Implant vs Progestogen-only / Mini pill
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Overview
Rated 2.8
610 reviews
Every 3 years
Frequency
Over 99%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.7
1400 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Implant ingredients
Main hormones in Implant
progestogen
Progestogen-only / Mini pill ingredients
Main hormones in Progestogen-only / Mini pill
progestogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with
Heavy periods
Ovulation pain
Period pain
Period pain
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Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Implant reviews
610 reviews
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
Bled constantly for months, then no period for ages, then bleeding again for weeks on end. Really heavy which is abnormal for me. No sex drive, I was really depressed for the nearly 3 years I was on this and I thought that was just me, funnily enough when i came off it I felt so much better and couldn’t believe most my problems were probably being caused by this implant
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
Extreme weight gain, despite always being a consistent weight and no changes in lifestyle/eating habits. Also I have become increasingly more self conscious and body conscious, so an affect on mental health
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Great if you want to have sex and not worry about pregnancy’s however the change in my physical appearance and mood swings have been crazy and I will be getting it removed asap as I can’t go on like this
Very negative mood
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
Bled constantly for months, then no period for ages, then bleeding again for weeks on end. Really heavy which is abnormal for me. No sex drive, I was really depressed for the nearly 3 years I was on this and I thought that was just me, funnily enough when i came off it I felt so much better and couldn’t believe most my problems were probably being caused by this implant
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
Extreme weight gain, despite always being a consistent weight and no changes in lifestyle/eating habits. Also I have become increasingly more self conscious and body conscious, so an affect on mental health
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Great if you want to have sex and not worry about pregnancy’s however the change in my physical appearance and mood swings have been crazy and I will be getting it removed asap as I can’t go on like this
Very negative mood
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews
1400 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
i’m not sure if it is normal but i have been on this pill for 3 months. a week into the taking the pill my period finally came back after around 100 days. since then ive had very irregular periods often bleeding for extended periods of time and also spotting more often with the periods being closer together. i have also experienced much more mood changes as i have felt somewhat more depressed on this pill. this might just be my experience and might also be influenced by the fact i am still going through pubity as i’m 16 yet i still can’t stop thinking that something is wrong .
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
I’m was happy with the mini pill as I took it while breastfeeding my son, however as soon as I weaned him my periods came back but they were all over the place. I bled for nearly 2 weeks straight then it finally stopped, but only for 3 days then it started again. If it wasn’t for this issue I’d have kept using the mini pill but I couldn’t deal with it anymore as it was preventing me from living my life normally
Somewhat positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Started this purely to help my skin after experiencing constant hormonal breakouts, which it did clear up and meant I could eat however I wanted basically with no consequences on my skin (sugar and fatty foods). However I feel as thought the pill has really dampened my mood making me low level depressed all the time. Also experienced a decreased sex drive and lots of hair loss - but still unsure whether these are directly related.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
i’m not sure if it is normal but i have been on this pill for 3 months. a week into the taking the pill my period finally came back after around 100 days. since then ive had very irregular periods often bleeding for extended periods of time and also spotting more often with the periods being closer together. i have also experienced much more mood changes as i have felt somewhat more depressed on this pill. this might just be my experience and might also be influenced by the fact i am still going through pubity as i’m 16 yet i still can’t stop thinking that something is wrong .
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
I’m was happy with the mini pill as I took it while breastfeeding my son, however as soon as I weaned him my periods came back but they were all over the place. I bled for nearly 2 weeks straight then it finally stopped, but only for 3 days then it started again. If it wasn’t for this issue I’d have kept using the mini pill but I couldn’t deal with it anymore as it was preventing me from living my life normally
Somewhat positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Started this purely to help my skin after experiencing constant hormonal breakouts, which it did clear up and meant I could eat however I wanted basically with no consequences on my skin (sugar and fatty foods). However I feel as thought the pill has really dampened my mood making me low level depressed all the time. Also experienced a decreased sex drive and lots of hair loss - but still unsure whether these are directly related.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
After coming off a combined pill (Yasmin) that I was on for 14 years - I am now on Desogestrel, within a week I suffered a mild acne rash/breakout on chin and neck but some gel from my GP quickly sorted that. I am now 2 days late to what would have been a bleed/period and my lower back and period cramps are quite severe and prolonged - my breasts are bigger and tender to touch - hoping these symptoms begin to decrease if I get my bleed or not! Saw GP today to discuss and they’re just general side effects whilst my hormones adjust (I’m told to allow >3 months to review) - general mood has decreased a bit and I feel a bit numb emotionally but started feeling better today so fingers crossed I’m on the up!
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Switched eventually to an implant because of having to remember to bring them everywhere each day. Overall a positive experience though - a reduction in headaches, and usually say it 'flattened' my mood. Whereas before there would be some very low mood points in my cycle, this greatly reduced those. Sometimes it felt a little dull as it seemed to also reduce some of the good spikes, but this was worth it to me to not have to deal with such mood swings.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
Got pregnant on it because I wasn’t taking it properly, since having my son and ensuring to take it regularly I have had no issues
Improved skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
I really wanted to write about my positive experience as most people write reviews when they have a negative experience, for me the Cerazette has been really good, it improved my feeling of being in balance and lessened mood swings, it did not effect my libido, in fact in the beginning I noticed a higher libido, but most importantly I suffer from migraines with aura and since I started taking this a month ago I didn’t have an intense migraine, just one or two mild days and I normally have 2/3 days per week so in a month 8 at least. The only negative things are not too bad: I have very tender breasts which became a bit bigger but I heard this might go away after 3 months or so and I got a little bit of acne but nothing too crazy and this also usually settles after taking it consistently for a few month. All in all for me it’s truly been life changing.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
The first 3-5 months were a bit rough, having sex would cause me to get a period and sometimes was painful. I also was definitely more emotional than before. It all calms down over time, I’ve been on it for almost 3 years now and it was the best decision i get very occasionally spotting and cramps if i miss a pill or two but overall I like it
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 24th Jun 25
Went on the mini pill at 16 for 3 years. The first 9 months I bled pretty constantly (no cramps at least) then bled randomly most months. Bleeding was usually light and unpainful. My mood swings were awful and my skin broke out and got so much worse (quite discouraging after being on accutane). Didn’t notice any weight gain or other side effects. I later changed to the combined pill to try and help my skin but this caused other issues (high blood pressure, recurrent yeast infections) so last week I got the copper IUD! Would not recommend. As a 16 year old the doctor did not give me much information about my choice and the impact it would have on me. She just said “if you trust your boyfriend you don’t need to use condoms now” …
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 24th Jun 25
I was on Microgynon 30 for almost 8 years and I never had any issues! I changed 3 months ago to the progesterone only pill (Desogesterel) due to my friend getting a blood clot from microgynon, and within a month I began getting spots all over my jawline! I have now had constant spots for 2 months. I also have breakthrough bleeding which I never had on Microgynon. I will be heading back to the pharmacy to discuss my options
Worse skin
0 helpful
0 comments

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