Marvelon pill vs Rigevidon

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Marvelon pill

£From £0.20/day

Rigevidon

£From £0.19/day

Overview

Rated 3.2

85 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.5

589 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Marvelon pill ingredients

Main hormones in Marvelon pill

Less-Androgenic progestogen

Medium oestrogen


Rigevidon ingredients

Main hormones in Rigevidon

Androgenic progestogen

Medium oestrogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

34% somewhat negative

42% lighter periods

42% no impact

47% no impact

50% no impact on skin

Cycle return

31% in 1 month

42% very negative

50% lighter periods

46% lost sex drive

45% no impact

35% no impact on skin

Cycle return

43% don’t know impact

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

£From £0.20/day

Try it now

£From £0.19/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Marvelon pill reviews

85 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Marvelon pill  

I was on marvelon for 5 years and it really worked for me. Unfortunately I developed severe migraines in my pill free week so I had to stop taking it. But it was the best pill I ever tried.

Read more

Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  13th Aug 25

Marvelon pill  

I have tried about 4 different types of birth control. This one is the only one that has not made be spot for months at a time. This is the first time in my life I have a normal 5-7 day period once a month. My cystic acne has also improved a lot. My boobs did get bigger and it’s more difficult to maintain my weight but with more effort the weight gain is only minimal. Cramps were only bad the first couple months starting it. I also get a headache the entire time I am on my 7 days off the pill. I also get depressed close to my period. Overall the side effects are bad but better than any other I’ve tried and it actually regulates my cycle. I can’t wait until I’m old enough to get my tubes tied because I am over pumping my body with hormones


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th May 25

Marvelon pill  

Overall, Haven’t noticed any changes to mood, it’s definitely made me gain a little bit of weight. However, My period i had when coming off the pill was in one word…. Excruciating. I’ve never had bad period cramps but with this pill my period came out in massive blood clots and it was very very painful.


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Marvelon pill  

I was on marvelon for 5 years and it really worked for me. Unfortunately I developed severe migraines in my pill free week so I had to stop taking it. But it was the best pill I ever tried.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  13th Aug 25

Marvelon pill  

I have tried about 4 different types of birth control. This one is the only one that has not made be spot for months at a time. This is the first time in my life I have a normal 5-7 day period once a month. My cystic acne has also improved a lot. My boobs did get bigger and it’s more difficult to maintain my weight but with more effort the weight gain is only minimal. Cramps were only bad the first couple months starting it. I also get a headache the entire time I am on my 7 days off the pill. I also get depressed close to my period. Overall the side effects are bad but better than any other I’ve tried and it actually regulates my cycle. I can’t wait until I’m old enough to get my tubes tied because I am over pumping my body with hormones


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th May 25

Marvelon pill  

Overall, Haven’t noticed any changes to mood, it’s definitely made me gain a little bit of weight. However, My period i had when coming off the pill was in one word…. Excruciating. I’ve never had bad period cramps but with this pill my period came out in massive blood clots and it was very very painful.


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments


Rigevidon reviews

589 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Rigevidon  

I’ve tried a few pills in my time now, to be honest I think they’re all as bad as each other. I was put on this one after accidentally getting pregnant as I stopped using hormonal contraceptives due to the side effects. I found Rigevidon to be virtually useless at controlling my hormones- maybe I’m a very hormonal person or something but this did virtually nothing. I was as spotty as I was when I was a teen, my chin hair growth was horrific and my hair was SO greasy. I just don’t know why but this genuinely seemed to not even touch the sides. Also the back pain was bad.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Rigevidon  

My legs randomly ache, I have. 0 sex drive, the thought of being touched is making me sick. I have severe anxiety and I’m borderline suicidal. This is not the right pill for me but going back to my gp and getting another one seems exhausting.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  7th Nov 25

Rigevidon  

This pill gave me severe emotional dysregulation (notably anger) to the point it almost felt like a fever dream. Granted, I only used it for a month, but that's because I genuinely couldn't tolerate it and had never experienced anything similar on other pills. I was angry to the point of having rage-inducing nightmares and feeling provoked by most harmless interactions. It also made me stress and ruminate a lot more. Frankly, I think it is appalling that such medication is deemed fit for use - which generally circles back to the issue of dismissal in women's healthcare. It was an absolute nightmare, and no one should have to tolerate going through that even if it does "get better eventually." To provide some perspective, the contraceptive pill in men's trials was shut down simply because it caused headaches. So why should we put up with symptoms that are a million times worse? Echoing other reviewers, I'd rather switch to a brand that doesn't come with the hassle (though ideally, the whole industry needs to fix up). Why this is the most commonly prescribed brand in the UK is beyond me.


