Mercilon pill vs Yasmin pill

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Mercilon pill

£From £0.16/day

Yasmin pill

£From £0.21/day

Overview

Rated 2.9

48 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.9

202 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

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 £0.16/day

Try it now

£From £0.21/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Mercilon pill reviews

48 reviews

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  14th Aug 23

  •  Still using

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.

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Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 12 - 18 mo
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Jan 23

  •  Stopped using

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.


Top side effects not reported

3 helpful

0 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  11th Nov 22

  •  Stopped using

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.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  14th Aug 23

  •  Still using

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.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 12 - 18 mo
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Jan 23

  •  Stopped using

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.


Top side effects not reported

3 helpful

0 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  11th Nov 22

  •  Stopped using

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.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments


Yasmin pill reviews

202 reviews

Used for 3 - 6 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  29th Oct 23

  •  Stopped using

Much better than previous contraception I was on. Having to change to mini pill for health reasons


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 6 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  15th Oct 23

  •  Stopped using

I was on rigevidon for a few years which I found made me really emotionless and dull. I switched to this one bc of the different type of progesterone and found it gave me quite severe mood swings. I was annoyed with everyone around me and very self critical but then a day later I’d be absolutely fine. There was definitely a big change in my mood between the two pills.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Used for 5 - 8 yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  10th Oct 23

  •  Stopped using

I’ve been off Yasmin now since end of June 2023 and had the jaydess coil fitted in july. I feel so much better mentally and physically for being off it. The more I read about the combined pill the more I wish I had never been on it in the first place. It’s so wrong that drs just prescribe this method of contraception so quickly and to young girls, which alters your hormonal development. I wouldn’t recommend it


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 6 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  29th Oct 23

  •  Stopped using

Much better than previous contraception I was on. Having to change to mini pill for health reasons


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 6 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  15th Oct 23

  •  Stopped using

I was on rigevidon for a few years which I found made me really emotionless and dull. I switched to this one bc of the different type of progesterone and found it gave me quite severe mood swings. I was annoyed with everyone around me and very self critical but then a day later I’d be absolutely fine. There was definitely a big change in my mood between the two pills.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Used for 5 - 8 yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  10th Oct 23

  •  Stopped using

I’ve been off Yasmin now since end of June 2023 and had the jaydess coil fitted in july. I feel so much better mentally and physically for being off it. The more I read about the combined pill the more I wish I had never been on it in the first place. It’s so wrong that drs just prescribe this method of contraception so quickly and to young girls, which alters your hormonal development. I wouldn’t recommend it


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 6 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  18th Aug 23

  •  Stopped using

First 3 packs were fine, in the 4th i developed SEVERE anxiety panic attacks daily which is SO unlike me, nothing ever stressed me out before. I also cried every day and felt like a completely different person. The anxiety caused me to not be able to drive or work due to lightheadedness and nausea and even just sitting on the sofa i had constant heart palpitations. It was so severe i had 111 on the phone and went to the hospital and i am not one to panic about my health. If you’re experiencing similar symptoms definitely come off this pill.


Top side effects not reported

2 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 5 yr
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  15th Aug 23

  •  Still using

I have been on this pill for many years, the main reason was problems with my skin. I was first on Dianette then changed to Yasmin. Since being on this pill I suffer with extreme headaches during my period. I did stop taking this pill last year for a procedure then started back on it after Christmas 2022, I have since gained lots of weight and my sex drive is nonexistent (poor husband) overall I do not recommend this pill.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  28th Jul 23

  •  Still using

giving this one more month before i try a different one because so far my experience with yasmin has been extremely negative. some of my worst issues with it are the on and off nausea and cramps almost every day, as well as painful, sensitive, and swollen chest. i started taking this to reduce my period symptoms and pms, so it has been really annoying that it has not really improved any but instead given me them every day. i also didn't experience nausea before but now i have that which has also given me an irregular appetite. i became extremely emotional, low mood, crying most days, bad anxiety and low self esteem, and physically tired and slow too. also when i got to the pill break it felt just like my normal periods except with even more large clots. yasmin has made me feel really disheartened and i can only hope i have more luck with something else, or these side effects ease off


Top side effects not reported

3 helpful

0 comments

Used for 8+ yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  15th Jul 23

  •  Stopped using

Having been on the Yasmin pill since the age of 15yo, (for 15 years, currently 30yo) it’s difficult to pinpoint whether it’s the pill causing exaggerated anxiety , low moods, frustration, insecurities mood swings etc, or, if it’s just who I am, coupled with external stressors of everyday life! I don’t know who I am without it. With such a high dose of hormone, I can only believe this has impacted my mental health but then again typical women we doubt ourselves and dismiss it. The positives of taking the Yasmin pill , is that my skin has always been great, my periods regular, and fairly light. I think it made my boobs a little bigger, but then again , this could have just happened with getting older. The pill has allowed me to have more sexual freedom and manage my periods better, but I don’t think it’s worth the impact it’s had on my mood. I’ve recently had the Jaydess hormonal coil fitted and I look forward in hope that this will be the better option for me & I can start to learn about who I am off the pill. Good luck everyone x


Top side effects not reported

3 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 5 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  7th Jul 23

  •  Stopped using

This pill was ok. I was on it for years and it suited me well aside from the extremely low libido and vaginal dryness. When having sex, I had to use lube every single time. I came off the pill because I felt like a zombie. I felt like I had no emotions, I was numb. I did feel better after I came off it, I felt I could feel my emotions more.


Top side effects not reported

3 helpful

0 comments

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  7th Jul 23

  •  Stopped using

I did really like this pill. I felt the symptoms were minimal and I enjoyed being able to run packs together and skip periods. I unfortunately developed a cervical ectropion due to too much estrogen in my body, so had to come off this pill


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th Jul 23

  •  Stopped using

I was previously on many different combined pills for 11 years I came off it due to my relationship breaking up I had over 1year of all contraception and I was a changed person, so happy and relaxed. I got into a new relationship and went onto the Yasmin pill, which was the worst thing I could have ever done, it drove me crazy I was crying all the time, so sad and emotional, very insecure and argumentative, I also had no desire to do anything or go anywhere! I came off it after 5 months and I will continue to use condoms for the foreseeable as I am not afraid to use any other contraception.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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