Injection vs Patch

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Injection

Add your Injection review

Patch

£From £0.32/day

Overview

Rated 2.9

293 reviews

Every 2-3 months

Frequency

94% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

Short term

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.5

115 reviews

Weekly

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Injection ingredients

Main hormones in Injection

progestogen


Patch ingredients

Main hormones in Patch

progestogen

oestrogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

32% somewhat negative

70% stopped periods

56% lost sex drive

49% gained weight

47% no impact on skin

Cycle return

43% don’t know impact

36% no impact on mood

35% lighter periods

49% no impact

50% no impact

43% no impact on skin

Cycle return

37% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Period pain

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

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Add your Injection review

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£From £0.32/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Injection reviews

293 reviews

Injection  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Injection  

Side effects are bad

Read more

Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Depo-Provera injection  

All women should really do the research before starting this medication. I have read quite a few stories online of women who have felt the same. I have basically felt like a completely different person. I am near on the end of one injection and I will not be going back for another. It’s absolutely ruined my relationship with my partner. I’ve been absolutely horrible to him and it’s only now I’m starting to realise just what this injection did to me. Thank goodness he’s so understanding and helped me through it because I was literally horrendous. Literally a few days after I had it I was a different person, I hated him. Everything he done annoyed me, I was rude and hurtful and I couldn’t control it. I would snap in and out of moods so badly that we named the other “person” Patrica. He was constantly walking on egg shells as he never knew which version he would get. I am so upset that I have felt this way in the last few months. So much so I was having suicidal thoughts. I pray that anyone doesn’t risk it because it’s been 3 months of hell for us.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Jul 25

Depo-Provera injection  

This has been great for me helped regulate my moods no longer huge crashes i get around periods. Also it has completely stopped my periods which were heavy and painful, I get the occasional period pain leading up to when my injection is due but they are very very mild and don’t really effect me.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Injection  

Side effects are bad


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Depo-Provera injection  

All women should really do the research before starting this medication. I have read quite a few stories online of women who have felt the same. I have basically felt like a completely different person. I am near on the end of one injection and I will not be going back for another. It’s absolutely ruined my relationship with my partner. I’ve been absolutely horrible to him and it’s only now I’m starting to realise just what this injection did to me. Thank goodness he’s so understanding and helped me through it because I was literally horrendous. Literally a few days after I had it I was a different person, I hated him. Everything he done annoyed me, I was rude and hurtful and I couldn’t control it. I would snap in and out of moods so badly that we named the other “person” Patrica. He was constantly walking on egg shells as he never knew which version he would get. I am so upset that I have felt this way in the last few months. So much so I was having suicidal thoughts. I pray that anyone doesn’t risk it because it’s been 3 months of hell for us.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Jul 25

Depo-Provera injection  

This has been great for me helped regulate my moods no longer huge crashes i get around periods. Also it has completely stopped my periods which were heavy and painful, I get the occasional period pain leading up to when my injection is due but they are very very mild and don’t really effect me.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments


Patch reviews

115 reviews

Patch  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
40 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Evra patch  

I suffer from pms and pmdd. I was hoping this would balance my hormones during ovulation and then after my period when pmdd symptoms would happen. I only lasted just over a week on this due to feeling constant pms and depressed. Sore breasts and skin so itchy my hands and feet would swell up. Ive decided I cannot continue on this and feel im back at square one. I have started to take antihistamine tablets to try and help with my itchy skin.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Evra patch  

I found this much more convenient than a pill as it only has to be thought about each week. The patch cover seemed to often slip leaving the adhesive to get dirty through the week however, and I was told to stop using them after a short time as they brought back migranes that I had not experienced in years.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  30th Jun 25

Evra patch  

I really liked the patch with my moods, periods, only having to remember once a week to change it, etc, but it gave me a rash. I went to my doctor and was hoping they’d be able to say the rash isn’t a big deal or offer me a patch for more sensitive skin but there isn’t any other patch so sadly I had to come off it and go on the pill


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
40 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Evra patch  

I suffer from pms and pmdd. I was hoping this would balance my hormones during ovulation and then after my period when pmdd symptoms would happen. I only lasted just over a week on this due to feeling constant pms and depressed. Sore breasts and skin so itchy my hands and feet would swell up. Ive decided I cannot continue on this and feel im back at square one. I have started to take antihistamine tablets to try and help with my itchy skin.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Evra patch  

I found this much more convenient than a pill as it only has to be thought about each week. The patch cover seemed to often slip leaving the adhesive to get dirty through the week however, and I was told to stop using them after a short time as they brought back migranes that I had not experienced in years.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  30th Jun 25

