Combined pill vs Vasectomy
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Overview
Rated 2.8
2571 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 3.6
7 reviews
Permanent
Frequency
Over 99%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
Permanent
Effect on fertility
Combined pill ingredients
Main hormones in Combined pill
progestogen
oestrogen
Vasectomy ingredients
What Lowdown reviewers say
Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with
Acne or bad skin
Heavy periods
PMS and PMDD
PCOS symptoms
Period pain
There are no benefits that are recognised in scientific research or guidelines for this contraceptive
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£From £0.16/day
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Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Combined pill reviews
2571 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
So I might just be allergic to the pill. I was given this as it's low dose and I've had strong reactions to everything else. I had an anxiety attack on the first day, then couldn't stop crying on the second so I stopped it quickly. I had started it because I was feeling really good so thought I could cope with the mood changes but they were so severe it scared me. I've then had a horrible period in the month after and back at square 1.
Very negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
Ive been on 3 different pills and Levest was my long term. My skin got clearer and my periods have been much more managable (I used to be prescribed meds for pain control). However the main effect is decreased sex drive dramatically and just feeling 'meh' all the time very dampened emotions over everything. Not many highs not many lows just an overall feeling of meh.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
My psychiatrist put me on Zoely in August of 2024, I had recently been diagnosed with PMDD (pre menstrual dysphoric disorder) and was at a point in my life where if I didn’t find a way to manage the symptoms I was at breaking point. I’d been misdiagnosed with bipolar, major depression, borderline personality disorder and had been on a rollercoaster of treatments from ages 13-30. So I was hesitant to trust this psychiatrist and go on another potentially damaging rollercoaster of meds. Alas, after 3 weeks I noticed dramatic changes to my moods, I was balanced! I felt in control, grounded and sane! Obviously my period stopped and my cycle was no longer existent but this medication saved my life, my relationship, my mental health and gave me back my life! The only negative side is my low to zero sex drive, that’s been tough but I’m navigating it now, my partner doesn’t feel desirable because I don’t want sex.. like ever but we are both just happy to have a peaceful life without the ups and down. It seems like a fair trade to me. So very grateful for this medication.
Very positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
So I might just be allergic to the pill. I was given this as it's low dose and I've had strong reactions to everything else. I had an anxiety attack on the first day, then couldn't stop crying on the second so I stopped it quickly. I had started it because I was feeling really good so thought I could cope with the mood changes but they were so severe it scared me. I've then had a horrible period in the month after and back at square 1.
Very negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
Ive been on 3 different pills and Levest was my long term. My skin got clearer and my periods have been much more managable (I used to be prescribed meds for pain control). However the main effect is decreased sex drive dramatically and just feeling 'meh' all the time very dampened emotions over everything. Not many highs not many lows just an overall feeling of meh.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
My psychiatrist put me on Zoely in August of 2024, I had recently been diagnosed with PMDD (pre menstrual dysphoric disorder) and was at a point in my life where if I didn’t find a way to manage the symptoms I was at breaking point. I’d been misdiagnosed with bipolar, major depression, borderline personality disorder and had been on a rollercoaster of treatments from ages 13-30. So I was hesitant to trust this psychiatrist and go on another potentially damaging rollercoaster of meds. Alas, after 3 weeks I noticed dramatic changes to my moods, I was balanced! I felt in control, grounded and sane! Obviously my period stopped and my cycle was no longer existent but this medication saved my life, my relationship, my mental health and gave me back my life! The only negative side is my low to zero sex drive, that’s been tough but I’m navigating it now, my partner doesn’t feel desirable because I don’t want sex.. like ever but we are both just happy to have a peaceful life without the ups and down. It seems like a fair trade to me. So very grateful for this medication.
