Combined pill vs Progestogen-only / Mini pill

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Combined pill

£From £0.16/day

Progestogen-only / Mini pill

£From £0.22/day

Overview

Rated 2.8

2541 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.7

1356 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

32% somewhat negative

48% lighter periods

46% lost sex drive

48% no impact

44% improved skin

Cycle return

36% don’t know impact

32% somewhat negative

44% stopped periods

50% lost sex drive

43% no impact

46% no impact on skin

Cycle return

38% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

Period pain

Try it now

£From £0.16/day

Try it now

£From £0.22/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Combined pill reviews

2541 reviews

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

Mercilon pill  

Good pill, not a lot of mood changes however when I took a break from it for a few months my mood improved so much that I almost didn’t go back. This is my second time trying it so I hope it doesn’t affect me too much

Read more

Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Rigevidon  

Don't get this contraception if you want to keep your good mental health. It almost ruined my relationship, I turned into a complete monster. The short periods and the clear skin was nice but it really jeopardised my relationship and ruined my mental health. Coming off was the best thing I could've ever done for myself.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Dretine pill  

I was initially prescribed Yasmin to help with low moods/depression before my period. However, I was then switched to Dretine without explanation and told it was the same as Yasmin. Since taking it, my mood has been all over the place- very sensitive, sad, depression-like feelings, anxiety/overthinking a lot more than usual. I'm switching back to Yasmin as I had a positive experience with it in the first place.


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mercilon pill  

Good pill, not a lot of mood changes however when I took a break from it for a few months my mood improved so much that I almost didn’t go back. This is my second time trying it so I hope it doesn’t affect me too much


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Rigevidon  

Don't get this contraception if you want to keep your good mental health. It almost ruined my relationship, I turned into a complete monster. The short periods and the clear skin was nice but it really jeopardised my relationship and ruined my mental health. Coming off was the best thing I could've ever done for myself.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Dretine pill  

I was initially prescribed Yasmin to help with low moods/depression before my period. However, I was then switched to Dretine without explanation and told it was the same as Yasmin. Since taking it, my mood has been all over the place- very sensitive, sad, depression-like feelings, anxiety/overthinking a lot more than usual. I'm switching back to Yasmin as I had a positive experience with it in the first place.


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments


Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews

1356 reviews

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Cerazette pill  

I have been on Cerazette for 4 years now. Initially, I had headaches, breast tenderness and mood swings. These symptoms subsided after 3 months. My periods became very irregular and then stopped altogether. Although my doctors deny this all the time, I feel like the pill caused excessive weight gain. Yes, I have had circumstances that affected my life but the weight gain was dramatic. In the first year alone, I gained 15 kilograms. After 4 years, I am up to 25 kg extra weight (BMI 29) and I am struggling to lose the weight with diet and exercise. Lately, I have had more bodily hair growth and am losing some hair on my head. Not many mood swings but definitely feeling angry most of the time. I am also struggling with a very low sex drive, which is starting to affect my marriage. I have an appointment with my GP, will try to switch to the combined pill to try.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Lovima pill  

This pill stopped me from getting pregnant and that was the only good thing about it. Constant spotting, sore nipples, and decreased sex drive. Now on norgeston and so much happier!


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Norgeston pill  

I moved onto Norgeston after trialling desogestrel for a few months (it gave me near constant spotting and super decreased sex drive). I was optimistic as levonorgestrel was the hormone I used to have in my combined pill and so far it’s been great for me - I do get periods, but these are regular and of a normal flow each month and thankfully my sex drive has come back.


Increased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Cerazette pill  

I have been on Cerazette for 4 years now. Initially, I had headaches, breast tenderness and mood swings. These symptoms subsided after 3 months. My periods became very irregular and then stopped altogether. Although my doctors deny this all the time, I feel like the pill caused excessive weight gain. Yes, I have had circumstances that affected my life but the weight gain was dramatic. In the first year alone, I gained 15 kilograms. After 4 years, I am up to 25 kg extra weight (BMI 29) and I am struggling to lose the weight with diet and exercise. Lately, I have had more bodily hair growth and am losing some hair on my head. Not many mood swings but definitely feeling angry most of the time. I am also struggling with a very low sex drive, which is starting to affect my marriage. I have an appointment with my GP, will try to switch to the combined pill to try.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Lovima pill  

This pill stopped me from getting pregnant and that was the only good thing about it. Constant spotting, sore nipples, and decreased sex drive. Now on norgeston and so much happier!


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Norgeston pill  

I moved onto Norgeston after trialling desogestrel for a few months (it gave me near constant spotting and super decreased sex drive). I was optimistic as levonorgestrel was the hormone I used to have in my combined pill and so far it’s been great for me - I do get periods, but these are regular and of a normal flow each month and thankfully my sex drive has come back.


Increased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Cerelle pill  

honestly haven’t experience any negative side effects, it was a bit rough for the first couple of months but after about 8-12 weeks it settled and it’s been great, i gained a little weight but no more than about 7lbs so overall it’s been brilliant


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6 days ago

Desogestrel pill  

I’ve been taking the pill since I was 17, I’m now 25 and have never had an issue with it! I’ve not had any side effects at all! It stopped my periods after about 2/3 months and has been smooth sailing since then. I find the ‘window’ in which you can take it without it being considered a ‘missed pill’ is also really reassuring if you suffer with anxiety! Would definitely recommend.


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 8+ yr
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

Cerelle pill  

Been on this pill for about 15years its great i have no periods at all, i have no symptoms of periods etc and i have gained weight but i dont think i can put that down to taking cerelle haha all in all i love this pill and most importantly i havent gotten pregnant while taking it so its main job is done


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

Cerazette pill  

I really tried to give it a chance and persevere despite a lot of breakthrough bleeding. My skin got worse. My mood/anxiety got worse. The bleeding never stopped. I would be spotting nonstop for 2 weeks, get a period (heavier bleeding), then no bleeding for ~1 week, and then back to spotting. I didn't notice any changes to my sex drive but the constant spotting was a huge deterrent. I am now switching to a combined pill.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Noriday pill  

Monitor your moods closely. Don’t recommend using if you’re not in a somewhat ok place mentally.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
48 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  

I started bleeding the following day and it was heavy


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
40 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Desogestrel pill  

The chest pain was really awful, and that’s a big red flag. Even though a month might not seem like long enough to make a final judgment, the intensity of the chest pain and other symptoms definitely made me question whether this was the right pill for me. It's important to listen to your body, and in my case, the discomfort and pain outweighed any potential benefits. I would highly recommend discussing these symptoms with a healthcare provider to explore alternative options or further guidance


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Combined pill with other contraceptives

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