Combined pill vs Implant

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Combined pill

£From £0.16/day

Implant

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Overview

Rated 2.8

2727 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

628 reviews

Every 3 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Combined pill ingredients

Main hormones in Combined pill

progestogen

oestrogen


Implant ingredients

Main hormones in Implant

progestogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

31% somewhat negative

47% lighter periods

46% lost sex drive

48% no impact

43% improved skin

Cycle return

37% don’t know impact

37% somewhat negative

49% irregular periods

49% lost sex drive

40% gained weight

55% no impact on skin

Cycle return

31% in 1 month

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

Heavy periods

Ovulation pain

Period pain

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£From £0.16/day

Try it now

Add your Implant review

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Combined pill reviews

2727 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Millinette 20/75 pill  

I’ve been on pills now for about 5-6 years, switched to Millinette from Ridgevidon about 18 months ago. I’ve always had terrible headaches on the pill, but millinette has seemed to decrease them a bit. This pill has made me have a lot more mood swings, loss of feeling and loss of sex drive. While the pill hasn’t been awful, it’s had its ups and downs. I am currently switching to the coil to see if anything changes, otherwise i’m okay with continuing millinette.

Read more

Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Millinette 20/75 pill  

I switched from Ridgevidon to Millinette. Since being on any pill, i’ve had extremely bad headaches. My doctor told me to switch, seeing if a different strength of pill would change anything. While I do think I get less headaches, my sex drive decreased significantly. I also suffer with a lot more brain fog, and just general lack of feeling. Mood swings have definitely increased on the pill, but I notice they’re worse on this one. The pill isn’t an awful choice, it’s had its ups and downs. I’m currently waiting to have the coil fitted to see if there’s any changes.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Drovelis pill  

I have just completed my first month and have absolutely loved the change for me. I was suffering from PMDD for ages before starting, and this has significantly helped my mood disorder and emotional episodes. However I have gotten tender breasts when walking or running, nothing insane. And my discharge! Its so watery and so much. Sometimes I stand up and its like a small pee puddle, anyway, I have had an overall positive experience


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Millinette 20/75 pill  

I’ve been on pills now for about 5-6 years, switched to Millinette from Ridgevidon about 18 months ago. I’ve always had terrible headaches on the pill, but millinette has seemed to decrease them a bit. This pill has made me have a lot more mood swings, loss of feeling and loss of sex drive. While the pill hasn’t been awful, it’s had its ups and downs. I am currently switching to the coil to see if anything changes, otherwise i’m okay with continuing millinette.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Millinette 20/75 pill  

I switched from Ridgevidon to Millinette. Since being on any pill, i’ve had extremely bad headaches. My doctor told me to switch, seeing if a different strength of pill would change anything. While I do think I get less headaches, my sex drive decreased significantly. I also suffer with a lot more brain fog, and just general lack of feeling. Mood swings have definitely increased on the pill, but I notice they’re worse on this one. The pill isn’t an awful choice, it’s had its ups and downs. I’m currently waiting to have the coil fitted to see if there’s any changes.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Drovelis pill  

I have just completed my first month and have absolutely loved the change for me. I was suffering from PMDD for ages before starting, and this has significantly helped my mood disorder and emotional episodes. However I have gotten tender breasts when walking or running, nothing insane. And my discharge! Its so watery and so much. Sometimes I stand up and its like a small pee puddle, anyway, I have had an overall positive experience


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments


Implant reviews

628 reviews

Implant  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

Nexplanon implant  

Stopped my periods for the first 4 years then they became heavier - lasting up to 3 weeks


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
14 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  18th Jan 26

Nexplanon implant  

It's my first time on birth control and I get way angrier then I used to but all I'm seeing from my body is positive things


Improved skin

2 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  10th Jan 26

Nexplanon implant  

Was previously on the progesterone only pill but did not want to have to remember it daily. Have had no issues with Nexplanon and had it changed recently after having the first for three years.


Very positive mood

1 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

Nexplanon implant  

Stopped my periods for the first 4 years then they became heavier - lasting up to 3 weeks


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
14 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  18th Jan 26

Nexplanon implant  

It's my first time on birth control and I get way angrier then I used to but all I'm seeing from my body is positive things


Improved skin

2 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  10th Jan 26

Nexplanon implant  

Was previously on the progesterone only pill but did not want to have to remember it daily. Have had no issues with Nexplanon and had it changed recently after having the first for three years.


Very positive mood

1 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  27th Dec 25

Nexplanon implant  

I would recommend getting the implant. There has been little to no difference in my body while using it and it has been a positive experience. I did notice my periods have gone from Light and regular every month to continue being light but very irregular and can last anything from 4 days to 3 months at a time. I also had one other negative experience a few weeks into having the implant. (I do think it was just my body adjusting as I haven’t had anything the same since). Where I was continuously being sick for 2 days, There was no signs of me being ill or have eaten anything unusual. I do think the implant has made very little changes to my body. Obviously a 3 month period is annoying but it does end you just need to be patient. I’m coming up to 2 years on my implant so I do feel as though my input is helpful as some people aren’t patient enough to wait out the symptoms like a long period.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
15 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  18th Dec 25

Nexplanon implant  

I got this because I have very bad periods. I’ve had worse cramps then before and they go on for longer however the bleeding is lighter


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
15 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  18th Dec 25

Nexplanon implant  

I got this because I have very bad periods. I’ve had worse cramps then before and they go on for longer however the bleeding is lighter


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  7th Dec 25

Nexplanon implant  

wish i knew got it honestly periods stopped completely so much weight loss rlly bad increase in my mh and mood makes me feel so not me


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  25th Nov 25

Nexplanon implant  

Apart for heavy long periods, I Became mean and short fused. My sex drive is zero. I am less excited and feeling empty. Had the implant for 8 months, the behaviour changes are not settling.I am generally miserable and its damaging my relationship.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  15th Nov 25

Nexplanon implant  

Safest and easiest contraception in my opinion. However does come with lots of side effects as any medication does, it is manageable but irritating at times (headaches, irregular bleeding every month and lower back pain). I also get rashes at the implant site quite frequently and heard this is very common- gets itchy but normal apparently


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  14th Nov 25

Nexplanon implant  

Of all the contraceptives I tried I was most satisfied with the implant. I had mostly no side effects and it stopped my period completely after 1 year (had some spotting irregularly in the first year). It was a very effective method, with painless insertion and changes (had 3 implants in 7 years). I removed it because I wanted to give my body a break before potentially trying for a baby. The main side effect and reason I took off one star is the loss of libido and vaginal dryness. My libido was very low and when I did get into sex, the dryness made things painful. Overall the sensation and pleasure of sex took a hit, but it was manageable. Now that I am off the implant I notice a resurgence in libido and feel more connected to my body and sexual self.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Combined pill with other contraceptives

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