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
574 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
574 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
I really didn't like this pill. It caused my mood to plummet, and I gained weight on it.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
It was good in the sense that my “cycle” felt really regular and I had very consistent moods which felt good as it avoided the PMS I used to get. The peace of mind as a contraceptive method was also good. Whilst I was on it I didnt realise anything significantly different about myself. However, when I came off it i didnt realise how much of my self it had suppressed - in terms of feeling alive to the word and sexually charged. I now use condoms/ may consider the localised hormonal coil as I am no longer interested in experiencing such significant changes in myself for contraception.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 week ago
It was working perfectly fine at first, was helping me with unbearable cramps and nausea, but after about four months of use, I wasn't feeling like myself at all. It made my anxiety so much worse that is was making me nauseous and kept giving me heart palpitations and trembling limbs. I've had a major loss of appetite which is really bad for someone who is already considered underweight for her age. I couldn't tell the difference between feeling hungry or feeling sick, but whenever I did eat, I continued to feel this way. I became so emotionally unstable that I was in a near constant state of dread for no apparent reason and would be crying without even being upset, every day. I struggled to sleep with the increased negative mood, the only think to help me sleep was to listen to educational videos in the background to distract me from the anxiety and nausea. I took travel pills to alleviate both of these which is working well and helping me sleep, and two days after stopping with the pill, my mood has been gradually improving. I'm still getting heart palpitations and tearing up a little at times, butI'm starting to feel like myself again. I wouldn't recommend rigevidon if you have a history with anxiety or depression. Made my hormones go haywire, lost my already small appetite, and messed around a whole lot with my sleep schedule.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
I really didn't like this pill. It caused my mood to plummet, and I gained weight on it.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
It was good in the sense that my “cycle” felt really regular and I had very consistent moods which felt good as it avoided the PMS I used to get. The peace of mind as a contraceptive method was also good. Whilst I was on it I didnt realise anything significantly different about myself. However, when I came off it i didnt realise how much of my self it had suppressed - in terms of feeling alive to the word and sexually charged. I now use condoms/ may consider the localised hormonal coil as I am no longer interested in experiencing such significant changes in myself for contraception.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 week ago
It was working perfectly fine at first, was helping me with unbearable cramps and nausea, but after about four months of use, I wasn't feeling like myself at all. It made my anxiety so much worse that is was making me nauseous and kept giving me heart palpitations and trembling limbs. I've had a major loss of appetite which is really bad for someone who is already considered underweight for her age. I couldn't tell the difference between feeling hungry or feeling sick, but whenever I did eat, I continued to feel this way. I became so emotionally unstable that I was in a near constant state of dread for no apparent reason and would be crying without even being upset, every day. I struggled to sleep with the increased negative mood, the only think to help me sleep was to listen to educational videos in the background to distract me from the anxiety and nausea. I took travel pills to alleviate both of these which is working well and helping me sleep, and two days after stopping with the pill, my mood has been gradually improving. I'm still getting heart palpitations and tearing up a little at times, butI'm starting to feel like myself again. I wouldn't recommend rigevidon if you have a history with anxiety or depression. Made my hormones go haywire, lost my already small appetite, and messed around a whole lot with my sleep schedule.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
This pill ruined my mental health, doctor told me it was the best option despite me telling her i was worried about the mental effects. I lost all confidence- felt disgusting all the time. Made my anxiety and overthinking 10 times worse, i was crying multiple times every day. It felt like i had no control over my emotions, i could go from happy to crying within seconds and this could be set off by anything at all. Would not recommend this to anyone, have an appointment to come off it this week.
Very negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
13 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
overall made periods easier but changed my mood to be lower. it definitely improved things for me.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
For me personally, the pill is great for periods. I haven’t had a period while using it. However, I did have 1-2 weeks of very light breakthrough bleeding. I found the pill made me severely depressed and I had absolutely no energy. I felt like I was just existing and not living. I was crying everyday and thinking everyone hated me. It also made me lose all my confidence I took so long to gain (I had none). Since being off it for 3 days I’ve seen a huge difference in my energy and my mood is slowly getting better. It didn’t make me gain weight as such, but my stomach is usually flat and now it’s round and more bloated. I’m hoping this will go away. I’d say I’ve gained more fat on my stomach than weight. I am more then happy to answer any questions <3
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 9th Apr 25
I essentially started crying almost every day and couldn't fully function like normal because of how low my mood was. I took it for bad period cramps and it definitely helped with this but had to get off it because of the effect on my mood
Very negative mood
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6th Apr 25
I was prescribed it as a treatment for possible endometriosis, yet i’ve been on the same period (no stopping) for three months now. It’s constant pain, constantly tired and it’s a never ending story. i just want help.
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1st Apr 25
As a women with PCOS this pill has been great to help control acne & unwanted facial/body hair. However since taking the pill I have noticed far more vaginal discomfort e.g. thrush. Overall with this in mind I would still choose to take this pill and the positives for me outweigh the negatives
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1st Apr 25
I have felt great on rigevidon, I was prescribed it for irregular and extra periods. This has fixed this and can now control when I do and don’t bleed. I did experience a decidual cast (uterine lining passes in one piece) when I went two months without taking a break. But as long as I have kept having a break monthly and not run packs back to back (like I was told I could) it has been fine and solved my issue.
Somewhat positive mood
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