Dianette pill vs Microgynon 30 pill

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Dianette pill

Add your Dianette pill review

Microgynon 30 pill

£From £0.18/day

Overview

Rated 3.1

42 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.6

305 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Dianette pill ingredients

Main hormones in Dianette pill

Anti-Androgenic progestogen


Microgynon 30 pill ingredients

Main hormones in Microgynon 30 pill

Androgenic progestogen

Medium oestrogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

33% no impact on mood

45% lighter periods

50% no impact

50% no impact

83% improved skin

Cycle return

50% don’t know impact

36% very negative

54% lighter periods

44% lost sex drive

42% no impact

43% no impact on skin

Cycle return

32% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Acne or bad skin

Excessive hair growth

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

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Add your Dianette pill review

Try it now

£From £0.18/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Dianette pill reviews

42 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Dianette pill  

I wish that I never stopped taking this pill! It was brilliant. Cleared up my skin very quickly. Doctor took me off it because I had some headaches. I don’t know whether these headaches were connected but the rest of my experience with this pill was positive !

Read more

Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Aug 24

Dianette pill  

I've given Dianette three stars, because there were a few positives while I used it, but ultimately it did more harm than good to my physical and mental well-being. I was first prescribed Dianette by my GP during my A Levels, because I needed regular contraception, and was told that this particular pill would help my hormonal acne. Happily, within the first three months, my skin was the clearest it had ever been since before puberty! And I hadn't got pregnant, so it certainly fulfilled its promises on that front. However, there were some undesirable side effects which eventually led me to come off the pill, and have made me quite wary of hormonal contraception altogether. I found that my appetite increased, to quite an alarming degree. I might have had a three course meal in a restaurant (for example), and then felt ravenous when I'd got home later that evening. Accompanied by this increased hunger was a sudden dip in my energy levels, and feeling "hangry". Coupled with this was some water weight, which made my body feel much bigger than it actually was, and I became very obsessed with exercise, diet, and body image, which meant I lost out on a lot of university-related fun and friendships. (N.B.: this might say more about my own issues around body image and self-esteem, but I feel it's something any women with E.D.s might want to be aware of.) I had some good life experiences while on this pill, but my persistent mood swings and depression ruined them. I had frequent irritability and angry outbursts, which affected ALL my relationships, and, I believe, contributed to my eventual dropping out of university. In spite of the negative effect on my mental health, I didn't find my libido to be adversely affected, but I did seem to be more prone than usual to Thrush. Which, as you can imagine, was something of a passion killer. It took me a long time to admit that maybe this pill wasn't great for me, because of the benefits to my skin and sex life (I was only 18, and having clear skin and being sexually active was still a novelty!). But on top of some existing issues I had, it ruined my life in a lot of ways.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  19th Aug 24

Dianette pill  

I started taking Dianette a year ago when I had the copper coil removed. I had tried other pills in the past and suffered with acne because of them, so I was recommended this pill because of its skin-clearing properties. My skin has been amazing on this pill, I don’t get any spots at all. My mood for the majority of the year has been okay, maybe a bit more flat than normal but no wild mood swings. However last month I didn’t take a break between two packets of the pill because I was going on holiday and didn’t want my period. Since then, my mood swings have been really bad, I’ve been emotional and angry. I wouldn’t recommend doing that if you don’t have to, always take the week’s break! My boobs are definitely more tender, and have grown a bit, and I’ve put on a little bit of weight in general. I definitely have an increased appetite and lower sex drive.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Dianette pill  

I wish that I never stopped taking this pill! It was brilliant. Cleared up my skin very quickly. Doctor took me off it because I had some headaches. I don’t know whether these headaches were connected but the rest of my experience with this pill was positive !


