Implant vs Vaginal ring
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£From £0.41/day
Overview
Rated 2.8
586 reviews
Every 3 years
Frequency
Over 99%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 3.7
48 reviews
Every 3 weeks
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Implant ingredients
Main hormones in Implant
progestogen
Vaginal ring ingredients
Main hormones in Vaginal ring
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 £0.41/day
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Implant reviews
586 reviews
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
I’ve had multiple cycles in which I bled for around 3 week straight and multiple where I just missed my period altogether. I’ve gained lots of weight and have gone up 3 cup sizes since having it. I’ve also developed severe acne problems since having it, similar to the issues I had with the Desogestrel pill. It’s honestly been much worse than I expected.
Worse skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 week ago
I enjoyed the convenience of this birth control but the side effects are not worth it. My mood has been like a roller coaster every day and I have had debilitating anxiety after being on this contraception for nearly 2 years. The constant spotting and light cramps are awful and the cystic acne and constant breast pain are too. It is very effective at preventing pregnancy though.
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
I've had nexplanon for nearly 3 years and I will most likely get it again and recommend it to others. Whilst everyone's body is different, my body hasn't had an awful reaction with the implant. When I had it inserted I had two extremely light periods in the beginning and since then I have had no periods. I would say the only thing I have struggled with personally is the weight gain, however I have a bad relationship with food and my body so take it with a grain of salt! When I had it inserted I was underweight and in the nearly 3 years I've had it, I have gained enough to be classed on the "higher end of a normal BMI" (whatever that really means because the BMI is a load of BS). My boobs have grown- probably because of the weight gain, and I do get occasional mild cramping. Whilst this is the negative side not my experience, it has also been nice to not worry about pregnancy after having sex and it has made things A LOT easier. Overall 9/10. Please remember everyone's experiences are different. My experience might be the complete opposite of someone else's. If you feel like a form of contraception isn't working or is making your life horrible because of the side effects, please try something else. It's trial and error!
Gained weight
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
I’ve had multiple cycles in which I bled for around 3 week straight and multiple where I just missed my period altogether. I’ve gained lots of weight and have gone up 3 cup sizes since having it. I’ve also developed severe acne problems since having it, similar to the issues I had with the Desogestrel pill. It’s honestly been much worse than I expected.
Worse skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 week ago
I enjoyed the convenience of this birth control but the side effects are not worth it. My mood has been like a roller coaster every day and I have had debilitating anxiety after being on this contraception for nearly 2 years. The constant spotting and light cramps are awful and the cystic acne and constant breast pain are too. It is very effective at preventing pregnancy though.
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
I've had nexplanon for nearly 3 years and I will most likely get it again and recommend it to others. Whilst everyone's body is different, my body hasn't had an awful reaction with the implant. When I had it inserted I had two extremely light periods in the beginning and since then I have had no periods. I would say the only thing I have struggled with personally is the weight gain, however I have a bad relationship with food and my body so take it with a grain of salt! When I had it inserted I was underweight and in the nearly 3 years I've had it, I have gained enough to be classed on the "higher end of a normal BMI" (whatever that really means because the BMI is a load of BS). My boobs have grown- probably because of the weight gain, and I do get occasional mild cramping. Whilst this is the negative side not my experience, it has also been nice to not worry about pregnancy after having sex and it has made things A LOT easier. Overall 9/10. Please remember everyone's experiences are different. My experience might be the complete opposite of someone else's. If you feel like a form of contraception isn't working or is making your life horrible because of the side effects, please try something else. It's trial and error!
Gained weight
0 helpful
0 comments
Vaginal ring reviews
48 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 29th Aug 24
No side effects at all but the ring kept falling out so i always felt it while standing up
Increased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 8th Jul 24
I really loved using the ring, compared to the pill the side effects were minimal and absolutely no bother in remembering it. Unfortunately my doctor just made me come off it as my blood pressure has steadily gone up over 3 years of using it. I did experience loss of sex drive, and vaginal dryness which led to thrush infections. But no changes in mood or skin!
Decreased sex drive
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 15th May 24
Love the Nuvaring. Hardly have to think about changing it. I can get the odd bit of breakthrough bleeding if I don't take my 7 day break. Overall, I'm a big fan!
