Mercilon pill vs Gedarel 30/150 pill

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Mercilon pill

£From £0.18/day

Gedarel 30/150 pill

£From £0.20/day

Overview

Rated 2.9

48 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.9

148 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Mercilon pill ingredients

Main hormones in Mercilon pill

Less-Androgenic progestogen


Gedarel 30/150 pill ingredients

Main hormones in Gedarel 30/150 pill

Less-Androgenic progestogen

Medium oestrogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

44% somewhat negative

50% lighter periods

58% lost sex drive

54% no impact

50% improved skin

Cycle return

40% in 1 month

35% somewhat negative

41% lighter periods

55% lost sex drive

48% no impact

42% improved skin

Cycle return

34% 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 £0.18/day

Try it now

£From £0.20/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Mercilon pill reviews

48 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  14th Aug 23

Mercilon pill  

This pill has been a lifesaver. I've tried lots of different combined pills and all were giving me problems with varicose veins. My doctor recommended going on the mini pill which was even worse. I eventually got put on Mercilon as it's low estrogen. My periods are lighter and shorter, my skin has cleared up and my mood has been fine. Only negative side effect is loss of sex drive.

Read more

Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Jan 23

Mercilon pill  

I used this for quite a while and to be honest it seemed like it was alright. Did get a loss of libido and the occasional headache but other than that I felt it was fine. Although I have been trying different contraception and have recently gone back onto mercellion. Turns out it’s not as good as I thought. My moods are not good. I have a short temper on these and my anxiety is through the roof. It’s only when you come off something and come back a year later that actually you can tell a difference.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

3 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  11th Nov 22

Mercilon pill  

I only used it for a month but I had the worst itching and pain ever. it felt like I had thrush constantly and the skin down there was very painful and irritated. I've had this side effect with every single pill I've tried but this one was by far the worst.


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  14th Aug 23

Mercilon pill  

This pill has been a lifesaver. I've tried lots of different combined pills and all were giving me problems with varicose veins. My doctor recommended going on the mini pill which was even worse. I eventually got put on Mercilon as it's low estrogen. My periods are lighter and shorter, my skin has cleared up and my mood has been fine. Only negative side effect is loss of sex drive.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Jan 23

Mercilon pill  

I used this for quite a while and to be honest it seemed like it was alright. Did get a loss of libido and the occasional headache but other than that I felt it was fine. Although I have been trying different contraception and have recently gone back onto mercellion. Turns out it’s not as good as I thought. My moods are not good. I have a short temper on these and my anxiety is through the roof. It’s only when you come off something and come back a year later that actually you can tell a difference.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

3 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  11th Nov 22

Mercilon pill  

I only used it for a month but I had the worst itching and pain ever. it felt like I had thrush constantly and the skin down there was very painful and irritated. I've had this side effect with every single pill I've tried but this one was by far the worst.


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments


Gedarel 30/150 pill reviews

148 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4th Nov 24

Gedarel 30/150 pill  

I originally went on the Gederal 30/150 combined pill because I had irregular periods and acne. This pill was recommended by my doctor to specifically help with acne. I really liked this pill, I didn’t feel like I experienced any side effects and it really helped clear up my skin. I still got the occasional spot but my skin was so much better. I also liked the ease of being able to chose if/when I got my period by continually taking the pill or having a 7 day break. My periods were super regular and would typically start 2 days after starting the 7 day break, and they would last 5 days with 1-2 heavier days in the middle but mostly very light. I didn’t notice any mood changes. Unfortunately, after about 7 years on this pill I had a few migraines with auras and was told by my GP that I had to stop taking this pill due to the risk of Stroke. I am now on the mini-pill which I am experiencing some negative side effects with.


Improved skin

0 helpful

1 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  9th Sep 24

Gedarel 30/150 pill  

I originally went on the pill to help ease period pains and I had already tried micrgogynon which made me feel nauseous. Getting used to the pill defo made me feel nauseous in the mornings a little but quickly went away. I have not had any serious side effects other than an increased emotional sensitivity and breast tenderness. My periods are a lot less heavy but thicker consistency? I'm not doubled over in pain anymore but I still take painkillers on my period. I would defo reccomend!!


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Sep 24

Gedarel 30/150 pill  

My GP started me on this pill to help with perimenopausal symptoms (mainly insomnia and brain fog but to a lesser extent mood swings). For these, this pill has been a game changer and after only a couple of months, I feel like myself again. The only negative is that I've noticed a quite marked weight change and have gained around 3kg, most of which I think is water weight as I have gone puffy all over my body despite being an active person who spends a lot of time in the gym and has an active job. So I'm hoping this settles down after a couple more months, if it doesn't I think I'll try switching to another pill.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4th Nov 24

Gedarel 30/150 pill  

I originally went on the Gederal 30/150 combined pill because I had irregular periods and acne. This pill was recommended by my doctor to specifically help with acne. I really liked this pill, I didn’t feel like I experienced any side effects and it really helped clear up my skin. I still got the occasional spot but my skin was so much better. I also liked the ease of being able to chose if/when I got my period by continually taking the pill or having a 7 day break. My periods were super regular and would typically start 2 days after starting the 7 day break, and they would last 5 days with 1-2 heavier days in the middle but mostly very light. I didn’t notice any mood changes. Unfortunately, after about 7 years on this pill I had a few migraines with auras and was told by my GP that I had to stop taking this pill due to the risk of Stroke. I am now on the mini-pill which I am experiencing some negative side effects with.


