Combined pill vs Combined pill
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£From £0.16/day
£From £0.16/day
Overview
Rated 2.8
2715 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.8
2715 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Combined pill ingredients
Main hormones in Combined pill
progestogen
oestrogen
Combined pill ingredients
Main hormones in Combined pill
progestogen
oestrogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
Benefits: What this contraceptive 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
Try it now
£From £0.16/day
Try it now
£From £0.16/day
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Combined pill reviews
2715 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
switched from a minipill to a combined pill loved it as my periods stopped and i didnt gain any weight although i was taken off of it as i experiance migranes and wasn't supposed to be perscribed it i did notice i was more sensitive and emotional whilst on it
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
Experienced breast tenderness and growth. Reduced cramping. Reduced sided effects compared to alternative oral contraceptives
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
During my first month I’ve had severe breakthrough bleeding that was heavy and lasted for 3 weeks, during the 3 weeks I was very emotional and paranoid. After the breakthrough bleed I developed two large spots on my lip and cheek (I never had this issue nor acne). Over all the pill hasn’t done much for me so far other than making me very paranoid about the side effects.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
switched from a minipill to a combined pill loved it as my periods stopped and i didnt gain any weight although i was taken off of it as i experiance migranes and wasn't supposed to be perscribed it i did notice i was more sensitive and emotional whilst on it
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
Experienced breast tenderness and growth. Reduced cramping. Reduced sided effects compared to alternative oral contraceptives
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
During my first month I’ve had severe breakthrough bleeding that was heavy and lasted for 3 weeks, during the 3 weeks I was very emotional and paranoid. After the breakthrough bleed I developed two large spots on my lip and cheek (I never had this issue nor acne). Over all the pill hasn’t done much for me so far other than making me very paranoid about the side effects.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Combined pill reviews
2715 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
switched from a minipill to a combined pill loved it as my periods stopped and i didnt gain any weight although i was taken off of it as i experiance migranes and wasn't supposed to be perscribed it i did notice i was more sensitive and emotional whilst on it
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
Experienced breast tenderness and growth. Reduced cramping. Reduced sided effects compared to alternative oral contraceptives
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
During my first month I’ve had severe breakthrough bleeding that was heavy and lasted for 3 weeks, during the 3 weeks I was very emotional and paranoid. After the breakthrough bleed I developed two large spots on my lip and cheek (I never had this issue nor acne). Over all the pill hasn’t done much for me so far other than making me very paranoid about the side effects.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
switched from a minipill to a combined pill loved it as my periods stopped and i didnt gain any weight although i was taken off of it as i experiance migranes and wasn't supposed to be perscribed it i did notice i was more sensitive and emotional whilst on it
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
Experienced breast tenderness and growth. Reduced cramping. Reduced sided effects compared to alternative oral contraceptives
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
During my first month I’ve had severe breakthrough bleeding that was heavy and lasted for 3 weeks, during the 3 weeks I was very emotional and paranoid. After the breakthrough bleed I developed two large spots on my lip and cheek (I never had this issue nor acne). Over all the pill hasn’t done much for me so far other than making me very paranoid about the side effects.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I actually find this to be pretty good, very few side effects, but the increased blood clot risk does concern me.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Started off well on this pill, good for PMS management. Had bleeding for weeks and breasts got bigger and were painful. Some of these effects subsided after a few weeks. On my 3rd pack i noticed i wasnt full after meals and was constantly feeling hungry and thinking about food. This continued through the fourth month. I have definitely gained weight and clothes not fitting properly, which is an unacceptable side effect for me personally.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
It is a balancing act, but, overall, I am happy with the results. I take the pill back to back as my cramps were so bad that they were effecting my personal and work life terribly and I could no longer stand the pain. Unlike other pills I have tried before, this stops my periods. After 3 or 4 months I get heavy spotting and take a break for 7 days which sorts it out - the breaks are fine with only mild cramping and nothing like my periods before. It has saved my ability to work. I have had negative side effects - weight gain and mood. I have no history of depression, anxiety or struggling to process things until I started taking this pill but I now struggle with these things most days. Compared to the pain, for me, the impact on my mental health is a trade off I've accepted.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
Zoely was brilliant for managing my cyclical mood symptoms and essentially stopped my periods which was great in the context of endometriosis. I had no period pain on this pill. However unfortunately I struggled with significant vaginal dryness which honestly felt like perimenopause and made sex intolerable. I also noticed significant hair loss, but I can’t say 100% if this was Zoely or due to life stress.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
Feel “out of it” a lot more but not necessarily depressed. However cramping is really bad
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
I always feel tired, no matter how much I sleep it feels like it's never enough. Most days I don't feels in control of my emotions. And my hair falls in clumps but my gyno tells me not to worry.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
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