Combined pill vs Injection

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Combined pill

£From £0.16/day

Injection

Add your Injection review

Overview

Rated 2.8

2753 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.9

309 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

31% somewhat negative

47% lighter periods

46% lost sex drive

48% no impact

43% improved skin

Cycle return

37% don’t know impact

31% somewhat negative

70% stopped periods

57% lost sex drive

48% gained weight

46% no impact on skin

Cycle return

42% don’t know impact

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

2753 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

Gedarel 30/150 pill  

I switched to Gedarell after being on Microgynon 30ED for 5 years. I gained about 5kg in 2 years and my body felt puffy/inflammed even though I was eating well and regularly going to the gym. This caused me to come off the pill and I lost about 8kg in 2 months. I also experienced low libido and fatigue. After coming off the pill, I realised that it was making me feel quite numb. I wasn’t feeling any kind of emotion strongly which was a big adjustment for me after coming off it. Once I came off the pill I experienced significant hair loss for about 3 months but luckily my hair is quite thick so it wasn’t noticeable. Overall, I think this pill worked better for me as I didn’t have chronic thrush or bleeding during sex like I did on Microgynon but the weight gain was the main reason I decided to stop using it.

Read more

Decreased sex drive

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

Microgynon 30 ED pill  

Was on this pill for around 7 years from the age of 15. Worked fairly well. The main side effects I experienced were bleeding during sex, chronic thrush, fatigue and low libido. After around 5 years I started peeing a lot during the night which led me to believe that it caused some insulin resistance. The pharmacies where I lived stopped supplying it so I ended up switching to another pill.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Yasmin pill  

I’ve been taking Yasmin for just over 2 months now (skipping periods). About a month and a half in I noticed I’ve been extremely irritated, not particularly angry but it’s made me have a really short fuse. Unfortunately for me, it has made my boobs grow pretty significantly and made them super tender and sore after wearing sports bras etc. I’ve noticed a slight weight gain which also sucks as have been losing weight pretty steadily a few months before starting and I feel like I’ve lost that progress. I haven’t really noticed a change in my skin, i think it’s a little bit worse but maybe it’s purging? I’ve skipped both periods since starting, and noticed I was having some cramps after 1 month. I’ve had extreme cramping the last 48 hours and thought I was dying, and ended up passing a decidual cast (which I’ve never experienced before) and have had pretty heavy breakthrough bleeding the past 48 hours. A month ago I probably would’ve stayed on the pill but after everything I think I’ll be swapping to something else..


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

Gedarel 30/150 pill  

I switched to Gedarell after being on Microgynon 30ED for 5 years. I gained about 5kg in 2 years and my body felt puffy/inflammed even though I was eating well and regularly going to the gym. This caused me to come off the pill and I lost about 8kg in 2 months. I also experienced low libido and fatigue. After coming off the pill, I realised that it was making me feel quite numb. I wasn’t feeling any kind of emotion strongly which was a big adjustment for me after coming off it. Once I came off the pill I experienced significant hair loss for about 3 months but luckily my hair is quite thick so it wasn’t noticeable. Overall, I think this pill worked better for me as I didn’t have chronic thrush or bleeding during sex like I did on Microgynon but the weight gain was the main reason I decided to stop using it.


Decreased sex drive

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

Microgynon 30 ED pill  

Was on this pill for around 7 years from the age of 15. Worked fairly well. The main side effects I experienced were bleeding during sex, chronic thrush, fatigue and low libido. After around 5 years I started peeing a lot during the night which led me to believe that it caused some insulin resistance. The pharmacies where I lived stopped supplying it so I ended up switching to another pill.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Yasmin pill  

I’ve been taking Yasmin for just over 2 months now (skipping periods). About a month and a half in I noticed I’ve been extremely irritated, not particularly angry but it’s made me have a really short fuse. Unfortunately for me, it has made my boobs grow pretty significantly and made them super tender and sore after wearing sports bras etc. I’ve noticed a slight weight gain which also sucks as have been losing weight pretty steadily a few months before starting and I feel like I’ve lost that progress. I haven’t really noticed a change in my skin, i think it’s a little bit worse but maybe it’s purging? I’ve skipped both periods since starting, and noticed I was having some cramps after 1 month. I’ve had extreme cramping the last 48 hours and thought I was dying, and ended up passing a decidual cast (which I’ve never experienced before) and have had pretty heavy breakthrough bleeding the past 48 hours. A month ago I probably would’ve stayed on the pill but after everything I think I’ll be swapping to something else..