Evra patch  

I really liked the patch with my moods, periods, only having to remember once a week to change it, etc, but it gave me a rash. I went to my doctor and was hoping they’d be able to say the rash isn’t a big deal or offer me a patch for more sensitive skin but there isn’t any other patch so sadly I had to come off it and go on the pill


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  29th Jun 25

Evra patch  

I think the patch works fine for me, it doesn’t fall off and has never peeled away. I’ve had a couple of headaches since starting a month ago but don’t know if they’re related, I don’t usually get any headaches so it’s likely. Pretty sure it’s decreased my sex drive.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  27th May 25

Evra patch  

I would highly recommend using the patch if you want a form of contraception that can easily fit around your life. Doctors will be very quick to try and prescribe the pill or the coil and will rarely mention the patch. The patch makes it easier to absorb hormones instead of digesting them like you do with the pill. It’s great not having a luteal phase which makes me feel really low anymore. My mood is stable and my skin has improved a lot. The only negative side effects I would say I’ve experienced is more difficulty in my vagina lubricating itself and water retention making me feel like I’m more bloated/ added on weight. However the latter could be due to other factors and I’ve found that I can manage it with exercising more.


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th May 25

Evra patch  

Been using the patch for 1 month now. The first 2 weeks weren’t great, I was having intense mood swings and irritability which was not like myself. I also experienced headaches during the first 2 weeks which now seem to be a lot better. By the third week things started to settle and my moods became better and less intense. On the patch free week I experienced bleeding and stomach pain (similar to a normal period) I’ve also noticed my skin has gotten worse as I very rarely get spots but have had quite a few breakouts since beginning the patch. I haven’t noticed any weight gain but slight breast enlargement. Overall, I would recommend the patch due to quite a lot of the side effects being temporary and as someone who struggles with contraception this has been the best one so far.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Apr 25

Evra patch  

I went back on the patch a few months ago as it's probably my most preferred form of contraception (I'm often not on any and am reluctant to use anything but needs must). I actually have fallen pregnant on the patch in the past and have a 5 year old son to show for it but so far this time round it seems to be doing the job. Pros: It's so easy to use, changing once a week is so much easier than trying to remember a pill each day. I usually use the whole pack back to back so appreciate less frequent periods. It stays put with no issue at all. Cons: My moods have been awful, to the point I feel quite depressed some of the time, I'm crying a lot and not coping with challenges very well as I normally would. My periods are generally heavier, I have a couple of days of constantly leaking through tampons in a very short space of time. I'm getting headaches quite regularly which won't shift with painkillers. Also feel nauseous quite often. This month have started breakthrough bleeding after just a couple of weeks since last patch free week. Overall, not loving it at the moment. However I've had such bad experiences with other forms of contraception that I still think this is the best of a bad bunch. Really rate the convenience of it. No noticeable difference to weight or skin thankfully.


Somewhat negative mood

1 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2nd Mar 25

Evra patch  

I don't like it. It makes me feel sad, like full-time pms. I've cried most days on it. I get headaches and I never used to. My friends say I don't seem like myself. My sex drive is lower. I was spotting for the first 6 weeks. Pluses are decreased risk of pregnancy, being able to skip a break and less heavy period/breakthrough bleeding so iron levels are easier to control. It's easy to use and so far has stayed on well (we'll see if this is still the case in summer). I like that if I wanted to stop using it I can remove it myself.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

2 helpful

1 comments

Patch  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
44 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  22nd Feb 25

Evra patch  

Breast tenderness and headaches


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

1 comments

Patch  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  21st Feb 25

Evra patch  

First few months were GREAT- my skin and hair looked amazing, breasts looked the best they'd ever looked, periods were regular and only negative side effects I had were nausea and breast tenderness. Did not have big issues with the adhesive, even though I have sensitive skin, and was not bothered by the lint that stuck to the edges of the patch (I stuck it to my tummy or my bum so it was hidden by clothes anyway). Thought it was a blessing for the first 4 months on it. Started having issues further in, due to the high levels of oestrogen, where I began having extremely heavy and longer periods and went on to have daily pelvic pain after about 8 months on the patch... now on the waiting list to see if I have endometriosis. The patch itself did not negatively impact my sex drive and it did not worsen my anxiety (I did cry more and have some brain fog though). I only gained a small amount of weight and my body looked the best it ever has. Overall, it didn't work for me and has potentially worsened endometriosis (high oestrogen can feed endo), but it has prevented pregnancy and it is so convenient and harder to mess up than taking a pill every day.


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Injection with other contraceptives

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