Mercilon pill vs Yasmin pill

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Mercilon pill

£From £0.18/day

Yasmin pill

£From £0.25/day

Overview

Rated 2.9

50 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.9

239 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


Yasmin pill ingredients

Main hormones in Yasmin pill

Anti-Androgenic progestogen

Medium oestrogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

44% somewhat negative

50% lighter periods

60% lost sex drive

54% no impact

50% improved skin

Cycle return

40% in 1 month

36% somewhat negative

48% lighter periods

54% lost sex drive

56% no impact

55% improved skin

Cycle return

28% 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 £0.18/day

Try it now

£From £0.25/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Mercilon pill reviews

50 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  30th May 25

Mercilon pill  

Vagina is very dry and sex has become a chore as I also have a low sex drive now

Read more

Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mercilon pill  

Good pill, not a lot of mood changes however when I took a break from it for a few months my mood improved so much that I almost didn’t go back. This is my second time trying it so I hope it doesn’t affect me too much


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

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 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  30th May 25

Mercilon pill  

Vagina is very dry and sex has become a chore as I also have a low sex drive now


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Mercilon pill  

Good pill, not a lot of mood changes however when I took a break from it for a few months my mood improved so much that I almost didn’t go back. This is my second time trying it so I hope it doesn’t affect me too much


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

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


Yasmin pill reviews

239 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Yasmin pill  

This pill does what it claims, I noticed some improvement in my skin, I’m prone to mild acne on my chest, back, and face, and those areas have cleared up, which I’m pleased about. However, after 21 days of taking it, there’s a seven-day break, and within two days of that break I experience severe headaches and migraines. They’re often debilitating and leave me bedridden for one to three days. Because of this, I’ve decided to stop taking Yazmin altogether. Everyone reacts differently, but due to the recurring migraines and headaches, this pill just isn’t the right fit for me.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Yasmin pill  

I have PCOS and had been told this would be my best option after having tried between 6-8 other pills and patches over the last 5 years. The main concern was facial acne, body acne and lack of periods all of which this pill is incredible for. My skin has completely cleared despite taking around 2-3 months to do so, particularly stubborn back acne and periods are as they should be. However in the short time I’ve been taking this I’ve gained 4-5kg. My job is physical and I work out often so there’s not much I can put it to but the pill. Additionally I have had extreme hair loss, zero sex drive and very flatlined emotions. All in all a great pill for clearing skin though when it comes to other side effects I do think I will be stopping this once I run out.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  9th Sep 25

Yasmin pill  

From the ages of 15-20 I took Yasmin for my acne and I remember it was wonderful for my skin, hair and lightening of periods. My moods were a bit erratic and I was always teary, but I could contribute some of that to puberty/developmental years. Fast forward 13 or so years and I’ve restarted the pill, and decided on Yasmin. The first two weeks on Yasmin have been absolute hell. The main and so far only issue has been nausea which has been extreme. I’ve taken the pill in the morning with food, then in the evening with food. No matter what, I wake up feeling extremely sick and I have to take anti-nausea tablets (dramamine) to get me through the day. Considering I’ve not been on hormonal oral contraceptives in years, I’m trying to ride out the first month and see if it gets better, but for now I’m seriously nauseous with tender boobs and a teary mood, and considering quitting. It’s a shame as I feel the skin benefits and lighter periods historically were worth it.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Yasmin pill  

This pill does what it claims, I noticed some improvement in my skin, I’m prone to mild acne on my chest, back, and face, and those areas have cleared up, which I’m pleased about. However, after 21 days of taking it, there’s a seven-day break, and within two days of that break I experience severe headaches and migraines. They’re often debilitating and leave me bedridden for one to three days. Because of this, I’ve decided to stop taking Yazmin altogether. Everyone reacts differently, but due to the recurring migraines and headaches, this pill just isn’t the right fit for me.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Yasmin pill  

I have PCOS and had been told this would be my best option after having tried between 6-8 other pills and patches over the last 5 years. The main concern was facial acne, body acne and lack of periods all of which this pill is incredible for. My skin has completely cleared despite taking around 2-3 months to do so, particularly stubborn back acne and periods are as they should be. However in the short time I’ve been taking this I’ve gained 4-5kg. My job is physical and I work out often so there’s not much I can put it to but the pill. Additionally I have had extreme hair loss, zero sex drive and very flatlined emotions. All in all a great pill for clearing skin though when it comes to other side effects I do think I will be stopping this once I run out.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  9th Sep 25

