Combined pill vs Progestogen-only / Mini pill
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Overview
Rated 2.8
2685 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.7
1446 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
2685 reviews
Used for 8+ yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Love this pill, I've been on it for nearly 10 years now and have noticed few changes and side effects. If anything, my skin is more clear and my periods are light (3-4 days instead of my usual 6-7). I feel more emotional than baseline but it does not bother my day-to-day activities.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Overall its fine, slowed down my metabolism and made me pretty dry but that's all
Gained weight
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
This has by far been the best pill for me I love how confident and comfortable I feel
Very positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Love this pill, I've been on it for nearly 10 years now and have noticed few changes and side effects. If anything, my skin is more clear and my periods are light (3-4 days instead of my usual 6-7). I feel more emotional than baseline but it does not bother my day-to-day activities.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Overall its fine, slowed down my metabolism and made me pretty dry but that's all
Gained weight
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
This has by far been the best pill for me I love how confident and comfortable I feel
Very positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews
1446 reviews
Used for 3 - 5 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
The mini-pill has been a life saver for me. I’ve always struggled with combined pills, trying so many to control horrible periods and always having awful side effects. Since first trying the mini pill, I had spotting for about a week, and I haven’t had anything since, it’s been three years! The only side effect I have is that my skin is very sensitive and breaks out easily like it did before I started taking oral contraceptives, which started again about two months in, but it’s worth it for the benefits for me. No mood swings, no migraines, no bleeding, no hair loss, no weight gain, just a bit of manageable acne!
Very positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
64 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
Improved skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
64 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
Im a trans for estrogen therapy to help with my breast
Improved skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
The mini-pill has been a life saver for me. I’ve always struggled with combined pills, trying so many to control horrible periods and always having awful side effects. Since first trying the mini pill, I had spotting for about a week, and I haven’t had anything since, it’s been three years! The only side effect I have is that my skin is very sensitive and breaks out easily like it did before I started taking oral contraceptives, which started again about two months in, but it’s worth it for the benefits for me. No mood swings, no migraines, no bleeding, no hair loss, no weight gain, just a bit of manageable acne!
Very positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
64 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
Improved skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
64 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
Im a trans for estrogen therapy to help with my breast
Improved skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
Somewhat positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
41 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
I have suffered with PMDD for years and Slynd has been a game changer for me- my PMDD has vanished completely! I’ve had very few side effects, literally some minor spotting at the start and a very slightly oiler hair. I’d say my sex drive is a little bit lower than before but not a huge difference. My skin is completely normal (other mini pills have given me acne but on Slynd my skin is as nice as always). The biggest positive impact has been on my mental health. I no longer get mood swings (unless I miss a pill) and my periods have completely stopped. I take my pills back to back (I skip the sugar pills) to keep my moods stable across the cycle. It’s such an amazing pill, I hope they will eventually licence this for PMDD so it can help lots of other women (slynd has the same progesterone as the combined pill Yaz which is licenced in the US for PMDD).
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
I stayed off of contraception for 6 years following bad experiences with desogestrel and the combined pill. I was very very hesitant before taking Slynd and thought about it/researched for months before finally taking it. I have mild PCOS and endometriosis, my periods were completely unmanageable and would stop my life for a week and a half each month and I knew i needed to take action so that I could live a more normal life. My first 4 months on Slynd I had a lot of spotting, the first 2 months i had periods lasting 2 weeks (but farrrr less heavy than usual and no pain) after this time my periods stopped all together. I have previously suffered with acne but have taken roaccutane to get rid of it so I know i am susceptible to bad skin, I would say my skin is slightly worse than it was before taking slyd however, its not bad and it doesn't out weigh the pros of the pill for me. My sex drive is a bit less and I have a very dry throat now and need to constantly drink water (not a bad thing i guess) I have actually lost weight too. I believe this is due to being able to regularly exercise without my hormones/period taking over half of each month and I no longer have the crazy PMS food cravings. I dont think this is a permanent solution to endometriosis at all but it has definitely improved my quality of life drastically and i'm glad I stuck with it and didn't give up in the first 4 months due to the spotting.
Very positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
40 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 week ago
I switched to Noriday to stop the irregular bleeding and spotting I developed on Desogestrel/Cerelle. After eight years without periods on Desogestrel, I began having irregular bleeding at 40 — two periods a month plus spotting in between. Once I changed to Noriday, the chaotic bleeding stopped immediately, and the brain fog and fatigue also lifted. I suspect these symptoms were linked to perimenopause, and they’ve settled since starting Noriday. Ideally, I’d prefer no period at all, but having a predictable three-day period on Noriday is far better than the chaotic bleeding I had on Desogestrel.
Worse skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
40 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 week ago
I switched to Noriday to stop the irregular bleeding and spotting I developed on Desogestrel/Cerelle. After eight years without periods on Desogestrel, I began having irregular bleeding at 40 — two periods a month plus spotting in between. Once I changed to Noriday, the chaotic bleeding stopped immediately, and the brain fog and fatigue also lifted. I suspect these symptoms were linked to perimenopause, and they’ve settled since starting Noriday. Ideally, I’d prefer no period at all, but having a predictable three-day period on Noriday is far better than the chaotic bleeding I had on Desogestrel lately.
Worse skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 week ago
I was moved from Yasmin to Cerazette by my gp due to my blood pressure being affected. It's my second month and I hate it. I had no side effects from my other pill and was on it for 4 years. My periods used to last 4 days and were regular. Now I'm on day 12 of a very heavy and painful period. Even when I wasnt bleeding I was spotting. My skin has gotten worse, constantly oily and my hair is so greasy all the time. I used to be able to wash my hair once a week (curly), now I have to wash it 2 or 3 times a week due to build up of oils. I have also started losing a significant amount of hair Everytime I brush and wash it. I also lost all appetite and have lost almost 4kg. Also I've never struggled with body odor until now, no antiperspirant helps to prevent it and it's very embarrassing. My entire lower back and pelvis aches and I feel really depressed and fatigued.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
41 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I thought I would try this pill because it had some fairly good reviews and I cannot tolerate estrogen. The first week of taking this I had racing thoughts, felt extremely panicky and did not sleep well.. this settled down so I carried on. I strarted spotting a few days before the placebo pills which turned into light bleeding that lasted all the way through to pack 3 !!! It’s a great contraceptive because you can never have sex! My mood has been terrible. I have been tearful, very cranky and irritable at things that would never usually bother me. I have felt quite dizzy at times and almost “unreal.” I have experienced panic like never before. This pill is making me feel like I am going crazy. I’m stopping taking it as I would rather have period pains than feel like this! Awful .
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
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