Levest pill vs Microgynon 30 pill
Need help choosing? Speak to a doctor
What Lowdown reviewers say
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Levest pill reviews
122 reviews
Used for 12 - 18 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Very helpful for my acne and confidence, but my mood noticeably changed to feeling numb quite often. I’ve felt very physically and mentally tired over the last 13 months, but can’t remember a time before then. Great at stopping my periods for 4 months, before I breakthrough bleed and take a break. When I do bleed, it is extremely heavy, but it is less painful.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1st Nov 23
Took this for 3 months total and am now taking a break to see if there's any change in the side effects. Didn't notice major changes in mood or anything else, was very happy with it initially as I took it to have lighter and less painful periods, and it worked really well in this respect. However after a month or two I started to notice considerable vaginal dryness - it was uncomfortable, itchy and sensitive - in a bad way - day to day and made sex very painful even with lube. Don't really want to choose between painful periods and daily discomfort/painful sex but here I am.
Top side effects not reported
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 29th Oct 23
I've never had mental health issues but this pill has made me almost suicidal and made me act out in ways I never thought id behave like kind of erratic. Also made me gain 2 stone when I didn't think that would happen to me, not a good experience over the 3 years.
Top side effects not reported
2 helpful
2 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Very helpful for my acne and confidence, but my mood noticeably changed to feeling numb quite often. I’ve felt very physically and mentally tired over the last 13 months, but can’t remember a time before then. Great at stopping my periods for 4 months, before I breakthrough bleed and take a break. When I do bleed, it is extremely heavy, but it is less painful.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1st Nov 23
Took this for 3 months total and am now taking a break to see if there's any change in the side effects. Didn't notice major changes in mood or anything else, was very happy with it initially as I took it to have lighter and less painful periods, and it worked really well in this respect. However after a month or two I started to notice considerable vaginal dryness - it was uncomfortable, itchy and sensitive - in a bad way - day to day and made sex very painful even with lube. Don't really want to choose between painful periods and daily discomfort/painful sex but here I am.
Top side effects not reported
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 29th Oct 23
I've never had mental health issues but this pill has made me almost suicidal and made me act out in ways I never thought id behave like kind of erratic. Also made me gain 2 stone when I didn't think that would happen to me, not a good experience over the 3 years.
Top side effects not reported
2 helpful
2 comments
Microgynon 30 pill reviews
283 reviews
Used for 8+ yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
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
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 8+ yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
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
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
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 31st Aug 23
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
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
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
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
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
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