Yasmin pill vs Gedarel 20/150 pill
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£From £0.25/day
£From £0.20/day
Overview
Rated 3.0
217 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.7
130 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
Yasmin pill reviews
217 reviews
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I swapped to Yasmin after trying so many and I felt like I’d struck gold! My skin improved loads (but must also note was under a dermatologist as well) but my skin has continued to be really clear My mood is a lot better provided I run the packets back to back - do find my mood plummets whenever I have a 7 day break but only do this once every 3-6 months I do get headaches but unclear if it coincides with Yasmin but GP is requesting I stop due to this however I’m reluctant due to have good this pill has been!
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 27th Aug 24
This is the third pill I’ve tried and I’ve finally found one I want to stay on. I lost weight, my skin cleared up, my bra size has gone up in cup in 3 months, I’m much calmer on this pill I’m someone who is neurodivergent which causes me lots of anxiety and this pill has made me a lot more optimistic and relaxed. Only been on it 3 months if anything changes I’ll update!
Very positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 23rd Aug 24
I was on this pill for a few months and it was mostly fine. HOWEVER I realised later down the line it was giving me chronic IBS-like symptoms. I’ve never had IBS before but as soon as I started this pill I started having digestive issues, I was either constipated or constantly needing the toilet. Also major nausea especially after eating. It got really quite bad towards the 3 month mark, and was affecting me every single day. It gave me major anxiety about eating so I lost a lot of weight. Finally connected the dots and came off it and the symptoms gradually went away. There are studies that have linked drospirenone to IBS and symptoms like these so it makes sense now! Otherwise, I had very little issues with this pill. It didn’t majorly affect my mood or sex drive. My breasts grew very slightly but no tenderness. Other annoying side effects were occasional thrush and random patches of dry skin. I could cope with that but not the constant nausea and sh*ts😭 so I’ll be avoiding drospirenone at all costs from now on!!
Top side effects not reported
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I swapped to Yasmin after trying so many and I felt like I’d struck gold! My skin improved loads (but must also note was under a dermatologist as well) but my skin has continued to be really clear My mood is a lot better provided I run the packets back to back - do find my mood plummets whenever I have a 7 day break but only do this once every 3-6 months I do get headaches but unclear if it coincides with Yasmin but GP is requesting I stop due to this however I’m reluctant due to have good this pill has been!
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 27th Aug 24
This is the third pill I’ve tried and I’ve finally found one I want to stay on. I lost weight, my skin cleared up, my bra size has gone up in cup in 3 months, I’m much calmer on this pill I’m someone who is neurodivergent which causes me lots of anxiety and this pill has made me a lot more optimistic and relaxed. Only been on it 3 months if anything changes I’ll update!
Very positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 23rd Aug 24
I was on this pill for a few months and it was mostly fine. HOWEVER I realised later down the line it was giving me chronic IBS-like symptoms. I’ve never had IBS before but as soon as I started this pill I started having digestive issues, I was either constipated or constantly needing the toilet. Also major nausea especially after eating. It got really quite bad towards the 3 month mark, and was affecting me every single day. It gave me major anxiety about eating so I lost a lot of weight. Finally connected the dots and came off it and the symptoms gradually went away. There are studies that have linked drospirenone to IBS and symptoms like these so it makes sense now! Otherwise, I had very little issues with this pill. It didn’t majorly affect my mood or sex drive. My breasts grew very slightly but no tenderness. Other annoying side effects were occasional thrush and random patches of dry skin. I could cope with that but not the constant nausea and sh*ts😭 so I’ll be avoiding drospirenone at all costs from now on!!
