Qlaira pill vs Gedarel 30/150 pill
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Overview
Rated 3.3
18 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.8
147 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
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
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Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Qlaira pill reviews
18 reviews
Used for 6 - 12 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
I initially wanted a pill that would help decrease my light acne, address mood swings, and alleviate awful cramps. I also hated using pads as it made my skin irritated. In the first month, it was all fine; shortly after, my acne was pretty much gone with just a few pimples left at the end of the month due to PMS. My period almost stopped completely, and my cramps were significantly lowered. After 2 months of usage, I noticed a pattern: 3 weeks with constant anxiety and depression, and then in the fourth week, I felt normal, a few days before the end of the pills. It proceeded to be this way for 5 months. Then I started to feel nauseous, and my awful cramps were back, alongside the increased breakthrough bleeding. I'm now trying to find a combined pill that meets my needs and doesn't give me severe anxiety and depression for 3 weeks of the month. My advice is: if you are like me and naturally have long PMS, I don't recommend this pill. I've tried other birth control pills before, but none were worse than this one. My doctor said it happened due to the fact that Qlaira tries to imitate the natural flow by altering the hormone quantity throughout the month, and keeps up the promise, but when you naturally have bad mood swings, it is not a good thing.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 9th Aug 24
This pill has been really great for me with regards to my severe PMS and mood swings. I came on the pill as I was suffering with severe PMS and cyclical insomnia. So far, this has been a game changer for me. Pros: -Bioidentical oestrogen, meaning no thrush (I used to get this on every single combined pill in the past, and it was impossible to eradicate). -Bioidentical oestrogen also means no large, swollen, painful breasts. No change here (although mine are tiny so could have done with a boost!) -Only a two day break from any hormones. Mood swings are vastly decreased. I only have mild ones on the final two days. -The constant supply of oestrogen means my insomnia is virtually gone. I still struggle on the last four days of my cycle on this pill (where oestrogen is at 1mg for two days, then none for the next two), but it's only four days out of the month. I will take that over the 14 I was having pre pill. -My very early (I'm only 34) peri-menopausal symptoms have gone. Cons: -I have permanent breakthrough bleeding from around days 15-28. I use a pantyliner though and it doesn't stop me going about my day, or reduce sexual activity. -My sex drive has decreased somewhat - I have a very high sex drive naturally, but this has significantly dropped. However, I don't see this as a huge con, since my partner's sex drive is significantly lower than mine. So it's helped to even out any differences and arguments we were having around this.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 28th May 24
overall, i am very pleased with the qlaira pill. i have been using it for 11 months now, after first using the ‘regular’ birth-control pill. i switched because the regular pill gave me very heavy mood swings and depressive feelings. this is something that i have not experienced while using qlaira. i do, however, feel a bit more sensitive around certain places on my body. i usually do not wish to be touched on intimate places by my partner, which is a side effect of this contraceptive. my cycles are now very regular, and my period usually lasts only 2/3 days. i definitely recommend this pill to anyone who has experienced heavy side effects from a regular birth control pill.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
I initially wanted a pill that would help decrease my light acne, address mood swings, and alleviate awful cramps. I also hated using pads as it made my skin irritated. In the first month, it was all fine; shortly after, my acne was pretty much gone with just a few pimples left at the end of the month due to PMS. My period almost stopped completely, and my cramps were significantly lowered. After 2 months of usage, I noticed a pattern: 3 weeks with constant anxiety and depression, and then in the fourth week, I felt normal, a few days before the end of the pills. It proceeded to be this way for 5 months. Then I started to feel nauseous, and my awful cramps were back, alongside the increased breakthrough bleeding. I'm now trying to find a combined pill that meets my needs and doesn't give me severe anxiety and depression for 3 weeks of the month. My advice is: if you are like me and naturally have long PMS, I don't recommend this pill. I've tried other birth control pills before, but none were worse than this one. My doctor said it happened due to the fact that Qlaira tries to imitate the natural flow by altering the hormone quantity throughout the month, and keeps up the promise, but when you naturally have bad mood swings, it is not a good thing.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 9th Aug 24
This pill has been really great for me with regards to my severe PMS and mood swings. I came on the pill as I was suffering with severe PMS and cyclical insomnia. So far, this has been a game changer for me. Pros: -Bioidentical oestrogen, meaning no thrush (I used to get this on every single combined pill in the past, and it was impossible to eradicate). -Bioidentical oestrogen also means no large, swollen, painful breasts. No change here (although mine are tiny so could have done with a boost!) -Only a two day break from any hormones. Mood swings are vastly decreased. I only have mild ones on the final two days. -The constant supply of oestrogen means my insomnia is virtually gone. I still struggle on the last four days of my cycle on this pill (where oestrogen is at 1mg for two days, then none for the next two), but it's only four days out of the month. I will take that over the 14 I was having pre pill. -My very early (I'm only 34) peri-menopausal symptoms have gone. Cons: -I have permanent breakthrough bleeding from around days 15-28. I use a pantyliner though and it doesn't stop me going about my day, or reduce sexual activity. -My sex drive has decreased somewhat - I have a very high sex drive naturally, but this has significantly dropped. However, I don't see this as a huge con, since my partner's sex drive is significantly lower than mine. So it's helped to even out any differences and arguments we were having around this.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 28th May 24
overall, i am very pleased with the qlaira pill. i have been using it for 11 months now, after first using the ‘regular’ birth-control pill. i switched because the regular pill gave me very heavy mood swings and depressive feelings. this is something that i have not experienced while using qlaira. i do, however, feel a bit more sensitive around certain places on my body. i usually do not wish to be touched on intimate places by my partner, which is a side effect of this contraceptive. my cycles are now very regular, and my period usually lasts only 2/3 days. i definitely recommend this pill to anyone who has experienced heavy side effects from a regular birth control pill.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Gedarel 30/150 pill reviews
147 reviews
Used for 12 - 18 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
36 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3rd Sep 24
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
Used for 3 - 6 mo
43 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 31st Aug 24
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
Used for 12 - 18 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
36 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3rd Sep 24
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
Used for 3 - 6 mo
43 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 31st Aug 24
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
Used for 12 - 18 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 23rd Jun 24
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 17th Jun 24
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
Used for 3 - 5 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 31st May 24
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
Used for 6 - 12 mo
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 16th May 24
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
Used for 5 - 8 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 29th Feb 24
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
Used for 5 - 8 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 13th Feb 24
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
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