Combined pill vs Injection
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£From £0.16/day
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Overview
Rated 2.8
2602 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.9
290 reviews
Every 2-3 months
Frequency
94% - 99+%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
Short term
Effect on fertility
Combined pill ingredients
Main hormones in Combined pill
progestogen
oestrogen
Injection ingredients
Main hormones in Injection
progestogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with
Acne or bad skin
Heavy periods
PMS and PMDD
PCOS symptoms
Period pain
Endometriosis
Heavy periods
Period pain
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£From £0.16/day
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Add your Injection review
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Combined pill reviews
2602 reviews
Used for 3 - 6 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
This sent me nearly insane with my moods. I had no other side effects other than it made me nearly suicidal. I know you could say maybe it wasn’t the pill but I was fine before taking it, happy in myself, then after I had a mental breakdown I stopped taking it and suddenly felt like myself again. I’ve heard a lot of people say it’s been awful for their mood and I’m surprised they haven’t banned it yet
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
I’ve never had Thrush before and went on this pill 2 months ago and got it within the first 20 days of using it. I’ve also felt nauseas everyday since maybe the first week into it. Will symptoms subside? I really hope so. I havent bled but I was on the depo injection for the last year so its normal for it to take a while to bleed again.
Gained weight
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
My experience is overall positive. For the first month I had breakthrough spotting almost every day, it was light and painless, just a bit worrisome, but it settled in the 2nd month. I started taking Drovelis for painful periods, and I have to say that while they are shorter and lighter, it's not like it completely changed around. I used to take around 4 painkillers a day on my period, now I'm down to one: so it is a big change, but I can't say the periods are painless. In the first month I also had some mood swings, but I can't be sure if that's due to the pill. I'm writing this review because I was very scared of taking birth control after reading so many negative opinions, but overall it's a net positive experience. No changes to my weight, my libido is stable, overall it's nothing too scary.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
This sent me nearly insane with my moods. I had no other side effects other than it made me nearly suicidal. I know you could say maybe it wasn’t the pill but I was fine before taking it, happy in myself, then after I had a mental breakdown I stopped taking it and suddenly felt like myself again. I’ve heard a lot of people say it’s been awful for their mood and I’m surprised they haven’t banned it yet
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
I’ve never had Thrush before and went on this pill 2 months ago and got it within the first 20 days of using it. I’ve also felt nauseas everyday since maybe the first week into it. Will symptoms subside? I really hope so. I havent bled but I was on the depo injection for the last year so its normal for it to take a while to bleed again.
Gained weight
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
My experience is overall positive. For the first month I had breakthrough spotting almost every day, it was light and painless, just a bit worrisome, but it settled in the 2nd month. I started taking Drovelis for painful periods, and I have to say that while they are shorter and lighter, it's not like it completely changed around. I used to take around 4 painkillers a day on my period, now I'm down to one: so it is a big change, but I can't say the periods are painless. In the first month I also had some mood swings, but I can't be sure if that's due to the pill. I'm writing this review because I was very scared of taking birth control after reading so many negative opinions, but overall it's a net positive experience. No changes to my weight, my libido is stable, overall it's nothing too scary.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Injection reviews
290 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
Things I’ve had history struggling with in the past: depression, anxiety, weight Things depo increased: depression, anxiety, weight
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
started using it on April but so far my body is still the same & haven’t experienced breast enlargement yet
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
Things I’ve had history struggling with in the past: depression, anxiety, weight Things depo increased: depression, anxiety, weight
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
started using it on April but so far my body is still the same & haven’t experienced breast enlargement yet
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 28th May 25
Used for over 10 years, completely stopped my periods which was fantastic. The devices became harder and harder to use, needing a lot of force to inject so I ended up turning myself into a pin cushion & wasting a few, which made reordering a faff. Don’t think I gained weight and if anything my skin improved (but that could just be normal from teenage to late 20s). The only negative I noticed was decreased sex drive - but it didn’t totally go so not a massive issue for me.
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 13th May 25
I was on this injection for 2 years, the whole process put me off . when i started the injection i had a period of 16 days (over two weeks) and it was so heavy, months went on and my periods stopped all together, i didn’t have a period for minus 2 years , i’m now on the combined pill but i did receive higher anxiety and depression towards taking it for ages, the doctor offered me antidepressants but i didn’t want to be taking them as i am a quite smily happy person but i literally lost all my energy and motivation to do anything.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 8th May 25
With the contraception I experience a lot of abdominal pains frequently
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2nd May 25
Worst decision I’ve ever made Gained a lot of weight Depressed Anxious Moods all over the place
Very negative mood
2 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
41 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 8th Apr 25
I like the injection as no periods at all but gained over 2 stone in weight and no amount of dieting, eating less or exercising helps loose any weight at all I just gain even more.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5th Apr 25
I didn't notice any changes at first. I got my period for the first month or two, then the bleeding was irregular and lighter and eventually it stopped completely. I gained weight quickly. I would get hungry even after eating. I would get severe vaginal itching a few days after the shot.
Worse skin
2 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 22nd Mar 25
It is effective and it's convenient but unfortunately the side effects are really bad but it depends on different body types
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments

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