Gynefix vs Combined pill

Like many others, I found myself unable to decide between a coil (painful) and hormones (just dont want hormones). Gynefix has been the perfect in-between solution for me. Hormone-free, but also not painful. Insertion was a bit uncomfortable. The gyno needs to pierce your uterus wall. It felt a bit like getting a tiny push somewhere deep inside which, rather than super painful, was just a weird feeling which is what makes it uncomfortable. During the week after I could still feel that spot but again it wasn't really painful just weird to be aware of an internal organ like that. Other than having to avoid strenuous exercise for a few weeks, the recovery was very smooth and I had no issues. You cannot feel the gynefix inside you which is amazing. I have noticed no difference in my periods other than that 2 weeks before my period is due, I get some light spotting. I was afraid that during sex, the guy would feel the removal thread, but this was not the case. The thread also curls around the cervix a bit (over time) which makes it even less noticeable. Maintenance wise it's also great. Just visit the gyno every couple of months to get an ultrasound and make sure the Gynefix is still in place. You get 5 years of protection. I wish the gynefix was advertised to more people because I believe it is an awesome solution for anyone that is looking for a pain-free, hormone-free, hassle free contraceptive.

I got my gynefix mini online and had it inserted at the John Hunter clinic in London. I had paraguard before which gave me terrible cramps and incredibly heavy periods: I had Jaydess for 3 years which gave low but manageable mood but I started having terrible back pains either it. Once I had it removed, back pains stopped. I didn’t use anything for a while and then tried the implant, which was awful! It gave me terrible mood swings and anger! Went back to jaydess and back pains returned and low mood. I started looking for other options and found gynefix and I am so glad I did! Insertion was painful and my periods are significantly heavier but nothing I can’t live with. No back-pains, no horrible craps and no mood effects! Thank you whoever created this! I really forget it is there and only sometimes can slightly feel it, but this is by far the best contraception I’ve tried! It was hard to find a dr to get it fitted and I had to order it myself as NHS don’t supply it, but worth it!

Got one at mortimer market in 2023 and other than a slight increase in discharge (normal discharge), which to be honest I don't think is related to the gynefix, I have had an amazing experience with the gynefix, I just wish it lasted longer than 5 years! Insertion was very smooth; uncomfortable/painful for sure but nothing terrible and not the worst pain of my life, I was able to walk home after the procedure. Had spotting / light bleeding throughout my cycle for maybe a month or two, and I remember having spotting for a few months, but honestly nothing crazy or super annoying. My period was a bit heavier for a few months after insertion but now it is back to my normal (I had light, minimal pain periods before the gynefix for context!). I love it and wish it was more available in the UK, fear that when I need it out I wont be able to get it on the NHS and I can't see myself wanting any other contraception.

Took this pill for around 4 months and it was really good, only issue I had with it was that I was getting pretty bad headaches around my period which I'd only started having since going on this pill. I switched to a different pill to try and stop this issue but had a very negative experience with mood swings and it made me realise that Gederel is actually a very good pill and helped with my mood and anxiety - makes the headaches worth it😂

This is the 3rd pill I've tried and unfortunately since being on this one I've had horrible mood swings and been more emotionally down - I'm normally quite a happy bubbly person but this pill has made me quite miserable and leaves me feeling as though I'm not in control of my emotions.

Hormonally numbed me. Kept me very flat with no fluctuations in moods at all. Improved my skin but led to continuous cystitis that often spiralled into kidney infections

VERY mixed emotions about Yasmin. I've been on it for ages, and I'm still on it. yes the boobs grow a lot. at the beginning my mood changes were crazy I thought I was losing my mind. Anxiety and depression symptoms surfaced (mostly anxiety - intense panic attacks), when I didn't have issues with it prior. They're still there but after years of dealing with it I don't notice as much as I used to. I have noticed that water retention is a big issue, as well as increased appetite - it's much harder to lose weight on the pill compared to off it. I also have an extremely lower libido, like crazy low. My skin cleared so fast and i had really bad dermatitis around my mouth and nose, not to mention hormonal acne on the rest of my face - now i get pimples almost never. Also please please be careful when drinking if you've newly started the pill, it made me a lightweight overnight i swear. Also I skip the sugar pills most of the time, only having my period about 3 times a year which is FANTASTIC

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I am one of the happiest people you will ever meet, I’ve always been positive and upbeat and although of course I have down times like anyone I never stay down for long. Within 3 weeks of taking Levest contraceptive tablets I was like a completely different person and I didn’t know what was happening to me, I cried uncontrollable every day, I didn’t want to be here anymore and was actually thinking of ways I could end my life, I was waking up in the middle of the night with a dark pit feeling in my stomach and felt unbelievably low I didn’t know what was happening to me, then it clicked, the only thing I was doing differently to usual was taking the levest pill. I called the GP the next day and they told me to stop taking it immediately, within 4 days I was back to my usual self mentally then I came on the worst period of my life, like a slaughtered animal and so many blood clots. I’ll never take this pill ever again and would definitely warn others about taking it, who’d have thought a simple contraceptive pill could cause so much harm

I guess like any pill it took my body a while to get used to the new hormones, and then after about three months I felt like I’d found the best pill ever! No side effects - or so I thought. I didn’t break out, no major mood swings, periods slowly disappeared, cramps weren’t as bad. Then eventually I realised I have absolutely no sexual desire. This pill has completely obliterated my libido. Ironic since I decided to come on the pill to enjoy my honeymoon without worry of pregnancy. Such a shame as well but I’ll have to come off it.

This pill does what it claims, I noticed some improvement in my skin, I’m prone to mild acne on my chest, back, and face, and those areas have cleared up, which I’m pleased about. However, after 21 days of taking it, there’s a seven-day break, and within two days of that break I experience severe headaches and migraines. They’re often debilitating and leave me bedridden for one to three days. Because of this, I’ve decided to stop taking Yazmin altogether. Everyone reacts differently, but due to the recurring migraines and headaches, this pill just isn’t the right fit for me.

I’ve always struggled with my mental health, and believe I have PMDD. but before starting this pill I’d been in a really good place for quite while, the first few months where okay but then I started to become more emotional, progressing to depression and severe anxiety. I also experienced a lot of UTIs that led to me being on long term antibiotics, this only started when I started the pill. I did eventually learn to manage the utis and didn’t get any in the last couple of months. But in the week leading up to the break I became very dry and itchy down there. All together just a really bad experience with this one

I'd take microgynon over this pill any day. I'm surprised that a lower dose pill has more unpleasant side effects. Bloating, fluid retention, extreme sickness the first couple of days followed by an insatiable appetite on day 3 plus mood swings and just feeling horrendous.