Injection vs Progestogen-only / Mini pill

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Injection

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Progestogen-only / Mini pill

£From £0.19/day

Overview

Rated 2.9

250 reviews

Every 2-3 months

Frequency

97% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

Short term

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.7

1188 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Injection ingredients

Main hormones in Injection

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

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Period pain

Period pain

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£From £0.19/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Injection reviews

250 reviews

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2nd Nov 23

  •  Stopped using

I was on the sayanna press injection for 3 years. My periods started off a little irregular for the first couple of months and then stopped completely, which was a blessing as they have always been heavy and painful! Would start to get slight cramps in the week before the injection was due but otherwise, it seemed to suit me quite well. I'm a healthcare professional so injecting myself didn't bother me at all! I gained a little weight whilst using it but I am overweight anyway so unsure if I can attribute this to the injection!

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Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 6 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  30th Oct 23

  •  Still using

I started the depo in June of this year, I then started constantly bleeding 3 weeks later up until the end of August. I had a 2 week break from bleeding, and then I started again for a further 3 weeks, and the pain that comes along with it is unbearable, it’s a constant vicious cycle. My moods are horrendous, I’ve had to start up antidepressants again, my skin hasn’t been this bad in literal months, all the lower part of my face has broken out into sore spots. I have tried all methods of contraception now, various pills, 2x coil and neither time worked as my body rejected both times, the implant which didn’t agree with me and now this. So I’m completely coming off contraception once this dose runs out. Never again


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  25th Oct 23

  •  Stopped using

I began using the Depo as it was recommended by a nurse in my GP clinic. During the first 6 months the only noticeable side effect was the decreased sex drive. After my 3rd injection, I began having serious pain when trying to have sex. Due to this pain I booked an appointment with my GP to get swabs done to check for any infections. They completed swabs and no infection was found, I was told it was most likely just dryness. Therefore I stopped having the depo and started the pill again as I had no issues with the pill. I was on the pill for a month and has really bad head aches so decided to come off contraception completely. After coming off the depo it took 6 months for me to be able to have sex again due to the dryness.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2nd Nov 23

  •  Stopped using

I was on the sayanna press injection for 3 years. My periods started off a little irregular for the first couple of months and then stopped completely, which was a blessing as they have always been heavy and painful! Would start to get slight cramps in the week before the injection was due but otherwise, it seemed to suit me quite well. I'm a healthcare professional so injecting myself didn't bother me at all! I gained a little weight whilst using it but I am overweight anyway so unsure if I can attribute this to the injection!


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 6 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  30th Oct 23

  •  Still using

I started the depo in June of this year, I then started constantly bleeding 3 weeks later up until the end of August. I had a 2 week break from bleeding, and then I started again for a further 3 weeks, and the pain that comes along with it is unbearable, it’s a constant vicious cycle. My moods are horrendous, I’ve had to start up antidepressants again, my skin hasn’t been this bad in literal months, all the lower part of my face has broken out into sore spots. I have tried all methods of contraception now, various pills, 2x coil and neither time worked as my body rejected both times, the implant which didn’t agree with me and now this. So I’m completely coming off contraception once this dose runs out. Never again


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  25th Oct 23

  •  Stopped using

I began using the Depo as it was recommended by a nurse in my GP clinic. During the first 6 months the only noticeable side effect was the decreased sex drive. After my 3rd injection, I began having serious pain when trying to have sex. Due to this pain I booked an appointment with my GP to get swabs done to check for any infections. They completed swabs and no infection was found, I was told it was most likely just dryness. Therefore I stopped having the depo and started the pill again as I had no issues with the pill. I was on the pill for a month and has really bad head aches so decided to come off contraception completely. After coming off the depo it took 6 months for me to be able to have sex again due to the dryness.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments


Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews

1188 reviews

Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

  •  Stopped using

First contraceptive pill I have tried in years. It made me have really bad thoughts and made me feel really depressed so had to come off it. If you live with mental health symptoms, please be weary of this potential side effect.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

  •  Still using

I was worried about side effects going on to Hana but had zero side effects apart from breast tenderness for the the first two weeks, and a regular period (although slightly lighter and shorter than normal) in week 3. I started seeing some spotting in week 5, I'm in week 7 now and on day 16 of continuous bleeding. It's reasonably light but inconvenient. No PMS symptoms other than the breast tenderness, which started in week 1/2 and is the same as the breast tenderness I got with PMS. I'm going to stick with it for now but if the breast tenderness and continuous bleeding hasn't stopped after 3 months I may give up on it as it's pretty inconvenient.


Top side effects not reported

2 helpful

0 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

  •  Still using

I was worried about side effects going on to Hana but had zero side effects apart from breast tenderness for the the first two weeks, and a regular period (although slightly lighter and shorter than normal) in week 3. I started seeing some spotting in week 5, I'm in week 7 now and on day 16 of continuous bleeding. It's reasonably light but inconvenient. No PMS symptoms other than the breast tenderness, which started in week 1/2 and is the same as the breast tenderness I got with PMS. I'm going to stick with it for now but if the breast tenderness and continuous bleeding hasn't stopped after 3 months I may give up on it as it's pretty inconvenient.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

  •  Stopped using

First contraceptive pill I have tried in years. It made me have really bad thoughts and made me feel really depressed so had to come off it. If you live with mental health symptoms, please be weary of this potential side effect.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

  •  Still using

I was worried about side effects going on to Hana but had zero side effects apart from breast tenderness for the the first two weeks, and a regular period (although slightly lighter and shorter than normal) in week 3. I started seeing some spotting in week 5, I'm in week 7 now and on day 16 of continuous bleeding. It's reasonably light but inconvenient. No PMS symptoms other than the breast tenderness, which started in week 1/2 and is the same as the breast tenderness I got with PMS. I'm going to stick with it for now but if the breast tenderness and continuous bleeding hasn't stopped after 3 months I may give up on it as it's pretty inconvenient.


