Implant vs Combined pill

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Implant

Add your Implant review

Combined pill

£From £0.16/day

Overview

Rated 2.8

590 reviews

Every 3 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

2499 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

38% somewhat negative

49% irregular periods

50% lost sex drive

41% gained weight

58% no impact on skin

Cycle return

31% in 1 month

32% somewhat negative

48% 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

Heavy periods

Ovulation pain

Period pain

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

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Add your Implant review

Try it now

£From £0.16/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Implant reviews

590 reviews

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Dec 24

Nexplanon implant  

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.

Read more

Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  9th Nov 24

Nexplanon implant  

Due to a family history of thrombosis I was advised against the combined pill which at the time was still the most common option, so the implant seemed a good choice. Whilst it was convenient in that it was long lasting and easily fitted, with no horrendous side effects, with the conversation about choices becoming more open I realised that I had been putting up with side effects which were gradually getting me down - irregular bleeding and low libido (possibly connected!) made regular sex with my partner less easy and fun than it should be, and I found that the more I exercised the more I bled, and I wanted to exercise more. I decided to switch to the copper IUD to experience a normal cycle again without the hormones, and am very happy I changed.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5th Nov 24

Implant  

Ever since using this form of contrception i get twice my period in one month and feels like stabing pains now and then in my stomach but not all the time. I was recommended the implant after i had my miscarriage Moody sometimes but other than that i guess its safe to have the implant in like its said everyones body is different


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Dec 24

Nexplanon implant  

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

Implant  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  9th Nov 24

Nexplanon implant  

Due to a family history of thrombosis I was advised against the combined pill which at the time was still the most common option, so the implant seemed a good choice. Whilst it was convenient in that it was long lasting and easily fitted, with no horrendous side effects, with the conversation about choices becoming more open I realised that I had been putting up with side effects which were gradually getting me down - irregular bleeding and low libido (possibly connected!) made regular sex with my partner less easy and fun than it should be, and I found that the more I exercised the more I bled, and I wanted to exercise more. I decided to switch to the copper IUD to experience a normal cycle again without the hormones, and am very happy I changed.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5th Nov 24

Implant  

Ever since using this form of contrception i get twice my period in one month and feels like stabing pains now and then in my stomach but not all the time. I was recommended the implant after i had my miscarriage Moody sometimes but other than that i guess its safe to have the implant in like its said everyones body is different


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments


Combined pill reviews

2499 reviews

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

Dianette pill  

This pill is great for hormonal acne and cleared my skin up relatively quickly. I did experience some weight gain at the time but unsure if it was pill related .


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Dretine pill  

It’s okay. The positive is that my cramps are less. I experienced thrush for the first time in my life. I am more weepy but not depressed. I have acne on my lower face after a few weeks that is starting to clear now and I can see my hair is thinning. I also feel very sleepy on this so I am planning to change.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Millinette 20/75 pill  

Millinette gave me full blown acne and made me a lot more teary which is so unlike me. Initially, I was on Rigevidon for 2.5 years, stopped as I experienced breakthrough bleeding/didn’t need it. Discovered I had major brain fog on it, and my thoughts / perception on dating became a lot better once off it. Decided to try Millinette based on that as I got into a new relationship, tried it for 3 months as advised. I’ve not always been spotty, I get hormonal breakouts but that’s it. I’m happy and healthy otherwise! Millinette made me start to break out in hormonal spots - on my forehead, chin (especially) and cheeks (which I’ve never experienced before). It was making me miserable! I also noticed how much more teary I’ve been lately - as if anything slightly upsetting can make me cry. I’ve been using differin (a retinol acne gel treatment) and it’s helped slightly but not much. I’ve also gone up an entire cup size, and my breasts are slightly achy all the time. I also have experienced headaches when I came off the pill for a bleed - I now take it consecutively because my body seems to react badly to the drop in hormones. I’ve stopped Millinette now, and based on a nurse’s advice I’m going to try Yaecella. I think my body/skin reacts badly to the progesterone in Millinette/with pills that have less oestrogen in them. Hopefully Yaecella works (it’s a new generation version of the famous Yasmin pill). I’m 21, 5’10 and 57kg if that helps too!


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Dianette pill  

This pill is great for hormonal acne and cleared my skin up relatively quickly. I did experience some weight gain at the time but unsure if it was pill related .


