Morning after pill vs Combined pill

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Morning after pill

£From £0.10/day

Combined pill

£From £0.16/day

Overview

Rated 3.4

32 reviews

Once after sex

Frequency

97 - 98%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

2652 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Morning after pill ingredients

Main hormones in Morning after pill

progestogen


Combined pill ingredients

Main hormones in Combined pill

progestogen

oestrogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

38% somewhat negative

28% no change

63% no impact

69% no impact

59% no impact on skin

Cycle return

67% in 1 month

31% somewhat negative

47% lighter periods

46% lost sex drive

48% no impact

43% improved skin

Cycle return

36% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

There are no benefits that are recognised in scientific research or guidelines for this contraceptive

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

Try it now

£From £0.10/day

Try it now

£From £0.16/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Morning after pill reviews

32 reviews

Morning after pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

ellaOne pill  

I was reluctant to take the morning after pill. I was advised to take it by the nurse after using the withdrawal method. My cycle following taking the pill was 42 day long (my average cycle is about 35 days).

Read more

Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Morning after pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  9th May 25

Levonorgestrel pill  

I had some cramps here and there, nausea started around 4-5 hours after but no vomiting but I was quite dizzy and fatigued. I got my period 5 days earlier than predicted and I had a heavy flow for 4 days instead of my usual 2 but other than that worked alright.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Morning after pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  19th Apr 25

Levonelle One Step pill  

Complete loss of sex drive for over a week. Accompanied by low mood.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Morning after pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

ellaOne pill  

I was reluctant to take the morning after pill. I was advised to take it by the nurse after using the withdrawal method. My cycle following taking the pill was 42 day long (my average cycle is about 35 days).


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Morning after pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  9th May 25

Levonorgestrel pill  

I had some cramps here and there, nausea started around 4-5 hours after but no vomiting but I was quite dizzy and fatigued. I got my period 5 days earlier than predicted and I had a heavy flow for 4 days instead of my usual 2 but other than that worked alright.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Morning after pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  19th Apr 25

Levonelle One Step pill  

Complete loss of sex drive for over a week. Accompanied by low mood.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments


Combined pill reviews

2652 reviews

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

Levest pill  

When I first started levest It gave me bad acne around my chin and enlarged breasts and a slight change in mood but after three months I have literally no side effects and my skin is starting to clear, in fact I’ve actually lost weight on it. This pill suits me more than others I have been on.


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Yasmin pill  

I have PCOS and had been told this would be my best option after having tried between 6-8 other pills and patches over the last 5 years. The main concern was facial acne, body acne and lack of periods all of which this pill is incredible for. My skin has completely cleared despite taking around 2-3 months to do so, particularly stubborn back acne and periods are as they should be. However in the short time I’ve been taking this I’ve gained 4-5kg. My job is physical and I work out often so there’s not much I can put it to but the pill. Additionally I have had extreme hair loss, zero sex drive and very flatlined emotions. All in all a great pill for clearing skin though when it comes to other side effects I do think I will be stopping this once I run out.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Brevinor pill  

I went on it for PMDD symptoms, and they completely went away! Also made me gain a cup size which I liked. First year I loved it, but after taking it long term with no breaks it kinda tanked my libido :/ overall though, pretty positive experience for birth control


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Levest pill  

When I first started levest It gave me bad acne around my chin and enlarged breasts and a slight change in mood but after three months I have literally no side effects and my skin is starting to clear, in fact I’ve actually lost weight on it. This pill suits me more than others I have been on.


