Microgynon 30 ED pill vs Yasmin pill

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Microgynon 30 ED pill

£From £0.20/day

Yasmin pill

£From £0.25/day

Overview

Rated 2.5

40 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.0

252 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Microgynon 30 ED pill ingredients

Main hormones in Microgynon 30 ED pill

Androgenic progestogen

Medium oestrogen


Yasmin pill ingredients

Main hormones in Yasmin pill

Anti-Androgenic progestogen

Medium oestrogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

48% very negative

38% lighter periods

55% lost sex drive

45% no impact

44% worse skin

Cycle return

39% in 1 month

37% somewhat negative

48% lighter periods

54% lost sex drive

56% no impact

56% 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 £0.20/day

Try it now

£From £0.25/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Microgynon 30 ED pill reviews

40 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Microgynon 30 ED pill  

The pill did what it was supposed to which is to stop pregnancy and knowing when my periods would be. I feel like my experience might be a little different to others as I started these pills when I was about 17 and only got off them when I was about 30. So I only know this type of contraception and also not really aware of my natural cycle/hormones until I got off them. I feel like being on them made me emotionless? When I got off them, I started crying a lot more at little things and realise I had a lot more emotional range. I experienced really bad hair loss when I got off them- clumps of hair was coming out when washing my hair. I am lucky I am asian so have thicker hair anyways so the hair loss made me have thinner hair but it’s not like I have none left. Right now I am doing more to get my hair to grow back and it is slowly growing as I have a lot of baby hairs which is a good sign. I also experienced adult acne when I got off the pill. I’ve had clear skin for as long as I can remember and when I got off the pill, I was experiencing really bad acne and still experience that now. Being clear of this pill for a few years now I am happier I feel like in general and my periods are regular as I track it using an app, periods aren’t as heavy as it used to be when I was on the pill and not as painful. Also can confirm fertility is back to normal as well. I am writing about my experience as I was on it a long time and I’m not sure whether as I’m getting older other factors would come into play in terms of my own experience

Read more

Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  18th Nov 25

Microgynon 30 ED pill  

The “Nordette” pill was not much better than the Nur-Isterate injection. It just decreased my mood swings. I lost a bit of weight (went back to my normal size) my acne got worse . Libido was still incredibly low. And Vag still as dry as a desert


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  13th May 25

Microgynon 30 ED pill  

I started this pill 4 months ago, and i’ve noticed that i’ve bruised a lot, especially on my arms knees legs etc. i had swapped birth controls> from the injection seyena press to the combined pill and the injection, i had no period for the 2 year period i was using, started the pill and have had 2 quite big heavy periods- having a clear out isn’t an issue but the pain i am in is a lot. either way this pill is great whilst using for 4 months+ :)


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Microgynon 30 ED pill  

The pill did what it was supposed to which is to stop pregnancy and knowing when my periods would be. I feel like my experience might be a little different to others as I started these pills when I was about 17 and only got off them when I was about 30. So I only know this type of contraception and also not really aware of my natural cycle/hormones until I got off them. I feel like being on them made me emotionless? When I got off them, I started crying a lot more at little things and realise I had a lot more emotional range. I experienced really bad hair loss when I got off them- clumps of hair was coming out when washing my hair. I am lucky I am asian so have thicker hair anyways so the hair loss made me have thinner hair but it’s not like I have none left. Right now I am doing more to get my hair to grow back and it is slowly growing as I have a lot of baby hairs which is a good sign. I also experienced adult acne when I got off the pill. I’ve had clear skin for as long as I can remember and when I got off the pill, I was experiencing really bad acne and still experience that now. Being clear of this pill for a few years now I am happier I feel like in general and my periods are regular as I track it using an app, periods aren’t as heavy as it used to be when I was on the pill and not as painful. Also can confirm fertility is back to normal as well. I am writing about my experience as I was on it a long time and I’m not sure whether as I’m getting older other factors would come into play in terms of my own experience


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  18th Nov 25

Microgynon 30 ED pill  

The “Nordette” pill was not much better than the Nur-Isterate injection. It just decreased my mood swings. I lost a bit of weight (went back to my normal size) my acne got worse . Libido was still incredibly low. And Vag still as dry as a desert


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  13th May 25

Microgynon 30 ED pill  

I started this pill 4 months ago, and i’ve noticed that i’ve bruised a lot, especially on my arms knees legs etc. i had swapped birth controls> from the injection seyena press to the combined pill and the injection, i had no period for the 2 year period i was using, started the pill and have had 2 quite big heavy periods- having a clear out isn’t an issue but the pain i am in is a lot. either way this pill is great whilst using for 4 months+ :)


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments


Yasmin pill reviews

252 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Yasmin pill  

I have found my experience with Yasmin ok. I like that my mood is much better than on other pills and I feel more like myself, but I have completely lost my sex drive and experienced other negative symptoms unfortunately


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Yasmin pill  

During my first month I’ve had severe breakthrough bleeding that was heavy and lasted for 3 weeks, during the 3 weeks I was very emotional and paranoid. After the breakthrough bleed I developed two large spots on my lip and cheek (I never had this issue nor acne). Over all the pill hasn’t done much for me so far other than making me very paranoid about the side effects.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  13th Feb 26

