Cilest pill vs Microgynon 30 pill

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Cilest pill

Add your Cilest pill review

Microgynon 30 pill

£From £0.18/day

Overview

Rated 3.1

78 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.6

302 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Cilest pill ingredients

Main hormones in Cilest pill

Less-Androgenic progestogen


Microgynon 30 pill ingredients

Main hormones in Microgynon 30 pill

Androgenic progestogen

Medium oestrogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

35% somewhat negative

42% lighter periods

45% lost sex drive

55% no impact

50% improved skin

Cycle return

35% don’t know impact

37% very negative

52% lighter periods

44% lost sex drive

41% no impact

42% no impact on skin

Cycle return

32% 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

Try it now

Add your Cilest pill review

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£From £0.18/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Cilest pill reviews

78 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  27th Oct 23

Cilest pill  

The first few years on this pill were okay, my skin cleared up and I had regular, light periods. My mood has been consistently low though, whether that was entirely due to the pill I'm not sure, the last few years have been stressful for everyone. The worst side effect I had was periodontal breakdown - I didn't know birth control pills were linked to this, but if I had, I probably would have stopped taken this pill sooner. I now need to spend loads of periodontal treatment.

Read more

Very negative mood

2 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  17th Jul 23

Cilest pill  

I've been using this pill since I was 17. I took a break for a progesterone only implant for a year which didn't work for me so I've moved back to cilest. This has worked as well as contraception can I think. Minimal side effects while my acne is much better. I take it until I break through bleed (about 10 weeks) to keep my endometriosis and adenomyosis at bay. It does the best any treatment at the moment can. I would note I have previously been told by my NHS GP that Cilest has been discontinued. At the advice of a pharmacist this isn't true, it's just simply more expensive than other pills so I have been able to continue using this pill.


Improved skin

1 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  20th Jun 23

Cilest pill  

I began to get thrush very badly to the point the itching was excruciating. I would then get water infections which twice led to developing kidney infections. Before this pill I had only ever had cystitis and thrush once or twice and they weren't that bad and would go away quickly. On this pill, I was in a constant state of having thrush, a water infection, both. It was horrendous to the point I could barely leave the house. Nothing worked to treat it until I found Optibac probiotics for women which would keep them at bay somewhat but the only thing that really helped was stopping taking this pill and taking these probiotics. I cannot explain the impact this had on my life and the pain caused by having these conditions chronically.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  27th Oct 23

Cilest pill  

The first few years on this pill were okay, my skin cleared up and I had regular, light periods. My mood has been consistently low though, whether that was entirely due to the pill I'm not sure, the last few years have been stressful for everyone. The worst side effect I had was periodontal breakdown - I didn't know birth control pills were linked to this, but if I had, I probably would have stopped taken this pill sooner. I now need to spend loads of periodontal treatment.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  17th Jul 23

Cilest pill  

I've been using this pill since I was 17. I took a break for a progesterone only implant for a year which didn't work for me so I've moved back to cilest. This has worked as well as contraception can I think. Minimal side effects while my acne is much better. I take it until I break through bleed (about 10 weeks) to keep my endometriosis and adenomyosis at bay. It does the best any treatment at the moment can. I would note I have previously been told by my NHS GP that Cilest has been discontinued. At the advice of a pharmacist this isn't true, it's just simply more expensive than other pills so I have been able to continue using this pill.


Improved skin

1 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  20th Jun 23

Cilest pill  

I began to get thrush very badly to the point the itching was excruciating. I would then get water infections which twice led to developing kidney infections. Before this pill I had only ever had cystitis and thrush once or twice and they weren't that bad and would go away quickly. On this pill, I was in a constant state of having thrush, a water infection, both. It was horrendous to the point I could barely leave the house. Nothing worked to treat it until I found Optibac probiotics for women which would keep them at bay somewhat but the only thing that really helped was stopping taking this pill and taking these probiotics. I cannot explain the impact this had on my life and the pain caused by having these conditions chronically.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments


Microgynon 30 pill reviews

302 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Microgynon 30 pill  

This was the absolute perfect pill for me. I had no side effects other than slightly sore breasts in the first couple of months.


Lost weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  13th Aug 24

Microgynon 30 pill  

I was given this pill when I was 15 and didn't really know any other options for hormonal contraception. I didn't really notice any negatives for the majority of the time - I was on the combined pill for about 9 years altogether and did switch pills towards the end at one point but it's hard to remember why now as it was so long ago. I think it was because I was struggling to lose weight and also had little to no sex drive. I didn't have enough knowledge of hormones and contraception side effects at that time to know if it was my pill or other factors causing these - I wish I knew what I know now about this topic!