Top side effects not reported

2 helpful

0 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

  •  Still using

I was worried about side effects going on to Hana but had zero side effects apart from breast tenderness for the the first two weeks, and a regular period (although slightly lighter and shorter than normal) in week 3. I started seeing some spotting in week 5, I'm in week 7 now and on day 16 of continuous bleeding. It's reasonably light but inconvenient. No PMS symptoms other than the breast tenderness, which started in week 1/2 and is the same as the breast tenderness I got with PMS. I'm going to stick with it for now but if the breast tenderness and continuous bleeding hasn't stopped after 3 months I may give up on it as it's pretty inconvenient.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

  •  Still using

I have been put on the progestogen-only pill recently after 10 years on the combined pill, because none of my doctors ever bothered asking if I suffer from migraines before :) I have been on it for just over a month and I have not enjoyed it. I feel really, really tired (which is a side effect that is listed as 'uncommon' on the leaflet), not feeling like myself at all and have had some digestive problems with ups and downs of constipation/diarrhoea which I did not suffer from before going on this pill. I also found this pill more of a faff compared to the combined pill, as you have to take it every day at the same time. I normally take it at 9AM but that means that if I am going anywhere early in the morning, I have to take the packet with me. Although mine has a 12-hour window in which it can be taken and it still provides cover, I prefer to stick to the same time for safety. I also do not enjoy the fact that there is no 'guaranteed' bleeding to know that I am not pregnant, and that bleeding can happen at any point, randomly. That does not work with my lifestyle and it made me truly miss my previous combined pill which didn't need too much adjusting to my life. I have not had other major side effects (but then again, I have been on a pill for 10 years), but I have decided that this doesn't suit my lifestyle and I will stop taking it soon. I have invested in a Ladycomp device (99.3% accuracy, same as the pill but without hormones!) and once I finish this packet of pills I will be stopping all hormonal contraception. It's a shame that, for someone who definitely does not want a pregnancy, there aren't many options available but I am glad I found Ladycomp which has the same accuracy as the pill without taking hormones. I hope the Lowdown will start talking about it on their platform soon!! :)


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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

  •  Still using

My sex drive is like nothing it’s gone. More spots than before. My cycle length is around 50 days and my period is lasting for 9.


Top side effects not reported

2 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 6 mo
51 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

  •  Still using

I was on Cerelle for 6 mths which was not working out for me as I had prolonged, frequent irregular periods on it. The doctor suggested changing to Norgeston and it has been great. I have been on it now for 5 months and my periods, although not regular (actually there has been a slightly longer gap between periods, which is nice) have been back to normal length of around 6 days long. In fact better than normal as I’d been getting very heavy periods possibly due to me being perimenopausal. I’ve got lighter periods now that don’t come as often with no bad side effects. Also, a good side effect is that I don’t get feelings of depresssion any more before my period like I used to when not on the pill. I did have a blip recently with bleeding - but it’s because I missed a pill and I bled for 20 days, so I asked my doctor and they told me to take 2 pills a day until the bleeding had stopped for 7 days and this has worked. I recommend this pill!


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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

  •  Stopped using

The POP is quite new to me having been on the Depo for a long time. I was on Lovima to begin with but then the pharmacy gave me this one on my next prescription to begin with things were as normal there didn’t seem much off a change until I started experiencing severe anxiety like I never have before. My heart was racing for no reason and I was in a constant anxious state. I felt like I was going crazy. I called the pharmacy as I was needing a new prescription but asked if I could try a different brand as this one was not agreeing with me and the pharmacist says it sounds more off a pill problem then a you problem which made me feel a lot better as I say I felt I was going crazy. I am now on a different brand off POP so swing how this goes.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

1 comments

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

  •  Still using

I had to switch from my combined pill due to risk of breast cancer and stroke. I loved my previous pill but this one I've had such negative experiences, so anxious and depressed and angry, as well as random bleeding and making my work and home life difficult to cope with. I will not be taking this pill beyond the 3 months prescribed


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 6 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  31st Oct 23

  •  Still using

kept periods at a normal level, just sometimes more frequently. extremely helped cramps, as i suffered very badly with them before. increased sex drive, and has not had much of an effect on my mood. i do have acne but i had acne before, and i can sometimes get rid of it.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 12 - 18 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  28th Oct 23

  •  Stopped using

Tried this after not wanting to be on the implant anymore without realising it's the same hormone! Anyways, my period got lighter but they lasted 10 days as opposed to 5 days. I gained a good few kilos in weight. Also started having period-like cramps even without being on my period, which was odd. I have recent stopped and will be trying Noriday.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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