Combined pill vs Progestogen-only / Mini pill
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Overview
Rated 2.8
2666 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.7
1427 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Combined pill ingredients
Main hormones in Combined pill
progestogen
oestrogen
Progestogen-only / Mini pill ingredients
Main hormones in Progestogen-only / Mini pill
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
Period pain
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Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Combined pill reviews
2666 reviews
Used for 3 - 6 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
Took this pill for around 4 months and it was really good, only issue I had with it was that I was getting pretty bad headaches around my period which I'd only started having since going on this pill. I switched to a different pill to try and stop this issue but had a very negative experience with mood swings and it made me realise that Gederel is actually a very good pill and helped with my mood and anxiety - makes the headaches worth it😂
Somewhat positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
This is the 3rd pill I've tried and unfortunately since being on this one I've had horrible mood swings and been more emotionally down - I'm normally quite a happy bubbly person but this pill has made me quite miserable and leaves me feeling as though I'm not in control of my emotions.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
Hormonally numbed me. Kept me very flat with no fluctuations in moods at all. Improved my skin but led to continuous cystitis that often spiralled into kidney infections
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
Took this pill for around 4 months and it was really good, only issue I had with it was that I was getting pretty bad headaches around my period which I'd only started having since going on this pill. I switched to a different pill to try and stop this issue but had a very negative experience with mood swings and it made me realise that Gederel is actually a very good pill and helped with my mood and anxiety - makes the headaches worth it😂
Somewhat positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
This is the 3rd pill I've tried and unfortunately since being on this one I've had horrible mood swings and been more emotionally down - I'm normally quite a happy bubbly person but this pill has made me quite miserable and leaves me feeling as though I'm not in control of my emotions.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
Hormonally numbed me. Kept me very flat with no fluctuations in moods at all. Improved my skin but led to continuous cystitis that often spiralled into kidney infections
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews
1427 reviews
Used for 6 - 12 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Decreased sex drive
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
I have been on this pill just over a month and the side effects have been horrendous. I have felt suicidal and utterly depressed everyday, I feel as though I am completely not myself. I have insomnia and wake in the night with intense anxiety and my hands are shaking. I have had bleeding for the past week, extreme hunger, weight gain and feeling so angry I could punch someone. Would NOT recommend this at all, it's dangerous for women. Going to stop taking today as I can't keep feeling like this.
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I have been using the pill for around 6 months and I keep getting irregular bleeding whilst taking the pill. I take my pill everyday but somehow seem to bleed anyway it’s not spotting as people say it’s heavier like a normal period. It changed my mood within seconds and keeps giving me my Period every 2-3 weeks.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Decreased sex drive
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
I have been on this pill just over a month and the side effects have been horrendous. I have felt suicidal and utterly depressed everyday, I feel as though I am completely not myself. I have insomnia and wake in the night with intense anxiety and my hands are shaking. I have had bleeding for the past week, extreme hunger, weight gain and feeling so angry I could punch someone. Would NOT recommend this at all, it's dangerous for women. Going to stop taking today as I can't keep feeling like this.
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I have been using the pill for around 6 months and I keep getting irregular bleeding whilst taking the pill. I take my pill everyday but somehow seem to bleed anyway it’s not spotting as people say it’s heavier like a normal period. It changed my mood within seconds and keeps giving me my Period every 2-3 weeks.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
After years of being on no contraception I decided to give the Mini Pill another go. It worked for me several years ago but began impacting my mental health so I stopped. This time round I have been more in tune with my body. The first 3-5 days I had itchy nipples. I’ve gained 4kg in a month and my diet hasn’t changed. I have had a headache and neck pain since day one, if I didn’t keep on top of pain relief it would come back. I already have acne prone skin which has took years to get under control and within the first week I developed cystic acne. I’ve felt myself snapping at others in my house over silly things and also felt unable to make decisions. They say to give it 3 months to settle into your system but it’s a no go for me. I cannot deal with the daily head and neck pain, acne and mood issues - so back to condoms we go.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Everything seems ok only issue is that period has fully stopped. Unsure if i should be concerned.
Improved skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
It's great to stop your period but after being on it for a long time losing weight is almost impossible.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
39 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Started taking Slynd to help with heavy periods and cramping. First month was fine, felt a little extra emotional. Second month I got my period two weeks before I was supposed to and I am still bleeding after two weeks. Crazy cramping, clotting, heavy bleeding. Had a day or two in there that was light or medium. Poking around on Reddit this seems quite common. Most people stop, not a lot of folks talking about continuing and it levelling out. Waiting to see.
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Constant low mood, lack of energy and motivation, brain fog, bloating, cramping most of the month, breakthrough bleeding data 10 - 22 of pills for 3 months.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I was put on this pill to manage endometriosis. I had clear skin for years, and after around a month of desogetrel I experienced a massive flare up in cystic acne on chin and cheeks. I also gained 6 kilos in 3 months. I would not recommend.
Worse skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
I had break through bleeding most weeks for my first 6 months of this pill, then everything was great, however for my final 5 months of the pill I bled again every single day. I decided to come off as it was negatively effecting my mood from the bleeding and also felt zero emotions towards sex or excitement - just felt generally 'meh'.
Decreased sex drive
1 more effect
2 helpful
0 comments
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