

I would have given this contraceptive 5 starts if it hadn’t caused me significant hair loss. It’s a shame because I didn’t experience any other negative side effects. I am lucky to have had thick hair to begin with, but after a few months of use and noticeable shedding I have ended up with nearly half the hair I started with.

6 - 12 months 15/04/2025 - currently in my third week of me 7th month of the pill. I’ve just had a period after 3 weeks of not bleeding (having pretty much spotting all of the time/constantly bleeding) I feel like we’re finally getting back on track. The period was however thicker and more like ‘old’ blood than usual with a day of normal bleeding. I’ve been quite emotional recently and I’m pretty sure my breast have gotten slightly bigger while being on the pill but I haven’t gone up a bra size. I did put on some weight but I think I’m finally dropping it slowly but it feels slow going. 30/04/2025 - So I had that last period and have been and and off since. I think I’ve only had a couple of days on not bleeding at all or spotting. Today it seems that there is nothing. My boobs definitely feel larger but still not up a bra size. I had an awful breakout last week on my chest and back but my face seems ok/if not better than usual. 12/05/2025 - I’ve just had THE WORST under the skin spots on my chest. Like really really bad to the point I’m going to scar. However, I did just have a period but it lasted 3 days at most. I did feel super strange before it and in pain but not my usual period cramps. More like a full body sensation of pain which wasn’t excruciating but still not pleasant. Otherwise, I’ve been fine on it. I think I had nearly 2 weeks of no bleeding or spotting at all before this small period? 22/05/2025 - I’ve actually been feeling fine recently. I think I only had about 13 days between my last bleed and the small bleed/period that I’ve just had but there was no blood/spotting in between again which was nice. 01/07/2025 - I’ve still been bleeding really regularly. I’m noticing weight gain now that I can’t shift and I’m sweating so much more than usual. I’m at the point where I’m considering going to the GP and telling them I’m coming off of the pill I’m really not having a great time. 17/07/2025 - I’m about month 9 now of starting the pill. I’ve gone from bleeding about every 2 weeks to now having bled for nearly 3 now which is great. I did take a pregnancy test even though pregnancy would be a miracle (we use condoms as well because I definitely don’t want to be pregnant) It was negative. I’ve changed eating habits and have been exercising regularly and my weight is still creeping up. If it doesn’t start to come down soon I’ll be chatting to the GP about it. My mood is also really low. I’ve said this before but the spots on my face are definitely better than they were pre-pill but other body acne/spots are definitely worse. 15/08/2025 - So I still haven’t really had a period. I had a couple of days of cramps and old blood in mucus at the start of this week but nothing I’d really describe as a period. (definitely not pregnant). The issue I’m having is the increased sweating. It’s unbearable. My sister says that she has suffered the same since starting the pill. I’ve never in my life sweat this much. 4/11/25 - Yes it’s been over a year since being on the pill now. I’ve still not had a period since June so I guess it’s decided that it's not happening anymore (not pregnant) Breast tenderness is still here as well.

Im loosing so much hair since I started taking slynd, my first couple of months I was constantly dizzy. My sexy drive is very low. Im constantly bleeding, im considering stopping it.

Overall is ok but still have a lot of sid effects

I have been on this pill just over a month and the side effects have been horrendous. I have felt suicidal and utterly depressed everyday, I feel as though I am completely not myself. I have insomnia and wake in the night with intense anxiety and my hands are shaking. I have had bleeding for the past week, extreme hunger, weight gain and feeling so angry I could punch someone. Would NOT recommend this at all, it's dangerous for women. Going to stop taking today as I can't keep feeling like this.