Fertility awareness methods (FAM) vs Progestogen-only / Mini pill

Hi everyone! I’ve been using Natural Cycles for a while now and it’s genuinely helped me feel more in control of my cycle and fertility awareness. If anyone here is thinking about trying it, I have a referral code that gives you a discount on subscription (and also helps me get closer to becoming a Star Cycler). If you’d like to use it, here it is: https://www.naturalcycles.com/refer-a-friend?name=QmV0aA%3D%3D&code=referralid20&referral=70eqzvinl2i98q15&utm_source=NCApp&utm_medium=inappbutton&utm_campaign=refer_a_friend_page No pressure at all — just sharing in case it helps someone save a bit while getting started. Happy to answer questions about my experience if that’s useful too 😊 With this you get a free thermometer and a 20% off :)

I used natural cycles to prevent and plan pregnancy- worked fabulously on both occasions. After my daughter was born I wanted a more solid contraception (sleep does impact your basal temp guys, so with a newborn, not the one)- now she sleeps through I will be going back!!

Before using FAM, I was using the copper IUD religiously for about 11 years. I had a mixed experience even if overall positive with it, but back in 2021 after a year of chronic yeast infections and finally discovering it had slipped, I decided to not replace it. In that time, my periods were always like clockwork and I was tracking my cycles in a few years leading up to this. Not just tracking the days, but my symptoms and body sensations as I entered into each phase. I was using a period tracking app called Eve, but I knew not to rely on it religiously, it was just for a rough idea of when my fertile times and period would be. I decided to just continue with this, because I had built such a deep relationship with my body and have no problem checking my cervical fluids. I used it until 2022 when we decided to try to conceive, and we conceived within a few months, even though sadly, it was ectopic. I wouldn't recommend this method to anybody without months of really knowing your body and listening to it-- learning your cues for when you know you're about to ovulate, roughly timing how long your follicular phase is, and it helps if your periods are regular. While apps can be really helpful, you have to do the hard work of building that relationship with your body. I wouldn't recommend it for somebody just starting out, or if your periods are irregular.

Slynd started off great no period was a bonus, water retention went down. Then after 2 months it made me very irritable and my mood very very low. Within a week of stopping both returned to normal.

went on cerazette after trying out microgynon30ED and noriday (which both caused frequent irregular bleeding). My GP told me cerazette was fantastic for people who experience frequent bleeding on other mini-pills and often their periods stop. i started it back in late september 2025, and experienced bleeding every second week. fine, i thought, it’s just my body getting used to it! by november i was having just one period a month again! yay!! this was short lived however, as by december i was back to having it every 2nd week. in january i bled for 25 days straight. i was told that the first 3-5 months are expected to see changes in bleeding, so i stuck it out a bit longer. unfortunately the bleeding never stopped, and i continued to get my period now every week and a half, or sometimes even more frequently with only 3 days break in between cycles. :( it’s end of may now and have been on cerazette for 9 months. i am still bleeding every week and a half and honestly im sick of it. i have stopped taking cerazette now. hopefully there’s another one out there for me :(

I was on the depo shot for 22 years and really started to worry about my bone density as my mother has osteoporosis and I was also struggling to inject in certain bits of my stomach from scar nodules. So I swapped to the mini pill as its the same but with less side effects. I originally came to this site to read the reviews and as usual, people always tend to leave a review for the negatives. I can honestly say Ive had absolutely no side effects, my period still hasn't returned after being on the shot and I've actually lost weight. Hopefully someone needs to read this.

Not a good experience, lots of weight gain, more emotional/moody. cant wear contacts anymore

I was a bit more emotional my first 1-2 months on it but then I was fine. Completely took away my debilitating period pains, I get one very mild cramp about once a month and that's it. No side effects except for some constant spotting. I Googled it and started taking 2 pills instead of 1 and the spotting has since stopped. My weight, sex drive, skin, and mood are unaffected as of now (8 months of taking it daily)

I'm in months 2 and hoping things get a little better. Pro: No periods or period pain/endo pain! (HURRAY) And no weightgain (which i had on another pill) Con: I'm feeling down, sleep bad, hair loss, forgetful, spotting, BV, vaginal dryness, heart pains and rising anxiety. I want to give it a month extra or so but the side effects are getting me down. This is the 2nd pill I've tried this year. The first one was a combined pill but made my uterine lining super thick and that gave me massive cramps and hurt. So let's see but kinda sceptical.

I love this pill. I was struggling with mood and physical symptoms around pms, I have tried several oral contraceptives intermittently over the last 15 years but had other side effects to them, I was using a Kyleena coil which worked really well for contraception and period control but as this did not stop me ovulating, PMS became my main concern. I tried Slynd when it became available in the UK and I love it. My cyclical mood, bloating and skin issues have basically completely resolved and the longer missed pill window works much better for me.

this was my first contraception ever. i had read up on it so had an idea of what to expect but after a week of taking it i could already see the affect it was having on my body. i was easily gaining much more weight than i would when eating the same foods, same amount of foods. i was never one to have spots and noticed my skin getting loads around my forehead and cheeks. my mood was terrible, always angry and irritated causing a lot of arguments between me and my boyfriend. decreased sex drive. i decided to stop it as i just didn’t feel like myself anymore, im 4 days off it and im feeling a lot better than i was taking it.

I’d been off contraception for years and I wanted to go back on it as in a relationship and not TTC just yet. So far it seems to be okay th first 2 months was where i experienced most my symptoms mainly have settled sort from sex drive, headaches, no periods they still exist on month 5.

I started taking the mini pill as the combined was making me cry every single day, it was great for the first year but now I am experiencing absolutely no sex drive and I feel awful! It’s made me hate myself as I know my partner can notice but I don’t know what to do. It seems like every conception has massive negatives so I don’t even know if I want to try another one and go through this again. In the same through I don’t want to come off the pill as my anxiety will go mental if I’m not on anything !!! It’s such a shame because I’ve experienced no other side effects but I can’t go on like thi