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments


Injection reviews

309 reviews

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

Depo-Provera injection  

I got with a new partner a few years back and gave this ago as I wanted something I didn’t need to remember to take. I gained weight fast, I had mood changes, my skin broke out badly, my periods were heavier than before. I only ever had one injection then stopped as I no longer needed it and I didn’t like how it made me feel. Unfortunately I had a rare side effect where it stopped my periods/ovulation all together for 12 months I was referred to gynaecology at 6 months and luckily after all the scans everything was normal and by month 12 my cycle returned without needing to be medically induced. This is not a horror story but important that you could react the same or if you are reacting the same please get referred to gynaecology and hopefully your periods will return 🤍


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
46 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Sayana Press injection  

Having used both Depot and Sanaya Press, these are the best method of contraception. No side effect and a huge positive: no periods.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Apr 26

Depo-Provera injection  

This has made my sex life a living hell .I get scared to have sex with my partner since I associate the vaginal dryness with this Depo shot ,the sex is always pain towards the end as there’s not enough lubrication


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

Depo-Provera injection  

I got with a new partner a few years back and gave this ago as I wanted something I didn’t need to remember to take. I gained weight fast, I had mood changes, my skin broke out badly, my periods were heavier than before. I only ever had one injection then stopped as I no longer needed it and I didn’t like how it made me feel. Unfortunately I had a rare side effect where it stopped my periods/ovulation all together for 12 months I was referred to gynaecology at 6 months and luckily after all the scans everything was normal and by month 12 my cycle returned without needing to be medically induced. This is not a horror story but important that you could react the same or if you are reacting the same please get referred to gynaecology and hopefully your periods will return 🤍


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
46 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Sayana Press injection  

Having used both Depot and Sanaya Press, these are the best method of contraception. No side effect and a huge positive: no periods.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Apr 26

Depo-Provera injection  

This has made my sex life a living hell .I get scared to have sex with my partner since I associate the vaginal dryness with this Depo shot ,the sex is always pain towards the end as there’s not enough lubrication


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  14th Feb 26

Noristerat injection  

This was bad experience my stretch marks even increased and low libido is the worst


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Feb 26

Sayana Press injection  

I would have rated this 5 stars last year. I used to be on the depo jab that had to be done at the doctors but I work 12 hour shifts meaning it was a struggle to attended every 12 weeks. So I was over the moon when I found out about sayana press that I could do myself. I usually do the injection around 11 weeks but the last 3 times I get to 10 weeks and get crippling period pain that completely debilitates me. Even after I’ve done the injection this will continue for about a week afterwards. I’ve never experienced child birth but the pain is horrendous. It will wake me up in the middle of the night, happen at work and is just completely random spouts of unbearable pain until at whatever point doesn’t happen again until I am next at the 10 week mark. I’ve recently learned that it’s a lower strength to Depo-Provera and maybe that’s why however I’m confused as to why it’s only started happening. My gp surgery is useless and it the whole process of going back to having the higher strength at the surgery is going to take some time but being able to do it at home is not worth this horrendous ordeal. I would not recommend switching


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

1 comments

Injection  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Jan 26

Sayana Press injection  

Great if you’re looking to prevent pregnancy with less admin. Having the year’s supply ant home and not needing to see a doctor every few months was handy. Stopped my periods aside from some very minimal spotting and my skin was great - I barely had any spots over the years I was on it. I did feel like I was quite numb emotions wise. I didn’t experience mood swings but it was alarming that I often didn’t really feel anything! My libido was extremely low too.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1st Dec 25

Noristerat injection  

I experience mood swings, low libido, aura migraine, my face got darker than usual and I stopped seeing my period.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  18th Nov 25

Noristerat injection  

I had a very bad experience using this contraceptive. Bad moods, bad skin, bad body image, depression, sweating, low libido. Just bad.


Very positive mood

3 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  16th Oct 25

Noristerat injection  

It's a good injection for me, I have been using it for longest time since I was 16 years started to use it. Who recommended it? Clinic nurse.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  11th Oct 25

Noristerat injection  

took some time before i ever come here mainly because i was scared , shy , & hated myself for what im about to talk about here❤️ trust me when i say it’s hard ( im even trying not to cry ) shap so i started my pregnancy prevention journey this year on April it’s been 6 months now & never missed even a single dose (big ups!!) Starting it was so fun & games bcs i would notice some changes & that for me was a game changer bcs I’ve always wanned to gain weight so badzzzz ( i lost weight before so starting this journey for me was a bounce back ) may started eating a lot!! , June my periods desappeared July i got some pimples , august i experienced painful headaches, September my mood swings would change here & there & all that came unoticed to me because that one thing I’ve always wanned does not happen im not gaining still , bro im so drained i feel like it’s so useless for me to inject i don’t know but yeah hey i just hope god pulls through im even thinking of leaving it


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Combined pill with other contraceptives

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