Implant vs Combined pill
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Add your Implant review
£From £0.16/day
Overview
Rated 2.8
592 reviews
Every 3 years
Frequency
Over 99%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.8
2516 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Implant ingredients
Main hormones in Implant
progestogen
Combined pill ingredients
Main hormones in Combined pill
progestogen
oestrogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with
Heavy periods
Ovulation pain
Period pain
Acne or bad skin
Heavy periods
PMS and PMDD
PCOS symptoms
Period pain
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£From £0.16/day
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Implant reviews
592 reviews
Used for 3 - 6 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
Positives of the Nexplexon implant is it is a very effective contraceptive and the insertion was quick and painless. However, I have been constantly bleeding (spotting and heavier bleeding) since I had it inserted 6 months ago. I have had bad cramping and lower back pain along side the bleeding. My overall mood has been effected as I feel exhausted most of the time, although I do work some night shifts so this may be a contributing factor. My sex drive has been lower than normal. I have noticed my boobs ache and feel sore. I am considering having it removed, if the bleeding does not settle.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I believe it ruined mindset, mental health and confidence. I am normally not over the top and this sounds like an exaggeration. Although I had a really tough year and these would've affected my perspective. I always have and would utilise those negative situations to motivate me and channel sadness into action. But when I was on the implant: - I had lost all confidence in myself and abilities - My skin got worse and I have always had super clear skin - I had more hair than usual - I was super easy to agitation and struggled to regulate my emotions - I became anxious and depressed (please note some of this would be situational and not just the implant). I thought it was all situational. Until I got it removed a month ago. I am still in the process of my hormones regulating which has been difficult. But after a month I am slowly finding my personality coming back. I am not isolating as much. I am channelling my energy into action and turning my life around again! I feel more like myself day by day.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 3rd Dec 24
50/50 experience overall. My skin improved to the point where it is clear aside from the occasional hormonal spot. Definitely would recommend if you’re like me and always forget to take the pill daily. I don’t get periods but when I do I bleed for about 2-3 weeks heavily. I have noticed some weight gain but nothing to be worried about. My boobs have grown 2 whole cup sizes. No mood changes as far as I’m aware. The implant insertion process was quick and painless so nothing to worry about there.
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
Positives of the Nexplexon implant is it is a very effective contraceptive and the insertion was quick and painless. However, I have been constantly bleeding (spotting and heavier bleeding) since I had it inserted 6 months ago. I have had bad cramping and lower back pain along side the bleeding. My overall mood has been effected as I feel exhausted most of the time, although I do work some night shifts so this may be a contributing factor. My sex drive has been lower than normal. I have noticed my boobs ache and feel sore. I am considering having it removed, if the bleeding does not settle.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I believe it ruined mindset, mental health and confidence. I am normally not over the top and this sounds like an exaggeration. Although I had a really tough year and these would've affected my perspective. I always have and would utilise those negative situations to motivate me and channel sadness into action. But when I was on the implant: - I had lost all confidence in myself and abilities - My skin got worse and I have always had super clear skin - I had more hair than usual - I was super easy to agitation and struggled to regulate my emotions - I became anxious and depressed (please note some of this would be situational and not just the implant). I thought it was all situational. Until I got it removed a month ago. I am still in the process of my hormones regulating which has been difficult. But after a month I am slowly finding my personality coming back. I am not isolating as much. I am channelling my energy into action and turning my life around again! I feel more like myself day by day.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 3rd Dec 24
50/50 experience overall. My skin improved to the point where it is clear aside from the occasional hormonal spot. Definitely would recommend if you’re like me and always forget to take the pill daily. I don’t get periods but when I do I bleed for about 2-3 weeks heavily. I have noticed some weight gain but nothing to be worried about. My boobs have grown 2 whole cup sizes. No mood changes as far as I’m aware. The implant insertion process was quick and painless so nothing to worry about there.