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Dretine pill  

It’s okay. The positive is that my cramps are less. I experienced thrush for the first time in my life. I am more weepy but not depressed. I have acne on my lower face after a few weeks that is starting to clear now and I can see my hair is thinning. I also feel very sleepy on this so I am planning to change.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Millinette 20/75 pill  

Millinette gave me full blown acne and made me a lot more teary which is so unlike me. Initially, I was on Rigevidon for 2.5 years, stopped as I experienced breakthrough bleeding/didn’t need it. Discovered I had major brain fog on it, and my thoughts / perception on dating became a lot better once off it. Decided to try Millinette based on that as I got into a new relationship, tried it for 3 months as advised. I’ve not always been spotty, I get hormonal breakouts but that’s it. I’m happy and healthy otherwise! Millinette made me start to break out in hormonal spots - on my forehead, chin (especially) and cheeks (which I’ve never experienced before). It was making me miserable! I also noticed how much more teary I’ve been lately - as if anything slightly upsetting can make me cry. I’ve been using differin (a retinol acne gel treatment) and it’s helped slightly but not much. I’ve also gone up an entire cup size, and my breasts are slightly achy all the time. I also have experienced headaches when I came off the pill for a bleed - I now take it consecutively because my body seems to react badly to the drop in hormones. I’ve stopped Millinette now, and based on a nurse’s advice I’m going to try Yaecella. I think my body/skin reacts badly to the progesterone in Millinette/with pills that have less oestrogen in them. Hopefully Yaecella works (it’s a new generation version of the famous Yasmin pill). I’m 21, 5’10 and 57kg if that helps too!


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
40 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Brevinor pill  

I had been taking this pill for 25 years, since I was 15. Now I’m 40 my GP won’t supply me with the combined pill anymore and wants to switch me to the mini pill. I had periods, when I was 13-15, where I would bleed heavily for 2 weeks, with regular flooding, plus extreme abdominal pain, followed by 2 weeks no bleeding then I’d go back round again. Brevinor changed my life! I could not recommend this pill more. You will more likely hear the negatives than the positive from these reviews but honestly this was amazing for me and would still be taking it if I could.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Marvelon pill  

I changed to marvelon from cilique/ levest because neither were helping my skin. this one did!! however my sex drive has gone down massively. but periods are all regular no issues there just low libido :(


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Marvelon pill  

Overall good but feel like unable to lose weight and slight dizziness.


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Yasmin pill  

Initially, I had little to complain about with the pill. My skin became clear after a few months and my breasts increased a cup size. HOWEVER, I had always felt more ill and generally tired on this pill, emotionally I also felt very static. Not depressed or unhappy but I could not feel my emotions as normal. My doctor advised me to switch from a 7 day break every month to a 4 day break as the guidelines had changed. This increase in the pill caused my breasts to get even bigger and very very sore. My doctor found multiple cysts in both breasts, I explained that I thought this was due to the increase in the pill I was taking but they said they would drain the cysts rather than me coming off the pill. I decided to come off the pill to see if it would decrease the cysts and they went completely of their own accord within a month of coming off the pill. I lost a lot of hair and my skin got worse but I have never felt better in myself, more healthy and happy since coming off. I will not go on any form of hormonal contraception again.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Gedarel 20/150 pill  

I started using contraception again to help manage my PMS, particularly the mood swings a week before my period. At the time, I was also struggling with severe anxiety, which made PMS even harder to cope with each month. I hoped contraception would help regulate my hormones and provide some relief. Initially, I was prescribed Rigividon, but it didn’t work for me. A week before my period, I had intense emotional spikes, irritability, increased appetite, cramps, and breast tenderness. While I could just about manage it most of the time, I worried about how difficult it might get during stressful periods. My nurse suggested switching to Gederal. Since switching to Gederal, my experience has been much better. My periods are lighter, and my PMS symptoms have improved significantly. I feel much more emotionally stable in the week before my period. However, I tried skipping the 7-pill free days to avoid the break, but by the third packet, I felt PMS symptoms building up again, including mood swings. I have had a small amount of reoccurring dermatitis on my nose and chin since starting the pill. Overall, Gederal has been a much better fit for me compared to both Rigividon and my experience without contraception. It’s made a noticeable difference in managing my PMS and emotional well-being.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Brevinor pill  

I’ve been on a couple of pills in the past which have been fine other than the odd side effect. But I’ve changed over due to those small side effects getting worse such as the main one being water retention in the arms. Brevinor, this is by far the worst pill I’ve tried. The first 3 days were terrible. I felt faint, tired & dizzy. My boobs were so sore for the first 21 days when I was taking this pill. Swollen and sore, even putting my bra on. I have gone back to my GP and they have prescribed rigevidon….judging by the reviews on here I will not be taking it or any other pills. I will be starting to track my cycle naturally in the new year whilst using barrier methods such as condoms.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  20th Dec 24

Ambelina pill  

My experience of this pill was very positive, only reason I do not use it joe is because my pharmacist switched to a different brand (same hormones)


Top side effects not reported

2 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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