Cilest pill vs Yasmin pill

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Cilest pill

Add your Cilest pill review

Yasmin pill

£From £0.25/day

Overview

Rated 3.1

78 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.0

219 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


Yasmin pill ingredients

Main hormones in Yasmin pill

Anti-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% somewhat negative

47% lighter periods

54% lost sex drive

55% no impact

59% improved skin

Cycle return

30% in 1 month

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 £0.25/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


Yasmin pill reviews

219 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Yasmin pill  

I got prescribed the combination pill due to recurring endometrial polyps. I'm pretty happy with this pill, it took me 3 months to adapt to taking it with frequent mood swings, irritation and sore breasts in the beginning, but once I got past that I really saw the benefits. My hair had been progressively thinning for 3 years before I started this medication, let me confirm that as soon as I started taking this it went away like magic. My hair is thicker and my hairline is barely visible now, it's so much thicker and I'm thrilled. No pregnancies on this pill either so it does work. I do still have tender breasts from time to time and some light cramping but I still feel it's worth taking. 9/10 recommend.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
15 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Yasmin pill  

This pill has been awful for me. I went on as had really bad irregular periods but i have seen no change except bleeding in between, extreme abdominal pain and hair loss. I have also seen my skin which is normally clear be breaking out all the time. I am only speaking of my experience


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1st Oct 24

Yasmin pill  

I swapped to Yasmin after trying so many and I felt like I’d struck gold! My skin improved loads (but must also note was under a dermatologist as well) but my skin has continued to be really clear My mood is a lot better provided I run the packets back to back - do find my mood plummets whenever I have a 7 day break but only do this once every 3-6 months I do get headaches but unclear if it coincides with Yasmin but GP is requesting I stop due to this however I’m reluctant due to have good this pill has been!


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Yasmin pill  

I got prescribed the combination pill due to recurring endometrial polyps. I'm pretty happy with this pill, it took me 3 months to adapt to taking it with frequent mood swings, irritation and sore breasts in the beginning, but once I got past that I really saw the benefits. My hair had been progressively thinning for 3 years before I started this medication, let me confirm that as soon as I started taking this it went away like magic. My hair is thicker and my hairline is barely visible now, it's so much thicker and I'm thrilled. No pregnancies on this pill either so it does work. I do still have tender breasts from time to time and some light cramping but I still feel it's worth taking. 9/10 recommend.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
15 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Yasmin pill  

This pill has been awful for me. I went on as had really bad irregular periods but i have seen no change except bleeding in between, extreme abdominal pain and hair loss. I have also seen my skin which is normally clear be breaking out all the time. I am only speaking of my experience


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1st Oct 24

Yasmin pill  

I swapped to Yasmin after trying so many and I felt like I’d struck gold! My skin improved loads (but must also note was under a dermatologist as well) but my skin has continued to be really clear My mood is a lot better provided I run the packets back to back - do find my mood plummets whenever I have a 7 day break but only do this once every 3-6 months I do get headaches but unclear if it coincides with Yasmin but GP is requesting I stop due to this however I’m reluctant due to have good this pill has been!


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  27th Aug 24

Yasmin pill  

This is the third pill I’ve tried and I’ve finally found one I want to stay on. I lost weight, my skin cleared up, my bra size has gone up in cup in 3 months, I’m much calmer on this pill I’m someone who is neurodivergent which causes me lots of anxiety and this pill has made me a lot more optimistic and relaxed. Only been on it 3 months if anything changes I’ll update!


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  23rd Aug 24

Yasmin pill  

I was on this pill for a few months and it was mostly fine. HOWEVER I realised later down the line it was giving me chronic IBS-like symptoms. I’ve never had IBS before but as soon as I started this pill I started having digestive issues, I was either constipated or constantly needing the toilet. Also major nausea especially after eating. It got really quite bad towards the 3 month mark, and was affecting me every single day. It gave me major anxiety about eating so I lost a lot of weight. Finally connected the dots and came off it and the symptoms gradually went away. There are studies that have linked drospirenone to IBS and symptoms like these so it makes sense now! Otherwise, I had very little issues with this pill. It didn’t majorly affect my mood or sex drive. My breasts grew very slightly but no tenderness. Other annoying side effects were occasional thrush and random patches of dry skin. I could cope with that but not the constant nausea and sh*ts😭 so I’ll be avoiding drospirenone at all costs from now on!!


Top side effects not reported

2 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  21st Aug 24

Yasmin pill  

I was really pleased for the first 3 months of taking Yasmin as my skin cleared up completely. However after a couple of years of taking it my anxiety increased and I started feeling depressed. I also had no libido whatsoever which affected my relationship. My periods became longer and heavier and more painful.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  14th Aug 24

Yasmin pill  

I have mixed feelings about Yasmin. I was on it for a long time and it cleared up the numerous spots on my back and gave me regular, light periods with no cramping. However, the last five or so years before I went off it, I found I had zero sex drive and significant vaginal dryness, which negatively impacted my ability to have and enjoy sex. My breasts also enlarged significantly, from roughly a B/C cup to about a D/ double D, a change that I have found uncomfortable.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Jun 24

Yasmin pill  

I started yasmin about 3 months ago and since then my breasts have become really sore, and one of them started leaking discharge, which I had to visit the GP for. It also gave me these mild but constant headaches, so as per my GP's advice, I'm getting off this pill ASAP!


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  21st May 24

Yasmin pill  

So torn about Lucette/Yasmin. They cleared up my PCOS symptoms so well- my skin cleared almost immediately after years of terrible acne; stopped extreme sweating and prevented excessive hair growth. My mood is brilliant compared to other pills which made me very depressed/strong mood swings. However, I have chronic IBS and extreme urinary urgency on these pills. I took a 3 month break and my symptoms cleared within 2 weeks so I know this is the cause. These symptoms aren’t talked about much so I wanted to raise awareness. It’s a tough balancing act between horrible PCOS symptoms and horrible IBS/bladder symptoms.


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  21st May 24

Yasmin pill  

Used the Yasmin combined pill to treat acne. Was extremely effective. However, I've suffered with gastroparesis for 10 years and didn't realise it was caused by this contraceptive. I was really quite poorly for several of those years, unable to eat enough so was malnourished and my career suffered. I felt so nauseous every single morning. When I first started taking it as a teenager I would vomit every morning. I was prescribed domperidone and had numerous doctors appointments and hospital appointments over the years and no one ever mentioned my symptoms could be caused by the contraceptive pill I was taking. I recently missed a few pills and noticed an improvement in my symptoms, so stopped taking it. For the first time in over 10 years I experience normal hunger, don't feel sick all the time, and am able to eat a normal sized meal. I can't overstate how much of a transformation it's been for me.


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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Compare the Yasmin pill with other contraceptives

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