Gedarel 20/150 pill vs Microgynon 30 pill

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Gedarel 20/150 pill

£From £0.16/day

Microgynon 30 pill

£From £0.14/day

Overview

Rated 2.7

123 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.6

283 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Gedarel 20/150 pill ingredients

Main hormones in Gedarel 20/150 pill

Less-Androgenic progestogen


Microgynon 30 pill ingredients

Main hormones in Microgynon 30 pill

Androgenic progestogen

Medium oestrogen

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

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£From £0.16/day

Try it now

£From £0.14/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Gedarel 20/150 pill reviews

123 reviews

Used for 3 - 5 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

  •  Stopped using

Positives: 1. in my last year on this my acne was almost none existent, which was a massive an improvement from when I started it. 2. My periods were also shorter (4-5 days), and my last day bleeding was very light. 3. Not 1 pregnancy scare the whole 3 years, completely protected!! Negatives: 1. no sex drive, I was told this wasn’t a result of the pill but of my mood & life. I can vouch this was incorrect because I’m now 3 months off the pill & my sex drive is through the roof. 2. My mood was always flat, I had happy moments but generally life felt pretty grey 3. My heavy period days were just as heavy & crampy as pre-pill. 4. Exhaustion & lower back pain pre-period. 5. Weight gain & obsession with food, always felt hungry. Overall this pill wasn’t bad as I just got used to the symptoms, but since being off it I genuinely cant believe that I was that shell of a person for the 3 years on it, and the 6 years before that that I was on other contraception.

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Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Sep 23

  •  Still using

The pill is overall effective in preventing pregnancy, however, in the two years I have been using it, I have been experiencing spotting and unexplained bleeding intermittently. It doesn't happen every single month but is very unpredictable and inconvenient. I would not recommend this if you are after something which gives you regular, consistent periods.


Top side effects not reported

2 helpful

0 comments

Used for 12 - 18 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Aug 23

  •  Still using

It took a couple of months for initial symptoms to improve after beginning this pill, and I have taken it continuously for all except the first cycle. The first cycle was a disaster, I cried for 48 hours of the pill break, and haven't taken one since! No spotting since then, and I've noticed some weight gain and hair loss but nothing drastic.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 5 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

  •  Stopped using

Positives: 1. in my last year on this my acne was almost none existent, which was a massive an improvement from when I started it. 2. My periods were also shorter (4-5 days), and my last day bleeding was very light. 3. Not 1 pregnancy scare the whole 3 years, completely protected!! Negatives: 1. no sex drive, I was told this wasn’t a result of the pill but of my mood & life. I can vouch this was incorrect because I’m now 3 months off the pill & my sex drive is through the roof. 2. My mood was always flat, I had happy moments but generally life felt pretty grey 3. My heavy period days were just as heavy & crampy as pre-pill. 4. Exhaustion & lower back pain pre-period. 5. Weight gain & obsession with food, always felt hungry. Overall this pill wasn’t bad as I just got used to the symptoms, but since being off it I genuinely cant believe that I was that shell of a person for the 3 years on it, and the 6 years before that that I was on other contraception.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Sep 23

  •  Still using

The pill is overall effective in preventing pregnancy, however, in the two years I have been using it, I have been experiencing spotting and unexplained bleeding intermittently. It doesn't happen every single month but is very unpredictable and inconvenient. I would not recommend this if you are after something which gives you regular, consistent periods.


Top side effects not reported

2 helpful

0 comments

Used for 12 - 18 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Aug 23

  •  Still using

It took a couple of months for initial symptoms to improve after beginning this pill, and I have taken it continuously for all except the first cycle. The first cycle was a disaster, I cried for 48 hours of the pill break, and haven't taken one since! No spotting since then, and I've noticed some weight gain and hair loss but nothing drastic.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments


Microgynon 30 pill reviews

283 reviews

Used for 8+ yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

  •  Stopped using

This pill was pretty seamless for me. It did not affect my moods or skin. My periods were very light, lasted a few days with little to no cramps. My libido suffered significantly and this symptom worsened as time went on which is the reason I switched to a non-hormonal method. Other than this, it was a great option for me.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