Top side effects not reported
2 helpful
0 comments
Gedarel 20/150 pill reviews
130 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2nd Jul 24
Have been using Gedarel for 2 weeks now, the initial side effects in week 1 were strong.I got dizzy, was nauseous and slightly depressed.By week 2 I didn't feel as bad, my boobs started to hurt and I got light cramping, my moods are still up and down but not as severely.Overall ive had mild symptoms.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 20th May 24
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 16th May 24
This definitely helped me with my PMS symptoms. No significant changes to my weight. I had more sensitive skin / allergic reactions during my time on it but not necessarily due to the pill. My mood was pretty similar to when I was off the pill.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2nd Jul 24
Have been using Gedarel for 2 weeks now, the initial side effects in week 1 were strong.I got dizzy, was nauseous and slightly depressed.By week 2 I didn't feel as bad, my boobs started to hurt and I got light cramping, my moods are still up and down but not as severely.Overall ive had mild symptoms.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 20th May 24
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 16th May 24
This definitely helped me with my PMS symptoms. No significant changes to my weight. I had more sensitive skin / allergic reactions during my time on it but not necessarily due to the pill. My mood was pretty similar to when I was off the pill.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 7th May 24
It was alright however I gained weight on it and it made me have horrible mood swings
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 15th Apr 24
Having been on this pill for a year, I noticed that I hadn't felt like myself for a while. I found myself with persistently lower moods. Even during times of joy, the feeling felt dampened. This is the primary reason I decided to stop taking this pill; no contraception is worth losing yourself to! I am still in the early stages of being off this pill, but I feel relieved to have made the choice. It did make my withdrawal bleeds ("periods") very light. However, I do also think it completely suppressed my libido. I (being naive) thought that being on a low dosage pill, I might have fewer symptoms, but it just hasn't worked for me. I just wish there were more non-hormonal options out there.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 31st Mar 24
I had terrible experiences (bouts of acne) around age 17/18 with higher dose pills like Yasmin. Eventually settled on Marvelon and was put onto Gedarel (higher dosage) when there were stock issues. After 2 years I moved to the lower dose of Gedarel, and had a relatively positive experience with it for around 5 years but things have worsened recently. Side effects have been; spots around chin around end of pill pack, some spotting when taking back-to-back, lower sex-drive. More significant side-effects have been water-retention/weight gain and boob size increase. I am now thinking about coming off Gedarel as I have noticed the side effects have become more dramatic and all other things are equal - my boobs change massively in size throughout the course of a pack of pills, they are tender, and my weight is also massively fluctuating (I assume from water retention - between 55 - 60kg within the month). I am very active and generally healthy, if anything I am less stressed and have a healthier lifestyle now than I did a few years ago, yet the frequent changes to my body are making me feel uncomfortable in my own skin.
Increased sex drive
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 30th Jan 24
I have now taken this for a year and the side effects of this pill are more prominent than my previous pill. I bleed and spot after having a break, my sex drive has decreased and I encounter random strong period cramps randomly throughout the month
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 13th Nov 23
Positives: 1. in my last year on this my acne was almost none existent, which was a massive an improvement from when I started it. 2. My periods were also shorter (4-5 days), and my last day bleeding was very light. 3. Not 1 pregnancy scare the whole 3 years, completely protected!! Negatives: 1. no sex drive, I was told this wasn’t a result of the pill but of my mood & life. I can vouch this was incorrect because I’m now 3 months off the pill & my sex drive is through the roof. 2. My mood was always flat, I had happy moments but generally life felt pretty grey 3. My heavy period days were just as heavy & crampy as pre-pill. 4. Exhaustion & lower back pain pre-period. 5. Weight gain & obsession with food, always felt hungry. Overall this pill wasn’t bad as I just got used to the symptoms, but since being off it I genuinely cant believe that I was that shell of a person for the 3 years on it, and the 6 years before that that I was on other contraception.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 26th Sep 23
The pill is overall effective in preventing pregnancy, however, in the two years I have been using it, I have been experiencing spotting and unexplained bleeding intermittently. It doesn't happen every single month but is very unpredictable and inconvenient. I would not recommend this if you are after something which gives you regular, consistent periods.
Improved skin
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 24th Aug 23
It took a couple of months for initial symptoms to improve after beginning this pill, and I have taken it continuously for all except the first cycle. The first cycle was a disaster, I cried for 48 hours of the pill break, and haven't taken one since! No spotting since then, and I've noticed some weight gain and hair loss but nothing drastic.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
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