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 29th Aug 24
No side effects at all but the ring kept falling out so i always felt it while standing up
Increased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 8th Jul 24
I really loved using the ring, compared to the pill the side effects were minimal and absolutely no bother in remembering it. Unfortunately my doctor just made me come off it as my blood pressure has steadily gone up over 3 years of using it. I did experience loss of sex drive, and vaginal dryness which led to thrush infections. But no changes in mood or skin!
Decreased sex drive
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 15th May 24
Love the Nuvaring. Hardly have to think about changing it. I can get the odd bit of breakthrough bleeding if I don't take my 7 day break. Overall, I'm a big fan!
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 18th Nov 23
Things started out really well. No side effects and I didn't take ring breaks so no periods. My skin got less greasy so I got fewer spots, and I had 3 months blissfully free of painful period diarrhoea. Sadly after 3 months I started to get breakthrough bleeding every day and minor versions of my old period symptoms like back pain, cramps, and digestive upsets started to flare up. I tried removing my ring but that just made it worse and within 4 hours I was having a bad time on the loo and put a new ring in just to make it stop. The new ring helped, but now I feel kind of trapped having a constant mini period all the time with no alternative since the only pill that worked for me in the past has been discontinued, and progesterone only contraceptives have never agreed with me, so nothing else seems as convenient as the ring. All in all, bit of a mixed bag.
Improved skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 7th Oct 23
Switched to the vaginal ring after using the pill. When first trying it I could feel some pressure in my lower abdomen but this feeling passed after 1 day and havent had it again since using it. The first 2 periods I had were shorter but heavier than usual but after each period (basically the break week) each period got lighter and my 3rd period was lighter than my usual. Apart from that no other side effects - the above ones I experienced I would say linked to my body adjusting to a new contraception (similar to the pill where they tell you the first 3 months you may experience some side effects). I dont feel as moody as when I was on the pill and the great thing is I dont need to remember to take something everyday so the peace of mind is an additional benefit.
Somewhat positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 10th Sep 23
I've been using the ring for almost a year now and so far it's been working rlly well for me. I pretty much forget it's there when it's in and its rlly easy to change. It's the first hormonal contraceptive I've used so I was extremely apprehensive about it but slowly I've got used to the idea and now it's just a normal part of my routine. The side effects I've experience are minimal and very manageable. A slight decrease in sex drive particularly a couple of months in, and a very slight increase in weight but both are managable and Ive gotten used to. My periods are really regular and I have very little period pain which is great. I would really recommend giving this method a go, overall I'm very glad I did.
Top side effects not reported
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 9th Sep 23
I didn't have any bad experience with the nuvaring while using it but I stopped 6 years ago and i've had problems with my periods ever since... when I stopped, i was having spotting for 9-10 days before my period, my doctor told me everything would be back to normal after about 3 months, but it's been 6 years. It gradually got better, now i only have 1 to 3 days of spotting before my period. I don't know if the ring caused it but it's getting better and better since i stopped using hormones that's why i think it might be linked.
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 11th Aug 23
Unfortunately this contraception made me feel very sad! It led to a continuous low mood, of which I have experienced with the pill previously. I basically just cried a lot for two months and so decided to stop using it. I liked that this could be a short term solution (more short term than the coil) and it was easy to insert/remove. It was not uncomfortable.
Very negative mood
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 8th Aug 23
My mood spiralled quite rapidly - by week three I was in what I would describe as a state of depression and had to remove it a few days early. I felt as though there was a grey cloud over my head constantly and I was randomly crying several times a day. It was actually interesting tracking my mood because it was a stark difference to how I was feeling prior to using the ring. It's a shame it didn't work out for me as it was quite convenient method of protection but I couldn't endure the feelings for more than one cycle.
Very negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
36 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1st Aug 23
Best contraceptive I’ve tried so far, and love that I only need to change every 3 weeks!! Unlike the pill, no mood disturbance, weight changes, skin changes! (had previously used the 3rd gen pills, which were much better than the others which made me hungry and depressed. I used gestodene, for 10 years, then switched to yaz for 5 - was better than gestodene - then a GP friend told me about the nuvaring)
Improved skin
0 helpful
0 comments
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