Yasmin pill  

From the ages of 15-20 I took Yasmin for my acne and I remember it was wonderful for my skin, hair and lightening of periods. My moods were a bit erratic and I was always teary, but I could contribute some of that to puberty/developmental years. Fast forward 13 or so years and I’ve restarted the pill, and decided on Yasmin. The first two weeks on Yasmin have been absolute hell. The main and so far only issue has been nausea which has been extreme. I’ve taken the pill in the morning with food, then in the evening with food. No matter what, I wake up feeling extremely sick and I have to take anti-nausea tablets (dramamine) to get me through the day. Considering I’ve not been on hormonal oral contraceptives in years, I’m trying to ride out the first month and see if it gets better, but for now I’m seriously nauseous with tender boobs and a teary mood, and considering quitting. It’s a shame as I feel the skin benefits and lighter periods historically were worth it.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  9th Sep 25

Yasmin pill  

From the ages of 15-20 I took Yasmin for my acne and I remember it was wonderful for my skin, hair and lightening of periods. My moods were a bit erratic and I was always teary, but I could contribute some of that to puberty/developmental years. Fast forward 13 or so years and I’ve restarted the pill, and decided on Yasmin. The first two weeks on Yasmin have been absolute hell. The main and so far only issue has been nausea which has been extreme. I’ve taken the pill in the morning with food, then in the evening with food. No matter what, I wake up feeling extremely sick and I have to take anti-nausea tablets (dramamine) to get me through the day. Considering I’ve not been on oral contraceptives in years, I’m trying to ride out the first month and see if it gets better, but for now I’m seriously unwell and considering quitting. Shame as I feel the skin benefits and lighted periods generally are well worth it.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  9th Sep 25

Yasmin pill  

other than my boobs getting bigger i experienced significant mood swings and emotions that didn't feel like me at all. in addition to this i noticed now after being off yasmin my sex drive is THROUGH THE ROOF. i felt as if yasmin took away my sex drive and made me into an angry emotional crazy lady. sadly im going to miss my d cups; it was hard to stop yasmin because of that but mentally im so much better. after reading the reviews from other people, im glad to see that i am not crazy about yasmin decreasing my libido.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  7th Sep 25

Yasmin pill  

Overall okay, main side effect affecting me is the loss of libido and vaginally dryness as someone in a long-term relationship.


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  20th Aug 25

Yasmin pill  

Don’t listen to everyone fear mongering about the combined pill . As a young adult , I’ve had zero issues with taking it . I was at first so so scared of the side effects but I have had zero !! Literally no changed whatsoever. I have endometriosis and pcos and the pill so far hasn’t made a huge difference but then again I don’t have very many symptoms or pain for either of the conditions . No mood swings , no anxiety depression or anything . I feel exactly as before , more balanced maybe ? No weight gain at all , didn’t kill my libido either . Actually I would say it made my libido a bit stronger . No change in personality , sense of smell taste or anything else . I’ve had literally zero effects and feel just like before . So honestly if you’re thinking of going on it , try it for a month , you can always quit if you don’t like it . Remember everyone’s body is different though and may react in a different way.


Increased sex drive

1 helpful

0 comments

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

Yasmin pill  

At first I spotted almost everyday but after 2 months the spotting stopped. I noticed that I started having mood swings, 😔. The most uncomfortable though is the breast enlargement. My breasts have grown bigger. They're mostly feeling tender and sore. It's uncomfortable. Other than that the pill didn't change my menstrual cycle.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th Jul 25

Yasmin pill  

As soon as I started taking it, my first period whist on this pill came after a week and it was the most horrible period I’ve had in my entire life (it was a longer period then I ever had before (with really heavy cramps constantly) that was the first step in the negative journey. After that, I continued taking it and my acne got worse especially on my back. I had thought it would improve but was much worse event at month two. After two months of taking this pill, I’ve also gained weight which I noticed straight away but had put down to temporary water retention but seems to not budge and have had extreme weight fluctuations like never before and been feeling very off and not myself ever since taking it/depressed, also have lost all sex drive. I am at the point where it’s either stick it out for another month to see if symptoms ease up or stop and cut my losses. I’ve decided to stop.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  17th Apr 25

Yasmin pill  

Has been really helpful for my moods as i would get bad pms, i feel a lot more stable through the months. i gained a lot of weight at one point but then lost it. my boobs consistently got bigger, at certain times in the month they are very very tender. i had lost my sex drive for a few months when i first started but it then came back, but i was really not eager for anything for ages. It’s helped my back and chest acne, and my face is better but has flare ups. I get a period every 3 months but it lasts like 14 days but not that heavy.


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

1 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Mercilon pill with other contraceptives

Compare the Yasmin pill with other contraceptives

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