Improved skin

0 helpful

1 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  9th Sep 24

Gedarel 30/150 pill  

I originally went on the pill to help ease period pains and I had already tried micrgogynon which made me feel nauseous. Getting used to the pill defo made me feel nauseous in the mornings a little but quickly went away. I have not had any serious side effects other than an increased emotional sensitivity and breast tenderness. My periods are a lot less heavy but thicker consistency? I'm not doubled over in pain anymore but I still take painkillers on my period. I would defo reccomend!!


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Sep 24

Gedarel 30/150 pill  

My GP started me on this pill to help with perimenopausal symptoms (mainly insomnia and brain fog but to a lesser extent mood swings). For these, this pill has been a game changer and after only a couple of months, I feel like myself again. The only negative is that I've noticed a quite marked weight change and have gained around 3kg, most of which I think is water weight as I have gone puffy all over my body despite being an active person who spends a lot of time in the gym and has an active job. So I'm hoping this settles down after a couple more months, if it doesn't I think I'll try switching to another pill.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  31st Aug 24

Gedarel 30/150 pill  

I used to be on this for years before having my two children and so I went back on but I’ve decided to come back off and try the copper coil instead of hormonal contraception. I remember when I came off I felt like I’d come back to life, as though I’d sort of been numbed when I was on it. I’d been on various types of hormonal contraception for over 20 years so I don’t think I’d noticed it happening to me over time until I came off. But having now had a few years off contraception altogether going back on I can really feel it this time. I had been losing my baby weight but that stopped when I started the pill again, I suspect it’s bloating and water rather than actual body fat. My sex drive has plummeted to basically nothing and I just don’t feel like me.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  23rd Jun 24

Gedarel 30/150 pill  

I was prescribed this pill after having no success with Rigevidon. I didn’t take it for contraception but for my PMDD. Gaslit myself into thinking that this pill made my moods more stable but in fact in made me way more emotional and often times hysterical. Caused me to have a migraine every week when I previously didn’t have any. Made me pile on weight. I wish I’d never taken it.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  17th Jun 24

Gedarel 30/150 pill  

This pill helped me with physical aspects such as less acne, lighter and regular flow, decreased cramps etc however mentally it really didn’t work for me my brain felt so foggy I lost all motivation and had no attention span anymore, I became really restless and couldn’t focus on anything which was never something I struggled with in the past.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  31st May 24

Gedarel 30/150 pill  

Used gedarel 30/150 for 3-4 years and never had any issues with it. I’ve never found a pill that can help my atrocious period cramps so can’t judge it based on that but everything else was great :)


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  16th May 24

Gedarel 30/150 pill  

I went on this a few years ago to stop my cycle because I suffer from severe PMS symptoms/PMDD. I remained on it for a year and experienced no side effects. I came off of it because I wanted to attempt to solve my problems naturally and holistically. Unfortunately my mental health became worse and I decided to go back on it. I have now been taking it for a week and am experiencing some mild side effects this time, but hopefully they will settle down.


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  29th Feb 24

Gedarel 30/150 pill  

I was initially prescribed GEDAREL 30/150 to treat acne when I was 15. I have been diagnosed with clinical depression since age 14 which is managed with SSRIs. I can confidently say that GEDADAREL has not had any effect on my mood, but it should be noted that I have been on SSRIs for the entire time that I used it. It also drastically improved my acne which was an absolute miracle at that age. The only other side effect I noticed was larger and more tender breasts. I have always had light periods and I didn’t notice much of a change to my periods on the pill. I remained on it continuously until age 19. I took a break for around 9 months, during which time my acne returned. Went back on it age 20 when I got into a relationship and was on it continuously until the start of this year (age 23). I stopped using Gedarel because I am currently celibate and single and I haven’t had any severe issues with acne, so it feels unnecessary to pay for contraception. When I need contraception again I will definitely go back to Gedarel.


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  13th Feb 24

Gedarel 30/150 pill  

This pill has been amazing for me. I've been on and off for several years and can confidently say this pill completely clears my hormonal acne - where other treatments have not worked. No negative side effects either!


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Mercilon pill with other contraceptives

Compare the Gedarel 30/150 pill with other contraceptives

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