Yasmin pill  

utis


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Yasmin pill  

I have found my experience with Yasmin ok. I like that my mood is much better than on other pills and I feel more like myself, but I have completely lost my sex drive and experienced other negative symptoms unfortunately


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Yasmin pill  

During my first month I’ve had severe breakthrough bleeding that was heavy and lasted for 3 weeks, during the 3 weeks I was very emotional and paranoid. After the breakthrough bleed I developed two large spots on my lip and cheek (I never had this issue nor acne). Over all the pill hasn’t done much for me so far other than making me very paranoid about the side effects.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  13th Feb 26

Yasmin pill  

utis


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  15th Jan 26

Yasmin pill  

Ok


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th Jan 26

Yasmin pill  

I’ve been on Yasmin consistently for 13 years and have never had issues. I remember the first 1-3 months of taking it I did have a bit of nausea but after that, no side effects. I know I am one of the lucky few, but I really love this pill. I never have any issues and never period pain, I have great skin, no weight gain or libido loss. I haven’t changed brands because of how amazing it has been for me.


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1st Jan 26

Yasmin pill  

It seems with this I lose and gain weight easily, overall loose weight I don’t have much appetite and I’ve lost a lot of breast fullness which is a shame


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  12th Dec 25

Yasmin pill  

So I was prescribed the yasmin pill for my PCOS after being on desogestrel since I was about 14 for my periods. I’ve always had really really irregular periods, and bled very heavily. They would last for 2 weeks roughly and sometimes id have two in one month. In my particular case, I was told to take yasmin continuously, so all 3 packets in a row and then stop for a 7 day break, and start a new box. This has worked well for me i think (baring in mind i’ve only just started my 2nd box). At the beginning I had severe nausea, not to the point of throwing up but it was there constantly all day. I started taking the pill just before bed, so 11pm- midnight roughly and that seemed to help with the nausea. That was the side effect that has affected me the most, and since restarting after my 7 day break I am still experiencing nausea. I’m just praying it goes away after 1-2 weeks like it did before. Aside from that, my sex drive historically has been really high. I was down to do it whenever, and no issues whatsoever. Since being on yasmin, i literally could not think of ANYTHING worse than having sex with my partner. (it is nothing to do with him!!) I just have absolutely 0 sex drive, I can’t even get horny unless i really stick with it- so that’s been another big issue for me. I have also had quite bad acne since I was in school, and i’ve always struggled with it especially on my chin, forehead and back. I haven’t noticed a change in my acne yet but praying yasmin is able to clear some of it up! In terms of my PCOS management aswell, yasmin has made my first period during my 7 day break incredibly light, I hardly needed to wear a pad at all. I had cramps but nowhere near as bad as they used to be and it also seemed to completely stop around the 4 day mark out of 7. So if i’m being completely honest, my experience on yasmin so far has been okay- i’m struggling with the nausea and low sex drive but hoping as the weeks/ months go on my body will adapt to the hormones and i’ll be back to normal. If anyone out there is struggling with severe irregular periods and pcos symptoms I would recommend giving it a try and sticking it out for atleast 6 months to 1 year. for me personally my periods are so much easier to deal with, and i will do an update in a few months time to see if my skin and other side effects have cleared!


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th Dec 25

Yasmin pill  

This is an update as I have now been taking Yasmin for over 10 months. I changed to this pill specifically because another pill gave me terrible acne that did not go away after stopping it and trying an old pill I had been on, nor when I came off hormonal birth control all together to test if that would fix things. I know a lot of people wonder how long it will take for Yasmin to totally clear up acne and for me it was between 5-6 months. I remember I had one terrible, cystic spot for a birthday gathering I was attending in July this year (hence this being seared in my mind lol) and after that my skin cleared up, practically nothing since. Truly the only downside has been the quite considerable hit it’s taken on my libido — my husband is not the most pleased about that aspect but saw how down I was with the bad skin so appreciates that this was the right decision, haha. Unfortunately I moved back to Scotland late summer and Yasmin is not provided here, so I will be changing to another pill. Now begins the test to see if my clear skin remains after I finish this final pack and go back on an old reliable pill I was on from years before that had no side-effects. 🤞🏻


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

1 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2nd Dec 25

Yasmin pill  

Love this pill, I've been on it for nearly 10 years now and have noticed few changes and side effects. If anything, my skin is more clear and my periods are light (3-4 days instead of my usual 6-7). I feel more emotional than baseline but it does not bother my day-to-day activities.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Yasmin pill  

My worst side effects have been the mood swings, I am crying a lot more for no reason than I ever did before, it definitely has made me more emotional. My period has gone from being 3 to 4 days to being 1.5 / 2. My breasts become really sore and hard before and after my period. I don’t feel as sexually active as before and I experience dryness more regularly than normal. My skin is completely clear with the pill. Everything bad is / has been fairly manageable, not ideal but haven’t had any pregnancy scares.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Microgynon 30 ED pill with other contraceptives

Compare the Yasmin pill with other contraceptives

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