  •  Stopped using

I have endometriosis and adenomyosis and was put on microgynon by my gynaecologist. I was happy at first because my severe and constant pain disappeared (and only reappeared during my period, and even then it was only 10% of the pain I used to experience. However, the negative side effects unfortunately didn’t make the lack of pain worth it. My mental health (which was already quite terrible as I suffer from OCD and anxiety) crumbled. I was depressed and had CONSTANT mood swings. I was irritable, always in a bad mood and snapping at my husband. I also felt like a zombie, unable to focus on anything and feeling so disconnected and dissociated. I also put on water weight. I’m a small woman who runs a lot, so it was definitely linked to the pill. After doing some research, I asked my doctor to switch me to Eloine, and so far it’s been AMAZING. My mood has stabilised and I honestly feel the happiest and most connected to the world I have in a long time. I think Eloine has balanced out my endometriosis-induced hormonal imbalances and I feel amazing. For context, I’ve tried 4 types of combined pill: microgynon (androgenic), cimiszt (less androgenic), millinette and femodene (also less androgenic). I’ve also tried the mini pill cerazette and I was on the implant for 1 year. All of these made my mental health crumble and I spent 8 years of my life (18-25) battling with deciding between having bad mental health or having endo pain. Don’t try microgynon!!!!! And do research into the different types of combined pill. I never researched and just took what the dr gave me. The Lowdown really helped me research!


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

  •  Stopped using

It gave me constant headaches so I stopped taking it after a month.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 8+ yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

  •  Stopped using

This pill was pretty seamless for me. It did not affect my moods or skin. My periods were very light, lasted a few days with little to no cramps. My libido suffered significantly and this symptom worsened as time went on which is the reason I switched to a non-hormonal method. Other than this, it was a great option for me.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

  •  Stopped using

I have endometriosis and adenomyosis and was put on microgynon by my gynaecologist. I was happy at first because my severe and constant pain disappeared (and only reappeared during my period, and even then it was only 10% of the pain I used to experience. However, the negative side effects unfortunately didn’t make the lack of pain worth it. My mental health (which was already quite terrible as I suffer from OCD and anxiety) crumbled. I was depressed and had CONSTANT mood swings. I was irritable, always in a bad mood and snapping at my husband. I also felt like a zombie, unable to focus on anything and feeling so disconnected and dissociated. I also put on water weight. I’m a small woman who runs a lot, so it was definitely linked to the pill. After doing some research, I asked my doctor to switch me to Eloine, and so far it’s been AMAZING. My mood has stabilised and I honestly feel the happiest and most connected to the world I have in a long time. I think Eloine has balanced out my endometriosis-induced hormonal imbalances and I feel amazing. For context, I’ve tried 4 types of combined pill: microgynon (androgenic), cimiszt (less androgenic), millinette and femodene (also less androgenic). I’ve also tried the mini pill cerazette and I was on the implant for 1 year. All of these made my mental health crumble and I spent 8 years of my life (18-25) battling with deciding between having bad mental health or having endo pain. Don’t try microgynon!!!!! And do research into the different types of combined pill. I never researched and just took what the dr gave me. The Lowdown really helped me research!


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

  •  Stopped using

It gave me constant headaches so I stopped taking it after a month.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 5 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  29th Oct 23

  •  Stopped using

Just very negative mood


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  31st Aug 23

  •  Stopped using

This contraception affected my mood severely. I would feel sad and cry most days for weeks on end (not just PMS) without a reason. My breasts were also very swollen, lumpy and painful. My sex drive was also somewhat decreased. I was only taking it for 2 or 3 months but the symptoms were so bad that I couldn't stand to take it any longer to see if my body would adapt.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  29th Aug 23

  •  Stopped using

I didn't have any side effects with this pill other than it caused me to develop hormonal acne. When I started the pill and for the first 6 months my skin was clear, but then after that my skin got worse and worse, and I eventually realised the pill was the cause (because it contains levonorgestrel).


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 8+ yr
39 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Aug 23

  •  Still using

I've been on this since I was 17 (20 years). Generally it's been fine. I had a break once for a couple of months as Dr recommended it and found I was emotional and had awful irregular heavy periods, which put me off stopping it again. Have been getting migraines before periods recently, which may be related. Hard to tell, as I've been on it for so long and I can't find much info online on the effects of long-term use.


Top side effects not reported

2 helpful

0 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th Aug 23

  •  Stopped using

Honestly not the worst pill on the market. I tried a lot of pills and other sorts of contraceptives and I won’t say this one was the worst. It’s totally bearable but I couldn’t imagine using it long term. Period was perfect but other than that I lost motivation and was quite moody.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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

  •  Stopped using

I started the pill to help regulate mood and lighten periods. It helped with periods but made my mood so much worse. By the end of my 3 month trial I was struggling with suicidal thoughts that hadn't been there at all before I started the pill. I can't believe how negatively it affected me.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  17th Jul 23

  •  Still using

I went on Microgynon due to painful periods and while being on it my periods became a lot less painful and became lighter as well. I feel like my boobs get more sore than they used to - this is more noticeable if I take the pill without the 7 day break. But overall I’ve got on really well and love that it’s such robust contraception (with condoms) as well as helping my periods


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

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