Fertility awareness methods (FAM) vs Combined pill

Need help choosing? Speak to a doctor
Fertility awareness methods (FAM)

Add your fertility awareness methods (FAM) review

Combined pill

£From £0.16/day

Overview

Rated 4.3

157 reviews

Daily

Frequency

92% - 98%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

2582 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Fertility awareness methods (FAM) ingredients

Fertility awareness methods is an umbrella term for a method of contraception that works by being able to identify when in the menstrual cycle you are fertile through a range of factors.

Combined pill ingredients

Main hormones in Combined pill

progestogen

oestrogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

50% very positive

63% no change

50% increased sex drive

82% no impact

59% no impact on skin

Cycle return

64% in 1 month

31% somewhat negative

47% lighter periods

46% lost sex drive

48% no impact

44% improved skin

Cycle return

36% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

There are no benefits that are recognised in scientific research or guidelines for this contraceptive

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

Try it now

Add your fertility awareness methods (FAM) review

Try it now

£From £0.16/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Fertility awareness methods (FAM) reviews

157 reviews

Fertility awareness methods (FAM)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Symptothermal method  

I had been on PoP contraceptive pill for nearly 10yrs, I have also tried CoC's and injection prior. I wanted to learn more about my body and be natural. This method takes a lot of research and understanding in order for it to work and be effective. I read books and watched YouTube videos to educate myself and joined FB/Reddit group. I use an app called read your body to input my temperature and other symptoms to track where I am in my cycle. It is all done manually by me and not relying on a system like natural cycles to do it for me as this is less reliable....Since stopping the pill my libido came back which is great and I feel emotions depending on where I am in my cycle. My Cycle regulated within 2 months after stopping the pill and for the past 3 years I have learned what is normal for me. My cycle is very text book 28 days long on the dot every month, I ovulate on day 15. This method works for me, I haven't gotten pregnant but on the days during my cycle I could get pregnant, we use condoms rather than abstaining. I would say it took me about 6 months to learn and feel confident in this approach.

Read more

Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Fertility awareness methods (FAM)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Apr 25

Natural Cycles App  

I’ve been using NC since 2021, I use to love this app and tell everybody about it until I had sex on a green day and got pregnant. I used to think it would never happen to me as I’ll use the app right. Measured every day and was very religious with the app. However, I ovulated earlier and fell pregnant! The app only goes off previous ovulation compared to current meaning it doesn’t prevent pregnancy as yes you have red days but it’s just a prediction! For example green day on day 6 (had sex) and ovulated on day 10 (red days) and fell pregnant. Ovulated 5 days early! Sperm can live inside you for 5 days hence why I’m pregnant and will be getting an abortion.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Fertility awareness methods (FAM)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5th Jan 25

Natural Cycles App  

I've had an entirely positive experience using Natural Cycles. While using the impant I was struggling with acne, mood swings, irregular periods. And since swapping to use Natural Cycles I've felt much better in myself, my periods are very regular, I feel I understand my body and cycle so much more, and my skin has cleared up. In 5 years of using it it's been 100% effective at preventing pregnancy, I'm very careful to measure consistently, and I use the Oura Ring to help get accurate readings. But this small effort seems like a small price to pay in exchange for getting rid of all the nasty side effects of my previous contraception


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Fertility awareness methods (FAM)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Symptothermal method  

I had been on PoP contraceptive pill for nearly 10yrs, I have also tried CoC's and injection prior. I wanted to learn more about my body and be natural. This method takes a lot of research and understanding in order for it to work and be effective. I read books and watched YouTube videos to educate myself and joined FB/Reddit group. I use an app called read your body to input my temperature and other symptoms to track where I am in my cycle. It is all done manually by me and not relying on a system like natural cycles to do it for me as this is less reliable....Since stopping the pill my libido came back which is great and I feel emotions depending on where I am in my cycle. My Cycle regulated within 2 months after stopping the pill and for the past 3 years I have learned what is normal for me. My cycle is very text book 28 days long on the dot every month, I ovulate on day 15. This method works for me, I haven't gotten pregnant but on the days during my cycle I could get pregnant, we use condoms rather than abstaining. I would say it took me about 6 months to learn and feel confident in this approach.


