Cilest pill vs Rigevidon
Need help choosing? Speak to a doctor
Add your Cilest pill review
£From £0.19/day
Overview
Rated 3.1
78 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.5
563 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
What Lowdown reviewers say
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
Try it now
£From £0.19/day
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Cilest pill reviews
78 reviews
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 27th Oct 23
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
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 17th Jul 23
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
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 20th Jun 23
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
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 27th Oct 23
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
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 17th Jul 23
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
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 20th Jun 23
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
2 helpful
0 comments
Rigevidon reviews
563 reviews
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
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
Used for 3 - 6 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I started taking Regivedon combined pill in order to have periods as a peace of mind I wasn’t pregnant, as my mini pill I was taking (cerazette) stopped them. The first week was a massive rollercoaster of emotions and by the end of the week I was exhausted, but this was fairly normal (not usually this extreme) as my body has to adapt. Afterwards it was a general downward slope of mood swings with very negative episodes lasting longer and longer and eventually came off it after realising. I felt like a weight had come off. Everyone is different though, they say mini pill affects mood more but for me combined was hell! Pre warning though I have had past experience with very low mood and depression so I am probably more susceptible.
Very negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
Was recommended the pill to help with my mental health, however it left me feeling miserable. have more mood swings and awful cramps daily. I would never recommend this option to anyone
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
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
Used for 3 - 6 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I started taking Regivedon combined pill in order to have periods as a peace of mind I wasn’t pregnant, as my mini pill I was taking (cerazette) stopped them. The first week was a massive rollercoaster of emotions and by the end of the week I was exhausted, but this was fairly normal (not usually this extreme) as my body has to adapt. Afterwards it was a general downward slope of mood swings with very negative episodes lasting longer and longer and eventually came off it after realising. I felt like a weight had come off. Everyone is different though, they say mini pill affects mood more but for me combined was hell! Pre warning though I have had past experience with very low mood and depression so I am probably more susceptible.
Very negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
Was recommended the pill to help with my mental health, however it left me feeling miserable. have more mood swings and awful cramps daily. I would never recommend this option to anyone
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 28th Jan 25
The first week of taking this pill made me feel extremely nauseous and unwell to the point I couldn’t get out of bed. I gained 10kg in 5 months on this pill. It made my so hungry all the time. It did help my painful periods and made them more manageable but i was putting on weight at an uncontrollable pace so I had to stop this pill.
Gained weight
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 26th Nov 24
This was my first contraception given to me by my GP at age 19. I believe Rigevidon is the cheapest which is why often it is what many are prescribed, that is what I learned from watching a doc by Davina McCall! It took me years to realise my mood swings and emotional outbursts were a side effect, not a true reflection of who I was. I felt like I had too many artificial hormones inside affecting my mental heath and the close relationships around me. I also suffered with acne. Once I moved to the implant (which really wasn’t a scary or painful procedure), mentally I have been in such a better place.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 21st Nov 24
I was prescribed this pill mainly for my moods and it really did help. I was taking the pill for many years and every month when I had my break in tablets I would get a headache. I thought it was a symptom of PMS but after having a pill review with my GP they advised me to stop taking it. Since I stopped I haven’t had one headache which is quite worrying. They always ask about migraines in the questionnaire but never headaches so it didn’t even occur to me that it might be the pill causing this
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 12th Nov 24
Started off on this pill, I'm one of those lucky people who are never sick but while on this pill I would quite regularly feel nauseous a few hours after taking it and on about 5 occasions would vomit aswell, which for me was very unusual but after switching to a different pill these side effects went away.
Worse skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 6th Oct 24
To be honest I’ve been on this before, but I took packets back to back so I wouldn’t get a period which worked, but now months later I’ve started it again, because my cycle was irregular from August due to plan b usage, and I now bleed on my pill free break, it gives me a sense of reassurance I’m not sexually active anyways it’s been like that for a month now, but atleast I know my cycle is more regular, only thing I would say is around day 4 of me being on the pill free break aka my first day of bleeding I experienced cramps and very bad breast pain PMS syndromes but it went down and it went from heavy bleeding to light bleeding.
Somewhat positive mood
3 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 1st Oct 24
I have been on the combined pill for over 5 years now. I went on it at 16 and I am now 21 years old, whilst I have been on it it’s served me well no horrific side effects. However, over the years my sex drive has got worse and worse and I feel unless I’m on my pill break my mind doesn’t feel clear. I am scared to come off it as I do not know what other best alternative but I think I may change to the copper coil to natural cycles to let my body have a natural cycle. I just feel forcing your body to not ovulate cannot be good for it, I need my natural cycle back for peace of mind.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 19th Sep 24
Was put onto Rigevidon after being on the mini pill and not agreeing with it due to constant breakthrough bleeding and UTIs/vaginal dryness. Rigevidon was great for nearly a year and really liked how regular my periods were and had no breakthrough bleeding as long as I did 21 days on, 7 days off rather than taking back to back packs. After a while my mood declined to the point I felt numb and libido declined. I switched to a lower Oestrogen but then after another round at the mini pill as well went back onto Rigevidon as it had been the best one for me and wanted to try it again but I do suffer from migraines but never with aura so I had been deemed safe to use the combined pill as long as I was aware of symptoms to watch out but suddenly developed aura with my migraines so came off Rigevidon and have been fine since.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments

Women's health, reviewed.
Get the best women’s health info in your inbox
You are signing up to receive The Lowdown's latest findings and news in women's health. Your data will be used in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie policy
Slide into our DMs
Built by doctors and experts
Our tools are made by medical professionals for your peace of mind
Our website uses affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click on them