Combined pill vs Injection

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Combined pill

£From £0.16/day

Injection

Add your Injection review

Overview

Rated 2.8

2625 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.9

295 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

44% improved skin

Cycle return

36% don’t know impact

32% somewhat negative

70% stopped periods

56% lost sex drive

49% gained weight

47% no impact on skin

Cycle return

43% 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

Try it now

Add your Injection review

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Combined pill reviews

2625 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Millinette 30/75 pill  

I loved this pill at first and didn’t have any issues. After 4.5 years I started getting severe sharp head pains as well as lower back and pelvic pain which my gp said was from the pill. I swapped to Desogestril which I didn’t like to came off the pill and the pains stopped. I started back on Millinette after a couple of months and have been fine for 5 years until this year I have had an upset stomach and severe dizziness which has been put down to Vestibular Migraines. I have also had severe anxiety. I came off the pill and my stomach has gone back to normal but the constant dizziness, vertigo and severe anxiety is ongoing

Read more

Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Yasmin pill  

Don’t listen to everyone fear mongering about the combined pill . As a young adult , I’ve had zero issues with taking it . I was at first so so scared of the side effects but I have had zero !! Literally no changed whatsoever. I have endometriosis and pcos and the pill so far hasn’t made a huge difference but then again I don’t have very many symptoms or pain for either of the conditions . No mood swings , no anxiety depression or anything . I feel exactly as before , more balanced maybe ? No weight gain at all , didn’t kill my libido either . Actually I would say it made my libido a bit stronger . No change in personality , sense of smell taste or anything else . I’ve had literally zero effects and feel just like before . So honestly if you’re thinking of going on it , try it for a month , you can always quit if you don’t like it . Remember everyone’s body is different though and may react in a different way.


Increased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Eloine pill  

I decided to try Eloine due to negative experiences with other combined pills and the low-dose appealed to me. Unfortunately this turned out to be the worst decision I've ever made. In the first month I felt fine but soon after I began experiencing cramps, headaches and significant mood swings. After 4 months, I was suffering from daily severe headaches and migraines with aura. These migraines were consistent, occurring at the same time each week and lasting nearly two hours (something I had never dealt with before). I often had to take afternoons off work and isolated myself in a dark, quiet room until my vision returned and the dizziness subsided. The only times these migraines didn’t occur was the week I had off for my period. I also started experiencing regular spotting. Alongside the physical symptoms, my mood deteriorated. I became easily irritable, leading to frequent arguments with my partner… something that was rare for us before. This change in my behavior left me feeling down and my anxiety gradually worsened. My sex drive plummeted and eventually vanished altogether. The only positives from this pill was my heavy periods and awful period pain decreased and I lost weight. After discussing my symptoms with a doctor, I was advised to stop taking Eloine immediately. Since stopping, my headaches and migraines have ceased (I haven't had a migraine since) and I began feeling like my old self again within 6 months. The impact of this pill extended beyond my health; it affected my relationship as well. This experience has left me wary of contraceptive pills, making me hesitant to try another option.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Millinette 30/75 pill  

I loved this pill at first and didn’t have any issues. After 4.5 years I started getting severe sharp head pains as well as lower back and pelvic pain which my gp said was from the pill. I swapped to Desogestril which I didn’t like to came off the pill and the pains stopped. I started back on Millinette after a couple of months and have been fine for 5 years until this year I have had an upset stomach and severe dizziness which has been put down to Vestibular Migraines. I have also had severe anxiety. I came off the pill and my stomach has gone back to normal but the constant dizziness, vertigo and severe anxiety is ongoing


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Yasmin pill  

Don’t listen to everyone fear mongering about the combined pill . As a young adult , I’ve had zero issues with taking it . I was at first so so scared of the side effects but I have had zero !! Literally no changed whatsoever. I have endometriosis and pcos and the pill so far hasn’t made a huge difference but then again I don’t have very many symptoms or pain for either of the conditions . No mood swings , no anxiety depression or anything . I feel exactly as before , more balanced maybe ? No weight gain at all , didn’t kill my libido either . Actually I would say it made my libido a bit stronger . No change in personality , sense of smell taste or anything else . I’ve had literally zero effects and feel just like before . So honestly if you’re thinking of going on it , try it for a month , you can always quit if you don’t like it . Remember everyone’s body is different though and may react in a different way.


Increased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Eloine pill  

I decided to try Eloine due to negative experiences with other combined pills and the low-dose appealed to me. Unfortunately this turned out to be the worst decision I've ever made. In the first month I felt fine but soon after I began experiencing cramps, headaches and significant mood swings. After 4 months, I was suffering from daily severe headaches and migraines with aura. These migraines were consistent, occurring at the same time each week and lasting nearly two hours (something I had never dealt with before). I often had to take afternoons off work and isolated myself in a dark, quiet room until my vision returned and the dizziness subsided. The only times these migraines didn’t occur was the week I had off for my period. I also started experiencing regular spotting. Alongside the physical symptoms, my mood deteriorated. I became easily irritable, leading to frequent arguments with my partner… something that was rare for us before. This change in my behavior left me feeling down and my anxiety gradually worsened. My sex drive plummeted and eventually vanished altogether. The only positives from this pill was my heavy periods and awful period pain decreased and I lost weight. After discussing my symptoms with a doctor, I was advised to stop taking Eloine immediately. Since stopping, my headaches and migraines have ceased (I haven't had a migraine since) and I began feeling like my old self again within 6 months. The impact of this pill extended beyond my health; it affected my relationship as well. This experience has left me wary of contraceptive pills, making me hesitant to try another option.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments


Injection reviews

295 reviews

Injection  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Sayana Press injection  

i think it’s amazing


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Noristerat injection  

I had no problems while using noristerate but I would get annoyed sometimes because I would experience spotting for 2 weeks before my next injection. I had little to no menstrual cycle.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  9th Jul 25

Injection  

Side effects are bad


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Sayana Press injection  

i think it’s amazing


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Noristerat injection  

I had no problems while using noristerate but I would get annoyed sometimes because I would experience spotting for 2 weeks before my next injection. I had little to no menstrual cycle.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  9th Jul 25

Injection  

Side effects are bad


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th Jul 25

Depo-Provera injection  

All women should really do the research before starting this medication. I have read quite a few stories online of women who have felt the same. I have basically felt like a completely different person. I am near on the end of one injection and I will not be going back for another. It’s absolutely ruined my relationship with my partner. I’ve been absolutely horrible to him and it’s only now I’m starting to realise just what this injection did to me. Thank goodness he’s so understanding and helped me through it because I was literally horrendous. Literally a few days after I had it I was a different person, I hated him. Everything he done annoyed me, I was rude and hurtful and I couldn’t control it. I would snap in and out of moods so badly that we named the other “person” Patrica. He was constantly walking on egg shells as he never knew which version he would get. I am so upset that I have felt this way in the last few months. So much so I was having suicidal thoughts. I pray that anyone doesn’t risk it because it’s been 3 months of hell for us.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Jul 25

Depo-Provera injection  

This has been great for me helped regulate my moods no longer huge crashes i get around periods. Also it has completely stopped my periods which were heavy and painful, I get the occasional period pain leading up to when my injection is due but they are very very mild and don’t really effect me.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Jun 25

Depo-Provera injection  

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

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  20th Jun 25

Noristerat injection  

im not gaining weight is that normal?


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  10th Jun 25

Noristerat injection  

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

Injection  
Used for 8+ yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  28th May 25

Sayana Press injection  

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

Injection  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  13th May 25

Sayana Press injection  

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

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Combined pill with other contraceptives

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