Very positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Vasectomy reviews
7 reviews
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 5th Jul 24
As a woman the vasectomy is the best contraception I feel we have ever had. I have no pain, weight gain, mood swings, plastic packaging or costs. I highly recommend.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 5th Sep 20
Sept 1998. Had a vasectomy. Easy and quick. Done in the hospital operating room on a Friday morning. Went home And took it easy. Took it easy at work Monday no problems. By Wednesday started feeling pain in testicles. Called doctors office. Doctors gone on holiday. Anyway from this point the pain only gets worse and all the doctors have to say is that they have never seen anyone in such pain. Within the first six months I had met with a variety of doctors and tried a wide variety of drugs, therapies and nerve blocks. Nothing worked for more than a few hours (nerve blocks did!). I had the vasectomy reversed June 1999 at my own cost of $2000. It was about three months before i felt better from that. Sadly only my left testicle had resolved. The right side still had the same pain. I had a semen test done. First ever in my life. I had sperm count of 125 million / ml. Surgeon thought that was great but still pain persisted in my right testicle. Followup turned into another vas reversal but just for the right side. This one I didn’t have to pay for because it was for chronic pain. Sadly it didn’t help. Now it’s 2020! I have endured this for 22 years. I wish I had never done it. That’s my absolute last word.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 12th Jun 20
Vasectomy has been a very effective contraceptive for me. It is good because it has allowed my hormones to follow a natural rhythm. Unfortunately I have experienced depression(and severe PMS) as I would like to have more children(but my partner does not). This has decreased my libido significantly and made me consider using hormonal contraception to level out my hormone levels.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 5th Jul 24
As a woman the vasectomy is the best contraception I feel we have ever had. I have no pain, weight gain, mood swings, plastic packaging or costs. I highly recommend.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 5th Sep 20
Sept 1998. Had a vasectomy. Easy and quick. Done in the hospital operating room on a Friday morning. Went home And took it easy. Took it easy at work Monday no problems. By Wednesday started feeling pain in testicles. Called doctors office. Doctors gone on holiday. Anyway from this point the pain only gets worse and all the doctors have to say is that they have never seen anyone in such pain. Within the first six months I had met with a variety of doctors and tried a wide variety of drugs, therapies and nerve blocks. Nothing worked for more than a few hours (nerve blocks did!). I had the vasectomy reversed June 1999 at my own cost of $2000. It was about three months before i felt better from that. Sadly only my left testicle had resolved. The right side still had the same pain. I had a semen test done. First ever in my life. I had sperm count of 125 million / ml. Surgeon thought that was great but still pain persisted in my right testicle. Followup turned into another vas reversal but just for the right side. This one I didn’t have to pay for because it was for chronic pain. Sadly it didn’t help. Now it’s 2020! I have endured this for 22 years. I wish I had never done it. That’s my absolute last word.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 12th Jun 20
Vasectomy has been a very effective contraceptive for me. It is good because it has allowed my hormones to follow a natural rhythm. Unfortunately I have experienced depression(and severe PMS) as I would like to have more children(but my partner does not). This has decreased my libido significantly and made me consider using hormonal contraception to level out my hormone levels.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 20th Aug 19
As noted before, testicular pain/discomfort and testicles sensitive to pressure to the extent that rucked underpants could lead to quite severe pain. Gradually diminished over years but not completely. Testicles still more sensitive than should be. Did lead to reduction in enjoyment of sex as experience could be painful on occasions. Apparently quite a high side effect risk. Effective contraception method but took a few weeks to get the all clear.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 28th Jun 19
For women, this is the most natural contraceptive on the market. For me and all the other men, its mostly psychological, but had no side effects.
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 19th Jun 19
Vasectomies are relatively safe for surgical procedures, but it is STILL SURGERY and as such has risks and side effects. In particular be aware that many of the side effects aren't really talked about. In my case I thought I was well educated about the procedure (I am a nurse) but it wasn't until after the deed was done that I learned for about 10% of men (numbers vary from study to study) the pain from surgery never entirety goes away. Most of the time (including in my case) it's pretty mild and you can still function, but it's always there and I was not warned about that possibility. As far as sexual side effects, there's a lot of misinformation out there so let me cover the basics: -You still ejaculate, and the amount is pretty much unchanged. However, the consistency of your semen does change--often runnier post-op. -You can still get someone pregnant for a few months after the procedure. Plan accordingly. -Officially there shouldn't be any difference in orgasm or sex drive. I must disagree. Orgasm doesn't feel the same at all, but seems to be slowly recovering over time. At 1 month post-op sex was actually pretty unpleasant to the point I just wasn't interested at all. I am at 2 months now and it's . . . pleasant again but still not what it once was. -The appearance of your genitals may change a little, particularly the way the testicles hang. Nothing major, but it can make you feel pretty self conscious. The surgery itself isn't too bad-- kind of like a root canal but more embarrassing. I'm still pretty recent post-op so I am hoping things improve, the side effects aren't unbearable but I do wish they hadn't downplayed them as much as they did.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 2nd Apr 19
I had a vasectomy at the age of 31 after fathering two children. I didn't want my wife to be taking drugs for the rest of her child-bearing years - and I also didn't want the risk of another mouth to feed. My doctor tried to dissuade me on the basis that I may want children in the future. However, we went ahead and it was very straightforward, not all that painful and 100% effective. Ps: You don't lose your mojo!
Top side effects not reported
3 helpful
0 comments

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