Combined pill vs Patch

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Combined pill

£From £0.16/day

Patch

Add your Patch review

Overview

Rated 2.8

2724 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.4

124 reviews

Weekly

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Combined pill ingredients

Main hormones in Combined pill

progestogen

oestrogen


Patch ingredients

Main hormones in Patch

progestogen

oestrogen

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

36% no impact on mood

34% lighter periods

48% no impact

48% no impact

49% no impact on skin

Cycle return

36% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

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£From £0.16/day

Try it now

Add your Patch review

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Combined pill reviews

2724 reviews

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

Dretine pill  

I went on this pill to sort out mood swings before my period and it absolutely sorted that out. I only took it for about 3 months though, because I had some dizziness and nausea while I was on it at random times which was bearable but not enjoyable so I switched to a different pill. I now take Milinette 20/75 and the lower oestrogen dose (20 vs. 30 with dretine) sorted out the nausea.

Read more

Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Rigevidon  

I went on the pill to sort out my mood swings on my period - I would get a drop in mood in the week before my period which made me very emotional, but aside from that I normally have very even moods and don't ever experience serious lows. However, a few days into taking Rigevidon i experienced a low I've never before experienced, with honestly no possible external event in my life that might explain it. It was far worse than any mood swing I've ever had, and it lasted about 3 days before I stopped taking the pill entirely. This is not to scare anyone considering taking it (my mum was on this pill for 15 years and loved it!) and it's possible the drop in mood might have evened out if i had taken it for longer, but I wasn't able to stick it out. Both dretine and milinette have done wonders for my mood swings though!


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Millinette 20/75 pill  

Highly recommend. Went on the 20-75 because I've previously had nausea issues on a 30mg (dretine) and I haven't had any nausea problems with this. Cleared up a bit of hormonal acne, no noticeable side effects except a slightly lower sex drive. I take 3 packs back to back and then a break so have some breakthrough bleeding but nothing major and my periods do come regularly when I take the break. I went on it to sort out mood swings and it absolutely sorted that out - now have to come off it and go onto a mini-pill for adenomyosis but I wish i didn't have to!


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Dretine pill  

I went on this pill to sort out mood swings before my period and it absolutely sorted that out. I only took it for about 3 months though, because I had some dizziness and nausea while I was on it at random times which was bearable but not enjoyable so I switched to a different pill. I now take Milinette 20/75 and the lower oestrogen dose (20 vs. 30 with dretine) sorted out the nausea.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Rigevidon  

I went on the pill to sort out my mood swings on my period - I would get a drop in mood in the week before my period which made me very emotional, but aside from that I normally have very even moods and don't ever experience serious lows. However, a few days into taking Rigevidon i experienced a low I've never before experienced, with honestly no possible external event in my life that might explain it. It was far worse than any mood swing I've ever had, and it lasted about 3 days before I stopped taking the pill entirely. This is not to scare anyone considering taking it (my mum was on this pill for 15 years and loved it!) and it's possible the drop in mood might have evened out if i had taken it for longer, but I wasn't able to stick it out. Both dretine and milinette have done wonders for my mood swings though!


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Millinette 20/75 pill  

Highly recommend. Went on the 20-75 because I've previously had nausea issues on a 30mg (dretine) and I haven't had any nausea problems with this. Cleared up a bit of hormonal acne, no noticeable side effects except a slightly lower sex drive. I take 3 packs back to back and then a break so have some breakthrough bleeding but nothing major and my periods do come regularly when I take the break. I went on it to sort out mood swings and it absolutely sorted that out - now have to come off it and go onto a mini-pill for adenomyosis but I wish i didn't have to!


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments


Patch reviews

124 reviews

Patch  
Used for 8+ yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Evra patch  

No side effects


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Evra patch  

noticed that the side effects were less or more intense depending on where i put the patch on my body. i used to have it on my arm and had intense nausea nonstop and after putting on my hip/ bum it stopped. also cystitis symptoms however i’m not sure if they are related


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Evra patch  

Started taking the Evra patch to help regulating my hormones and to help with bad health anxiety. The 3rd day I had it on resulted in me taking the patch off straight away due to immense nausea, panic, shaking and complete loss of appetite. 3 months later my hormones have been worse than ever with random crying and anxiety increasing throughout my cycle.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 8+ yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Evra patch  

No side effects


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Evra patch  

noticed that the side effects were less or more intense depending on where i put the patch on my body. i used to have it on my arm and had intense nausea nonstop and after putting on my hip/ bum it stopped. also cystitis symptoms however i’m not sure if they are related


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Evra patch  

Started taking the Evra patch to help regulating my hormones and to help with bad health anxiety. The 3rd day I had it on resulted in me taking the patch off straight away due to immense nausea, panic, shaking and complete loss of appetite. 3 months later my hormones have been worse than ever with random crying and anxiety increasing throughout my cycle.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  28th Jan 26

Evra patch  

Overall good birth control. I do get random cramps throughout the day ever since I started it and my skin is irritated and itchy where I place my patch.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2nd Jan 26

Evra patch  

Overall good, so far effective. But my periods are a lot heavier and a lot more painful. Tender breasts for at least half of the month and random cramps throughout the month even when I’m not on my period.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  8th Dec 25

Evra patch  

I got pregnant twice in 3 months…


Lost weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Nov 25

Evra patch  

The Evra patch has been a good choice for me so far, and it’s my first time on birth control! I would say the only downfall is around the edge of the patch gets dirty from adhesive, and that it’s nerve racking to swim a lot in fear it will come off! I went on vacation and was nervous but I used a tagaderm to keep it on when swimming!


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  9th Nov 25

Evra patch  

The patch made me feel extremely unwell. I had nausea, heavy headed feeling, headaches, tiredness, sweating and soreness where the patch was placed. I ended up removing it before 24 hours was up because I couldn't sleep and felt so out of sorts.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

1 comments

Patch  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  25th Oct 25

Evra patch  

Went on the patch having been on the implant previously. On the implant I had lots of spotting which thankfully went away on the patch. However I have definitely noticed a distinct rise in anxiety since being on the patch over the last year - enough to stop me wanting to go to things like the theatre or going on tours without getting sweaty. I also think it's killed my sex drive so I'm going to go off it and seek alternative contraception. Its a shame because I do find it convenient and have felt very protected on it. My period increased its flow a lot during the period week and I also got bad headaches around that week which I wasn't used to. Sad to have to change but dont like the quality of life.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th Aug 25

Evra patch  

I love using the patch. It has made using contraceptive so much easier and I went through a phase of recommending it too everyone I know. I've had a few symptoms recently, but not sure if that is related to the Patch or a different medical issue. In the last year, I've had more hormonal acne than I did before, but that's the main side effect that I would say I've been affected by. We are coming off contraceptive soon, so hoping it is a smooth process


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Combined pill with other contraceptives

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