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

2490 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
  •  3 weeks ago

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
  •  3 weeks ago

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

2490 reviews

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

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

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Dianette pill  

I wish that I never stopped taking this pill! It was brilliant. Cleared up my skin very quickly. Doctor took me off it because I had some headaches. I don’t know whether these headaches were connected but the rest of my experience with this pill was positive !


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Logynon pill  

DO NOT TAKE IF YOU ARE TAKING PILL CONTINUOUSLY! This pill made me bleed when I wasn’t supposed to and have 4 UTIs. Each pill contains a different amount of hormones which sent my period haywire!


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

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

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

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Dianette pill  

I wish that I never stopped taking this pill! It was brilliant. Cleared up my skin very quickly. Doctor took me off it because I had some headaches. I don’t know whether these headaches were connected but the rest of my experience with this pill was positive !


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Logynon pill  

DO NOT TAKE IF YOU ARE TAKING PILL CONTINUOUSLY! This pill made me bleed when I wasn’t supposed to and have 4 UTIs. Each pill contains a different amount of hormones which sent my period haywire!


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Gedarel 20/150 pill  

I was only on this for a month, no issues at the beginning, however gradually my mood worsened and I began getting very severe cramps and heavy bleeding. Checked with a doctor and was due to the pill not being strong enough for myself personally.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Drovelis pill  

Overall this is one of the better pills I've been on (previously tried Dianette and Marvelon) - I don't think I'll ever find a perfect solution! For PCOS it improved acne effectively and quickly. However, I've had much better results reducing hirsutism with previous pills and with the Mirena coil. Main perk of this pill compared to others is that I haven't experienced thrush (which was a regular issue before on other pills). I also feel like my sex drive, while reduced, isn't totally absent! The knowledge that this pill contains lower doses of active ingredients and is less 'synthetic' than traditional pills makes me feel like it's closer to my natural hormonal state. I'm hopeful that when I do come off the pill and try to get pregnant, it won't take many months for my periods to come back. It took several months to return with other pills. Mentally I think this pill is dampening my mood and energy a bit, but at least I don't experience the huge mood swings that I'd experience during my natural cycle. Finally I've heard anecdotes about ADHD medication not being as effective whilst on the pill. I haven't found this to be an issue taking Drovelis, and actually the consistency in my mood is fairly helpful for ADHD symptom management.


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Drovelis pill  

Drovelis was my first ever contraceptive pill. While I experienced very slight dizziness during the first month of taking it, this no longer persists and the only major side effect I got was breast enlargement and tenderness which started during 2nd month of taking this pill (which - enlargement - I actually absolutely loved).


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
39 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Qlaira pill  

Start of it was great, made my periods less painful and lighter. After a while periods came back to lasting a long time, got extreme period pains, discharge in my nipple, blood clot in my leg and they said it was dangerous to continue it’s use since I’m a smoker.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Gedarel 20/150 pill  

At the start all was going great but in the last 2/3 months things have started going really downhill, I have started shedding hair at an alarming rate, I have gained weight, I have developed thrush on my boob, my eczema is awful, the skin on my face is so oily, I constantly feel down and sad which I used to only experience when I was in the week before my period. It’s definitely not a long term solution.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Zoely pill  

unfortunately caused severe negative effects on my mental health and quality of life. increased anxiety & depression (both were constant) and drastically reduced my confidence and body image. all symptoms intensified the week before a period was due - body image was so poor i wouldn't leave the house or wear anything other than baggy clothes, felt suicidal, cried over nothing, lost all motivation/drive, couldn't concentrate + poor short term memory, felt worthless, anhedonic, insomnia that was worst the few days before a bleed, and persistent fatigue & lethargy. i did try to stick it out as i assumed it was pre-existing conditions causing my symptoms, but they got progressively worse the longer i was on it. after i came off the pill i noticed pretty rapid improvement in my self confidence and overall mental health.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Rigevidon  

This was my first contraception given to me by my GP at age 19. I believe Rigevidon is the cheapest which is why often it is what many are prescribed, that is what I learned from watching a doc by Davina McCall! It took me years to realise my mood swings and emotional outbursts were a side effect, not a true reflection of who I was. I felt like I had too many artificial hormones inside affecting my mental heath and the close relationships around me. I also suffered with acne. Once I moved to the implant (which really wasn’t a scary or painful procedure), mentally I have been in such a better place.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Implant with other contraceptives

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