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th Aug 24

Microgynon 30 pill  

Was on combined pill from around age 16 to 19 with no major issues apart from a bit of weight gain (and bigger boobs) ,until I became very depressed which seemed to clear up when I came off the pill. Difficult to say if it was the cause. Had a break for a while and then tried taking the combined pill again around age 24. Unfortunately this time it made me very sick for the first few days every month to the point of vomiting multiple times. I switched to the progesterone only pill and have never looked back!


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Microgynon 30 pill  

This was the absolute perfect pill for me. I had no side effects other than slightly sore breasts in the first couple of months.


Lost weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  13th Aug 24

Microgynon 30 pill  

I was given this pill when I was 15 and didn't really know any other options for hormonal contraception. I didn't really notice any negatives for the majority of the time - I was on the combined pill for about 9 years altogether and did switch pills towards the end at one point but it's hard to remember why now as it was so long ago. I think it was because I was struggling to lose weight and also had little to no sex drive. I didn't have enough knowledge of hormones and contraception side effects at that time to know if it was my pill or other factors causing these - I wish I knew what I know now about this topic!


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th Aug 24

Microgynon 30 pill  

Was on combined pill from around age 16 to 19 with no major issues apart from a bit of weight gain (and bigger boobs) ,until I became very depressed which seemed to clear up when I came off the pill. Difficult to say if it was the cause. Had a break for a while and then tried taking the combined pill again around age 24. Unfortunately this time it made me very sick for the first few days every month to the point of vomiting multiple times. I switched to the progesterone only pill and have never looked back!


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  17th Jul 24

Microgynon 30 pill  

Originally went on the contraceptive pill to control and ease very painful and heavy periods, it helped and made my periods regular and easier to deal with. However, around 12 months in I began having regular migraines with aura which are dangerous when using this pill, it was an amazing pill other than that major side effect I had no emotional affect because of it.


Gained weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  14th Jun 24

Microgynon 30 pill  

General side effects were minimal but had constant spotting that didn't improve over time. Switched to a different pill (Yasmin) and spotting stopped immediately. Switched back to microgynon due to other bad side effects from Yasmin and spotting again within 4 days. Time to continue the search...


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  13th Jun 24

Microgynon 30 pill  

Was on the mini pill and it completely wrecked me. I use this to manage endometriosis. It works well for that purpose. My mood is stable. My adhd has improved bd im responding to medication better (compared to the mini pill). So far, im extremely happy with the pill - who knew being a functional human being is pretty great??


Very positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

1 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  30th May 24

Microgynon 30 pill  

I was given the combined pill as my first ever contraception. It was great in terms of regular periods, lighter periods, convenient to use, not invasive to have etc. However, whilst using it, I had migraines every single time I was menstruating, sometimes with aura and were extremely debilitating. This ultimately meant I had to come off the pill, and I didn’t realise until around a year after being off the pill that my migraines had nearly stopped completely, and when I did have them, they weren’t nearly as severe. Other than debilitating migraines (which may not be the case for everyone as I did experience them before going on the pill), the combined pill was amazing in all aspects.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  8th May 24

Microgynon 30 pill  

On this for about 14 years, taking a few short 6 months breaks. Only in hindsight can I connect the dots on some side effects including eczema (many people go on the pill for acne, it has a drying effect so you can imagine for someone with dry skin it makes it worse) and recurrent UTIs. These symptoms became pronounced when going on and off the pill in my 30s. Dryness and loss of libido when trying to go back on it again recently was unmanageable. Sex drive and sensitivity completely disappeared. 6 weeks later I am working it out of my system and sensitivity and libido is slowly coming back. I would also question the role the pill has played in depression and anxiety over the years. I have no evidence for this but can only say that coming off it I have never felt more peaceful or like myself. Since I have fairly light periods and no other menstrual or health issues except eczema I would say going on the pill was the wrong choice for me in hindsight and have since educated myself on my hormones and am using natural cycles.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  7th May 24

Microgynon 30 pill  

While it was brilliant to stop my period, I struggled with the moodiness and lack of sex drive. I wasn’t motivated to exercise, while I loved going from a B cup to a DD cup the rest of my body grew too. Headaches and migraines frequently which isn’t ideal either.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  7th May 24

Microgynon 30 pill  

I went on this pill to manage my extremely heavy periods. I've loved having lighter and shorter periods and my skin has been great, but decided to come off the pill after ~3 years as I started getting very anxious. I've found since coming off that my anxiety levels have been a lot lower.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Cilest pill with other contraceptives

Compare the Microgynon 30 pill with other contraceptives

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