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Fertility awareness methods (FAM)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Apr 25

Natural Cycles App  

I’ve been using NC since 2021, I use to love this app and tell everybody about it until I had sex on a green day and got pregnant. I used to think it would never happen to me as I’ll use the app right. Measured every day and was very religious with the app. However, I ovulated earlier and fell pregnant! The app only goes off previous ovulation compared to current meaning it doesn’t prevent pregnancy as yes you have red days but it’s just a prediction! For example green day on day 6 (had sex) and ovulated on day 10 (red days) and fell pregnant. Ovulated 5 days early! Sperm can live inside you for 5 days hence why I’m pregnant and will be getting an abortion.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Fertility awareness methods (FAM)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5th Jan 25

Natural Cycles App  

I've had an entirely positive experience using Natural Cycles. While using the impant I was struggling with acne, mood swings, irregular periods. And since swapping to use Natural Cycles I've felt much better in myself, my periods are very regular, I feel I understand my body and cycle so much more, and my skin has cleared up. In 5 years of using it it's been 100% effective at preventing pregnancy, I'm very careful to measure consistently, and I use the Oura Ring to help get accurate readings. But this small effort seems like a small price to pay in exchange for getting rid of all the nasty side effects of my previous contraception


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments


Combined pill reviews

2582 reviews

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

Brevinor pill  

nknkn


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

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 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Rigevidon  

I really didn't like this pill. It caused my mood to plummet, and I gained weight on it.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Brevinor pill  

nknkn


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

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 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Rigevidon  

I really didn't like this pill. It caused my mood to plummet, and I gained weight on it.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Femodette pill  

I was prescribed Femodette because I wanted a COC pill that would not cause my mood to worsen. It didn't have any impact on my mood, which is great, but the weight gain I experienced on this pill made me consider alternative methods of contraception.


Increased sex drive

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Ambelina pill  

my pharmacy moved me to this pill when my previous one was not available. I was hesitent at first but found it lightened my discharge which was always so heavy on my previous pill. I was forced to stop this pill due to unavailbilty but i am currently trying to get it back because after a month back on my old pill i am now seeing how much better this one was for me. I didnt notice the positive changes until i had to go back onto my old one. But if anything that is a good thing to me because it felt natural.


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Rigevidon  

It was good in the sense that my “cycle” felt really regular and I had very consistent moods which felt good as it avoided the PMS I used to get. The peace of mind as a contraceptive method was also good. Whilst I was on it I didnt realise anything significantly different about myself. However, when I came off it i didnt realise how much of my self it had suppressed - in terms of feeling alive to the word and sexually charged. I now use condoms/ may consider the localised hormonal coil as I am no longer interested in experiencing such significant changes in myself for contraception.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Millinette 20/75 pill  

Within 48 hours of swallowing the first tablet I started to have Brown discharge which has grown into what would be described as a full on period with horrendous stomach ache, it will be 2 weeks on Sunday since I swallowed the first tablet. I'm assuming this is the breakthrough bleeding and my body needs to adjust but anyone else experienced this?


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Rigevidon  

It was working perfectly fine at first, was helping me with unbearable cramps and nausea, but after about four months of use, I wasn't feeling like myself at all. It made my anxiety so much worse that is was making me nauseous and kept giving me heart palpitations and trembling limbs. I've had a major loss of appetite which is really bad for someone who is already considered underweight for her age. I couldn't tell the difference between feeling hungry or feeling sick, but whenever I did eat, I continued to feel this way. I became so emotionally unstable that I was in a near constant state of dread for no apparent reason and would be crying without even being upset, every day. I struggled to sleep with the increased negative mood, the only think to help me sleep was to listen to educational videos in the background to distract me from the anxiety and nausea. I took travel pills to alleviate both of these which is working well and helping me sleep, and two days after stopping with the pill, my mood has been gradually improving. I'm still getting heart palpitations and tearing up a little at times, butI'm starting to feel like myself again. I wouldn't recommend rigevidon if you have a history with anxiety or depression. Made my hormones go haywire, lost my already small appetite, and messed around a whole lot with my sleep schedule.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Lucette pill  

Really helpful for my moods, only 10 months in did i randomly experience breast secretion and so swapped to the sister pill eloine with less oestrogen


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Drovelis pill  

I've been on it for a year and a half, it made me gain 10 kgs (even though I work out more than usual and eat a healthy diet), especially weight in my lower stomach, I have a pooch now and am always bloated, which is very uncomfortable. It also made me go up two cup sizes, I was a B cup before starting this contraception and now am a D cup. I also lost all my sex drive and it makes me really moody. I was hoping to be a fan since it's supposed to be less hormones than other pills but unfortunately my body did not react well to it.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Fertility awareness methods (FAM) with other contraceptives

Order online

Order online now

Use our online prescription in under 5 mins

  • No GP appointment needed

  • Free standard delivery

Speak to a doctor

Not sure yet? Speak to a doctor

Schedule an appointment now

87% of women are happier with their contraceptive choice after speaking with one of The Lowdown's doctors

The Lowdown Footer

Women's health, reviewed.

Get the best women’s health info in your inbox

You are signing up to receive The Lowdown's latest findings and news in women's health. Your data will be used in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie policy

Built by doctors and experts

Our tools are made by medical professionals for your peace of mind

Our website uses affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click on them