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Rigevidon  

I’ve tried a few pills in my time now, to be honest I think they’re all as bad as each other. I was put on this one after accidentally getting pregnant as I stopped using hormonal contraceptives due to the side effects. I found Rigevidon to be virtually useless at controlling my hormones- maybe I’m a very hormonal person or something but this did virtually nothing. I was as spotty as I was when I was a teen, my chin hair growth was horrific and my hair was SO greasy. I just don’t know why but this genuinely seemed to not even touch the sides. Also the back pain was bad.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Rigevidon  

My legs randomly ache, I have. 0 sex drive, the thought of being touched is making me sick. I have severe anxiety and I’m borderline suicidal. This is not the right pill for me but going back to my gp and getting another one seems exhausting.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  7th Nov 25

Rigevidon  

This pill gave me severe emotional dysregulation (notably anger) to the point it almost felt like a fever dream. Granted, I only used it for a month, but that's because I genuinely couldn't tolerate it and had never experienced anything similar on other pills. I was angry to the point of having rage-inducing nightmares and feeling provoked by most harmless interactions. It also made me stress and ruminate a lot more. Frankly, I think it is appalling that such medication is deemed fit for use - which generally circles back to the issue of dismissal in women's healthcare. It was an absolute nightmare, and no one should have to tolerate going through that even if it does "get better eventually." To provide some perspective, the contraceptive pill in men's trials was shut down simply because it caused headaches. So why should we put up with symptoms that are a million times worse? Echoing other reviewers, I'd rather switch to a brand that doesn't come with the hassle (though ideally, the whole industry needs to fix up). Why this is the most commonly prescribed brand in the UK is beyond me.


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  9th Oct 25

Rigevidon  

The first month WILL be hard, I had intense mood swings and nausea, but by month 3 I promise you it will settle down. Personally, I wanted to switch to yasmin due to the fact the cramps and the bad mood coming on/off after a break etc were too intense for me. No weight gain, only loss. My sex drive has not been affected whatsoever. There is a lot of fear-mongering surrounding the pill, but I think some of it comes from placebo, so don't over worry yourself.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  8th Oct 25

Rigevidon  

My completely lost my sex drive and was always upset and in a really bad mood.I was on this pill consistently for 1 year and about 6 months and I had to stop for awhile and when I went back on it for 1 month and the side effects were horrible my skin was breaking out I was constantly bloated I started having 2 /3 periods A MONTH iam currently trying to change the pill iam on but iam nervous in it’s worse .


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1st Sep 25

Rigevidon  

I have had a positive experience overall with minimal side effects. The most notable was becoming more emotional (crying more easily) but I haven’t minded that.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  28th Aug 25

Rigevidon  

Amazing compared to the progesterone only pill and progesterone only implant I was on previously. Less mood swings, no depression. Perfect for timing my irregular periods, except the breakthough bleed a couple days before I end my pill packet. DEFINITELY GAINED WEIGHT. Before I was living a bit sedentary, and even when I joined the gym, I was still heavy/gaining weight. Led to breasts and tummy increasing 4 inches each. Will be going back to the gym daily for cardio to maintain / decrease this. My migraines had stopped prior to taking the combined pill, but since having it, I am getting a few more headaches, and sometimes a migraine, but not daily like I used to.


Decreased sex drive

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  31st Jul 25

Rigevidon  

This contraception changed my personality. It made me very angry, easily frustrated and issues that should be small seemed huge in my mind. Since changing contraception to the Yasmin pill, I honestly feel like a different person. I am quite upset that most of my twenties were spent in this state of constant anger. I thought it was just my personality but since changing pill I can now see that it was the contraception. I also got severe withdrawal headaches when I took the 7 day break.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  30th Jul 25

Rigevidon  

i have PCOS this pill was amazing for the first 3 1/2 years, it made me lose 10 pounds in two weeks from me changing nothing to my active levels and diet, my skin cleared up, i had lighter and regular periods, had a high sex drive until i started having very irregular periods in the last 6 months. including periods happening every other week and spotting between it even when taking it correctly so i decided to change contraception but this may be because of my PCOS


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  23rd Jul 25

Rigevidon  

For the first 2 years it was great. Then it got progressively worse, it severely affected my mental health and physical qualities of life too. Periods are so unpredictable by both pain and flow. As a contraceptive however, it works very well.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Marvelon pill with other contraceptives

Compare the Rigevidon with other contraceptives

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