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Aug 24

Dianette pill  

I've given Dianette three stars, because there were a few positives while I used it, but ultimately it did more harm than good to my physical and mental well-being. I was first prescribed Dianette by my GP during my A Levels, because I needed regular contraception, and was told that this particular pill would help my hormonal acne. Happily, within the first three months, my skin was the clearest it had ever been since before puberty! And I hadn't got pregnant, so it certainly fulfilled its promises on that front. However, there were some undesirable side effects which eventually led me to come off the pill, and have made me quite wary of hormonal contraception altogether. I found that my appetite increased, to quite an alarming degree. I might have had a three course meal in a restaurant (for example), and then felt ravenous when I'd got home later that evening. Accompanied by this increased hunger was a sudden dip in my energy levels, and feeling "hangry". Coupled with this was some water weight, which made my body feel much bigger than it actually was, and I became very obsessed with exercise, diet, and body image, which meant I lost out on a lot of university-related fun and friendships. (N.B.: this might say more about my own issues around body image and self-esteem, but I feel it's something any women with E.D.s might want to be aware of.) I had some good life experiences while on this pill, but my persistent mood swings and depression ruined them. I had frequent irritability and angry outbursts, which affected ALL my relationships, and, I believe, contributed to my eventual dropping out of university. In spite of the negative effect on my mental health, I didn't find my libido to be adversely affected, but I did seem to be more prone than usual to Thrush. Which, as you can imagine, was something of a passion killer. It took me a long time to admit that maybe this pill wasn't great for me, because of the benefits to my skin and sex life (I was only 18, and having clear skin and being sexually active was still a novelty!). But on top of some existing issues I had, it ruined my life in a lot of ways.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  19th Aug 24

Dianette pill  

I started taking Dianette a year ago when I had the copper coil removed. I had tried other pills in the past and suffered with acne because of them, so I was recommended this pill because of its skin-clearing properties. My skin has been amazing on this pill, I don’t get any spots at all. My mood for the majority of the year has been okay, maybe a bit more flat than normal but no wild mood swings. However last month I didn’t take a break between two packets of the pill because I was going on holiday and didn’t want my period. Since then, my mood swings have been really bad, I’ve been emotional and angry. I wouldn’t recommend doing that if you don’t have to, always take the week’s break! My boobs are definitely more tender, and have grown a bit, and I’ve put on a little bit of weight in general. I definitely have an increased appetite and lower sex drive.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments


Microgynon 30 pill reviews

305 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  20th Oct 24

Microgynon 30 pill  

Apart from the vaginal dryness and loss of sex drive, i’m happy with this pill as it did not have any really negative side effects for me, plus it grew my breasts which i liked.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  18th Oct 24

Microgynon 30 pill  

main thing for me was the super low sex drive. filling this out, interested to also see sweating a lot as an option. As I do sweat a lot, very easily so very interested (and hope) that is a side effect as looking to change/come off.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  16th Oct 24

Microgynon 30 pill  

I am using microgynon to manage endometriosis. Before starting I was having significant pain, nausea, and depression due to the pain. I am taking this pill without breaks, so not having periods is really helping reduce my endo symptoms. I have had a lot of mood problems with other pills, but if anything my mood is slightly better. I think it was just that my endo pain was so bad it was making me feel really low. I am still having some breakthrough bleeding with this pill, but much less than other pills.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  20th Oct 24

Microgynon 30 pill  

Apart from the vaginal dryness and loss of sex drive, i’m happy with this pill as it did not have any really negative side effects for me, plus it grew my breasts which i liked.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  18th Oct 24

Microgynon 30 pill  

main thing for me was the super low sex drive. filling this out, interested to also see sweating a lot as an option. As I do sweat a lot, very easily so very interested (and hope) that is a side effect as looking to change/come off.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  16th Oct 24

Microgynon 30 pill  

I am using microgynon to manage endometriosis. Before starting I was having significant pain, nausea, and depression due to the pain. I am taking this pill without breaks, so not having periods is really helping reduce my endo symptoms. I have had a lot of mood problems with other pills, but if anything my mood is slightly better. I think it was just that my endo pain was so bad it was making me feel really low. I am still having some breakthrough bleeding with this pill, but much less than other pills.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  16th Sep 24

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
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 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
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 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
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 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
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 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
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 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
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 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

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Dianette pill with other contraceptives

Compare the Microgynon 30 pill with other contraceptives

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