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Combined pill reviews
2516 reviews
Used for 3 - 6 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
Had thrush about 4/5 times when only on it for 4/5 months, along with the thrush swollen labia and very dry, also developed acne when I’ve never had it before, but used duac to sort that out still breakout now and again which has never happened to me before. I will be changing pill again, only good thing was that by breast grew
Worse skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
I took the combined pill (first Rigevidon and later Gedarel) for more than 2 years. The first few months after taking Rigevidon I had nausea and tender breasts but this settled after about 2-3 months. I developed migraines that would coincide with the break week (pill-free days). I tried switching to skipping break weeks and taking the pill for several months in a row (until I got several days of breakthrough bleeding, usually every three months), but I still got migraines randomly throughout the months and also almost every time I did eventually take a break-week. I switched to Gedarel but this did not change anything about the migraines. I had to take break weeks more often with Gedarel since I would get breakthrough bleeding more quickly (every two months). Overall I liked being able to skip periods and I think my skin/acne and hair growth maybe improved slightly. However, because of the migraines I eventually switched to a progesterone only pill.
Improved skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
i started taking this pill a year ago, i haven’t gotten pregnant so i believe it does it’s job, i don’t have any actually bad side effects as i’ve had with other pills, i would recommend
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
Had thrush about 4/5 times when only on it for 4/5 months, along with the thrush swollen labia and very dry, also developed acne when I’ve never had it before, but used duac to sort that out still breakout now and again which has never happened to me before. I will be changing pill again, only good thing was that by breast grew
Worse skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
I took the combined pill (first Rigevidon and later Gedarel) for more than 2 years. The first few months after taking Rigevidon I had nausea and tender breasts but this settled after about 2-3 months. I developed migraines that would coincide with the break week (pill-free days). I tried switching to skipping break weeks and taking the pill for several months in a row (until I got several days of breakthrough bleeding, usually every three months), but I still got migraines randomly throughout the months and also almost every time I did eventually take a break-week. I switched to Gedarel but this did not change anything about the migraines. I had to take break weeks more often with Gedarel since I would get breakthrough bleeding more quickly (every two months). Overall I liked being able to skip periods and I think my skin/acne and hair growth maybe improved slightly. However, because of the migraines I eventually switched to a progesterone only pill.
Improved skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
i started taking this pill a year ago, i haven’t gotten pregnant so i believe it does it’s job, i don’t have any actually bad side effects as i’ve had with other pills, i would recommend
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
This is the pill that doesn’t make me feel depressed- has really helped my periods, they are lighter and shorter. I can predict when it’s coming. It makes me feel sick so I take it at night and sleep. Also, super good at preventing pregnancy.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
I was initially really scared to start taking Dretine, but now that I’m on my fifth packet, I’m so glad I did. My mild hormonal acne completely cleared up after taking two packets, and since then, my skin has been super clear. I still get the occasional pimple, but it’s rare, small, and not inflamed at all. It’s made such a positive difference, and I feel so much more confident in my skin!
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
39 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
I was put on Loestrin as an early teen post chemo/radiotherapy when my body didn't develop naturally. I was never really told at that age what side effects there were. I already suffered with migraines and regular headaches which always occured in the week before the break. I stayed in this till my late 20s when I first began to notice the thinness of my hair. It was only then that I was told it has a lot of testosterone in it that does lead to hair loss. Sadly my hair is now very thin but I was able to switch off this brand and stabilize the loss.
Gained weight
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
I was on hormonal birth control methods for 10 years with nothing had bad experiences. I’d come off all methods and had given up until I saw Drovelis on The Lowdown and decided to give it a shot because of the low side effects listed. And I’m so glad I did. No breakthrough bleeding, weight loss, no changes to my sex drive, only minimal breakouts which is a miracle compared to the other methods. The Lowdown has given me my bodily autonomy back with their suggestions and articles and I can certainly say I’ll never go back off this pill!
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I started taking it on the first day of my period, it lasted 13 days (normally would last 5 days)then gave me a break for 4 days then bled the whole time on that pill, 24 days bleeding in total, once i started the white sugar pills my bleeding died down and finally stopped, im off of it now (only for a month) and i havent bled once, not even spotting, ill go back on it next month to see if i bleed again from it
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Although I haven’t been taking this pill for very long, I did quickly notice a major improvement in my moods. I tolerated Estelle ED pretty well, but Yaz made me severely depressed and suicidal.
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments

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