Combined pill vs Combined pill
Need help choosing? Speak to a doctor
£From £0.16/day
£From £0.16/day
Overview
Rated 2.8
2794 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.8
2794 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
2794 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
Only lasted a month on this pill as it made me incredibly low and irritable. Severe bloating
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
Generally my mood on it was brilliant however it caused severe bloating and cravings so I gained weight
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
I have tried a few contraceptives including the implant, mini pill and a different combined pill before landing on this one and it was by far the best. Lighter periods, can predict them starting to the hour. No cramps or pains or nausea which i did have before contraception. I do have hormonal headache leading up to and during the break week. Moods were awful on the progesterone only pills but on gedarel I am very level to the point of sometimes feeling a bit numb.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
Only lasted a month on this pill as it made me incredibly low and irritable. Severe bloating
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
Generally my mood on it was brilliant however it caused severe bloating and cravings so I gained weight
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
I have tried a few contraceptives including the implant, mini pill and a different combined pill before landing on this one and it was by far the best. Lighter periods, can predict them starting to the hour. No cramps or pains or nausea which i did have before contraception. I do have hormonal headache leading up to and during the break week. Moods were awful on the progesterone only pills but on gedarel I am very level to the point of sometimes feeling a bit numb.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Combined pill reviews
2794 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
Only lasted a month on this pill as it made me incredibly low and irritable. Severe bloating
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
Generally my mood on it was brilliant however it caused severe bloating and cravings so I gained weight
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
I have tried a few contraceptives including the implant, mini pill and a different combined pill before landing on this one and it was by far the best. Lighter periods, can predict them starting to the hour. No cramps or pains or nausea which i did have before contraception. I do have hormonal headache leading up to and during the break week. Moods were awful on the progesterone only pills but on gedarel I am very level to the point of sometimes feeling a bit numb.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
Only lasted a month on this pill as it made me incredibly low and irritable. Severe bloating
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
Generally my mood on it was brilliant however it caused severe bloating and cravings so I gained weight
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
I have tried a few contraceptives including the implant, mini pill and a different combined pill before landing on this one and it was by far the best. Lighter periods, can predict them starting to the hour. No cramps or pains or nausea which i did have before contraception. I do have hormonal headache leading up to and during the break week. Moods were awful on the progesterone only pills but on gedarel I am very level to the point of sometimes feeling a bit numb.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
I have been happy with this pill and haven’t really noticed anything significant and has been working as it should, however over the past 15ish months i have been having recurring thrush and i have worked it down to i believe being this pill. i have gone to the pharmacy today and gotten a new pill to try so fingers crossed but yeah turns out thrush is a symptom i believe 1 in 10 people on it
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
39 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Brilliant medication, the bio identical oestrogen is definitely kinder and easier to manage. I managed to gain weight and keep it, it's something I struggled with massively before. I have nicer bust size too 😁. Tbh is better than Eloine and I have less tension in my body. I recommend it to neurodiverse ppl for certain.
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I have been taking for a month now and I was TERRIFIED after trying rigevidon when I was 16 (I’m 24 now). I have PMS (I believe PMDD) so I got to the point where I was desperate for help. My acne, fatigue and low moods were just too much for life and I needed to do something about it! The first couple of weeks I felt a tiny bit nauseous (no where near as bad as rigevidon which I assume is bc of the lower oestrogen in Eloine) and I got some night sweats which have calmed down also after a couple of weeks. I have also experienced some slight fluttering anxiety and heavy chest when I wake up (I take it at 11pm due to my schedule) which isn’t ideal but as someone who used to be extremely anxious I haven’t found this particularly overwhelming or affecting my life. It hasn’t been through the day so I believe it’s because of the time I am taking it but not a major issue. I have insatiable hunger but again, as someone who didn’t eat much and had low appetite (especially the week leading up to my period) this has had a majorly positive effect on my life, I’m fuelling myself more which is probably also helping my fatigue and mood in itself! Regarding weight gain, I have had no water retention type of weight gain from it, any weight gain will be due to eating more bc of the hunger but personally I have not noticed any gain yet. However, PMDD wise, it has changed my life so far. The week I usually feel down and sleep 14 hours I didn’t even realise that week had passed (I’m taking it continuously without the placebos). No acne, no low moods no fatigue, I just finally feel normal 🙏🏻 If you’re looking into this for PMS and PMDD that is becoming too much, I would honestly give this a go. As someone who had awful nausea with rigevidon, it took me two years to get the courage to try another but I’m so so happy I did. I used to spend the PMDD weeks struggling and my normal weeks recovering, now every week is just normal
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I haven’t used it for long but the side effects aren’t bad or huge.
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I went on Qlaira after reading reviews that it helped with recurring thrush caused from other combination pills. It did - I haven't had thrush since being on this pill! However, definitely experience more mood swings and I bleed lightly for around 10 days which is really frustrating. Considering changing because of the bleed. First month of bleeding was also much more painful but think I was just getting used to it.
Increased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I am currently still taking the Eloine combined pill. I am experiencing dizziness and finding it hard to work. I also have very severe back pain. Struggling with PMDD this was the option my GP offered to me and it definitely made it feel worse. I am very low on energy and suffer with an achy body every day.
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments

Women's health, reviewed.
Get the best women’s health info in your inbox
You are signing up to receive The Lowdown's latest findings and news in women's health. Your data will be used in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie policy
Slide into our DMs
Built by doctors and experts
Our tools are made by medical professionals for your peace of mind
Our website uses affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click on them