Marvelon pill vs Yasmin pill

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Marvelon pill

£From £0.20/day

Yasmin pill

£From £0.25/day

Overview

Rated 3.2

78 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.0

212 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


Yasmin pill ingredients

Main hormones in Yasmin pill

Anti-Androgenic progestogen

Medium oestrogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

36% somewhat negative

42% lighter periods

46% no impact

50% no impact

77% no impact on skin

Cycle return

31% in 1 month

37% somewhat negative

47% lighter periods

55% lost sex drive

56% no impact

59% improved skin

Cycle return

29% 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

£From £0.20/day

Try it now

£From £0.25/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Marvelon pill reviews

78 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  7th Jun 24

Marvelon pill  

I came on this pill after being on Lucette for many years but I didn't get on with anymore. I did a lot of research as I originally used Lucette to help my acne, which it did but eventually turned me into a crazy emotional monster. Marvelon was a welcome change! I felt so in control of my emotions and actually felt like a normal human! I had no real major side effects apart from one. Around month 2-3 of taking this pill, I developed a hive like rash on my neck/chest that eventually spread to my whole body. I was so self-conscious and taking anti-histamines like tic-tacs. I consulted my doctor and pharmacist but they didn't really care, just told me to keep taking anti-histamines, so I did. Around month 5 I randomly had a brain-wave and realised the timing on my hives was extremely suspicious considering at this point I'd been covered head to toe for about 2 months. Sure enough, I checked the leaflet and 'hive-like rash' was a rare symptom. I stopped taking this pill and within a month my hives had disappeared. Really weird - but that was my only issue. I'm really sad about it too because everything else about this pill was amazing for me.

Read more

Gained weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  13th May 24

Marvelon pill  

Overall, i have had very limited side effects on this pill though i have noticed increased mood swings.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Marvelon pill  

The only reason I came off marvelon is because my boobs were so sore whilst using it. I had some mild cramping when starting this pill but that soon resolved. The sore boobs were a dealbreaker for me unfortunately, so I switched to mercilon, the same ingredients just less oestrogen and now no boob pain!


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  7th Jun 24

Marvelon pill  

I came on this pill after being on Lucette for many years but I didn't get on with anymore. I did a lot of research as I originally used Lucette to help my acne, which it did but eventually turned me into a crazy emotional monster. Marvelon was a welcome change! I felt so in control of my emotions and actually felt like a normal human! I had no real major side effects apart from one. Around month 2-3 of taking this pill, I developed a hive like rash on my neck/chest that eventually spread to my whole body. I was so self-conscious and taking anti-histamines like tic-tacs. I consulted my doctor and pharmacist but they didn't really care, just told me to keep taking anti-histamines, so I did. Around month 5 I randomly had a brain-wave and realised the timing on my hives was extremely suspicious considering at this point I'd been covered head to toe for about 2 months. Sure enough, I checked the leaflet and 'hive-like rash' was a rare symptom. I stopped taking this pill and within a month my hives had disappeared. Really weird - but that was my only issue. I'm really sad about it too because everything else about this pill was amazing for me.


Gained weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  13th May 24

Marvelon pill  

Overall, i have had very limited side effects on this pill though i have noticed increased mood swings.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Marvelon pill  

The only reason I came off marvelon is because my boobs were so sore whilst using it. I had some mild cramping when starting this pill but that soon resolved. The sore boobs were a dealbreaker for me unfortunately, so I switched to mercilon, the same ingredients just less oestrogen and now no boob pain!


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments


Yasmin pill reviews

212 reviews

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

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

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  7th May 24

Yasmin pill  

I absolutely love Yasmin. It has absolutely no side-effects for me, unlike the implant which gave me cystic acne. It is a good low-angrogen contraception.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
43 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  11th Apr 24

Yasmin pill  

Yasmin was the best pill for me. I have PCOS and it completely took care of my symptoms like acne. I also had very stable mood and positive mental state with this pill. My periods were light and I used to skip them 3 packets in a row and have only maybe 4 withdrawal bleeds per year. When I tried to extend it to 4 packs, I would often start to get light spotting so I think 3 packs non-stop was optimal for me.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Mar 24

Yasmin pill  

Terrible terrible pill - started in in March 2023, by May 2023 had developed what I know now is POTS. Went to GP they dismissed me so thought it had nothing to do with the pill so kept taking. Constant dizziness, faintness, low BP, high heart rate - constantly felt fatigued. Passed out several times in public - GP again said it's vasovagal syncope and common in young women. Did some research, the progestin drosperinone in the pill is a diuretic and can cause this - no amount of water with salt could fix this either, water would just go straight through me which I think was affecting my BP so much. Also caused extreme dry skin and vaginal dryness, as well as pain during sex (which I think was directly related to the dryness), and emotional fluctuations - in the last few months of being on the pill I felt constantly sad, anything would set me off sobbing and it was terrible. I came off the pill early March 2024, within 2 weeks the POTS like symptoms had gone, my dry skin is slowly getting better and in general feel a lot better in myself. Have had a copper IUD put in. I am not sure if the pill caused weight gain per se, I thought the above had manifested as hypoglacemia as before starting the pill I would not eat much, and thought maybe it was related to blood sugar - I now know this is not the case, and since coming off I have gone back to eating once a day with none of the above issues. I will say it increased my appetite though and I think it made it harder to lose weight - since coming off I have lost 7kg in two weeks.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  16th Mar 24

Yasmin pill  

This was the first pill I've taken and was on it for about 5 months. When I first started it I had the worst breakthrough bleeding and cramps so bad I was bedbound but thought that may be my body just getting used to the hormones as I'd never been on the pill before. However, I breakthrough bled a 'period' every month for a couple weeks whilst not on my break. I had no weight gain or mood changes which was great. This really helped my acne!!! I've struggled with back acne for years and this has improved it drastically. However, I also developed pretty bad eczema all over my body a month into taking it which I haven't had since I was a toddler. I've been off it for a week and it has actually gone down so much.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  23rd Feb 24

Yasmin pill  

Only negative for me is it does make me very emotional and I’m not usually an emotional person!


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  17th Feb 24

Yasmin pill  

i’ve been on the yasmin pill for about a year now and it’s been amazing! my boobs grew from an AA to a C and i’m no longer struggling with acne


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th Feb 24

Yasmin pill  

At first Yasmin was great and really cleared up my skin which I loved. However after 2 and a half years my mood had declined and I struggle with anxiety a lot more. Around the time of my pill break I get terrible headaches and nausea. When I start a new pack my anxiety increases massively and makes it hard to function. The worst side effect is I have no libido at all and I feel very flat.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

1 helpful

1 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Marvelon pill with other contraceptives

Compare the Yasmin pill with other contraceptives

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