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Yasmin pill  

I have PCOS and had been told this would be my best option after having tried between 6-8 other pills and patches over the last 5 years. The main concern was facial acne, body acne and lack of periods all of which this pill is incredible for. My skin has completely cleared despite taking around 2-3 months to do so, particularly stubborn back acne and periods are as they should be. However in the short time I’ve been taking this I’ve gained 4-5kg. My job is physical and I work out often so there’s not much I can put it to but the pill. Additionally I have had extreme hair loss, zero sex drive and very flatlined emotions. All in all a great pill for clearing skin though when it comes to other side effects I do think I will be stopping this once I run out.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Brevinor pill  

I went on it for PMDD symptoms, and they completely went away! Also made me gain a cup size which I liked. First year I loved it, but after taking it long term with no breaks it kinda tanked my libido :/ overall though, pretty positive experience for birth control


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

Millinette 20/75 pill  

I’ve had a pretty good experience with this pill. I went on my first pill at age 19 (Rigevidon) and I experienced quite a lot of nausea with it so got given Millinette 30/75. The nausea persisted and I felt sick almost every time I ate with no particular pattern, so they put me on Millinette 20/75 which has slightly less oestrogen. I have had a pretty good experience but at almost the 2 year mark of taking it, I have started to experience a lot of brain fog and almost feeling like a shell of myself! Sex drive is very low too as well as vaginal dryness and my first ever case of thrush. These however are the only side effects I’ve experienced now apart from some headaches when I have a pill break. I’m open to trying something new but don’t want to rock the boat as I haven’t had the worst experience. But that being said I do feel like it is affecting mine and my partner’s sex life. Could anyone advise me of another option that may help get my libido back on track?


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Combined pill  

Ever since I started using Ovreena I started feeling this thrush-like sensation down there. It was unbearable itchiness that came usually after showers/sexual intercourse and no I didn't have any visible changes to my skin other than mild swelling weirdly only the left side of my labia and clitoral area. I've taken all sorts of tests from STD's, vaginal infections to going to multiple gynaecologists and dermatologists. Nothing they diagnosed me with was adding up until I stopped the pill. One dermatologist that thought I might have Lichen Sclerosis (Though I had no visible changes to my skin or any of those symptoms other than the itching), she recommended to use Aqueous cream as a form of vaginal wash and a steroid topical cream on top of a thin layer of vaseline to the affected area with a higher dose of antihistamines for prescription. This helped me get rid of the symptoms to help me sleep and function during the night and throughout the day but when it wore off it came back. After I stopped taking Ovreena it took about a month for the itching to stop completely so long story short it started when I started taking the pill I had this issue and then after I stopped it went away. I hope this helps for anyone with similar symptoms.


Decreased sex drive

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Millinette 30/75 pill  

Been taking for around 4 years, almost flawless except totally ruined any sex drive/libido and that sucks so bad. Great for skin though and regulating periods/lighter periods, which is why I went on it in the first place👍🏼


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Microlite pill  

Thrush all the time due to microlite


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Millinette 20/75 pill  

This is my second month with this pill. In the first 2 weeks, I was constantly bloated and had small cramps in my stomach a few hours after taking it, also I was ALWAYS hungry, so I ended up gaining more than 5 pounds in that time. I changed to this pill in hopes of getting back some of my sex drive, which went nonexistent on Yasmin and Eloine, also I hoped it would improve my mood a bit, as I felt moody, anxious and depressed while taking the previous pills. It may have stabilised my mood a bit as I experience less intense PMS symptoms, but my overall mood is still low all the time, and it did not help with my libido either. Another downside for me is the heavy bleeding I get on the break, on the other pills I had very light periods, but now it is like a normal period with cramps and blood knots. I also get headaches in the pill break, which is unusual for me. I did not experience too much change regarding my skin, maybe a couple more spots but nothing crazy.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Lizinna pill  

I’ve been using Lizinna for just over 8 months. Started taking due to my PMS symptoms so I take 3 packs back to back then a break. I notice around the 3rd pack my mood is impacted negatively, and I know it’s time for a break. I haven’t spotted using this pill, I don’t get as many spots and if I do they don’t last as long and my general mood is better than before. I have gained 1+ stone in weight in the 8 months of using this pill. I haven’t been moving significantly less or eating significantly more so there is no other change than starting this pill. It is effecting me quite a bit as it is sending my body image down the swanny. I guess the pros outweigh the cons (pardon the pun)


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Lizinna pill  

My skin has got worse with this pill and I will be changing, however my mood has been a lot better.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Morning after pill with other contraceptives

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