Morning after pill vs Combined pill

Need help choosing? Speak to a doctor
Morning after pill

£From £0.10/day

Combined pill

£From £0.16/day

Overview

Rated 3.4

31 reviews

Once after sex

Frequency

97 - 98%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

2588 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

39% somewhat negative

29% no change

65% no impact

71% no impact

63% no impact on skin

Cycle return

67% in 1 month

31% somewhat negative

47% lighter periods

46% lost sex drive

48% no impact

44% 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

31 reviews

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

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.

Read more

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
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Feb 25

Levonorgestrel pill  

I am going through the most excruciating lower back pain ever, can’t get up


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

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
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Feb 25

Levonorgestrel pill  

I am going through the most excruciating lower back pain ever, can’t get up


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments


Combined pill reviews

2588 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Millinette 30/75 pill  

I used this pill a few years ago during a difficult period and wondered then if it impacted my mood, but it was a difficult time so it was hard to gauge. Tried again this time around and sadly no the pill was definitely a contributing factor. My pill free week I had a constant feeling of anxiety, which then followed into my next round. Im not really an anxious person but by week 4 on this I felt constantly on edge. Im a light sleeper anyway so I didn't make the connection last time between insomnia symptoms and night sweats but I think this contributed. I wonder if its linked to the heightened anxiety. A shame because otherwise no impact on skin, weight or periods sadly it just does not work with my mental health. I recently switched to Yasmin and it was like a light came on almost to the day I switched. I'd avoided it because of some negative stories id heard but for me its been much better so far. Sadly its a bit of trial and error to find the right one for you.


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Mercilon pill  

Vagina is very dry and sex has become a chore as I also have a low sex drive now


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Brevinor pill  

This combined pill has been the best one for me that I have tried so far. It hasn’t impacted my mood (as far as I can tell) and I haven’t experienced many negative side effects.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Millinette 30/75 pill  

I used this pill a few years ago during a difficult period and wondered then if it impacted my mood, but it was a difficult time so it was hard to gauge. Tried again this time around and sadly no the pill was definitely a contributing factor. My pill free week I had a constant feeling of anxiety, which then followed into my next round. Im not really an anxious person but by week 4 on this I felt constantly on edge. Im a light sleeper anyway so I didn't make the connection last time between insomnia symptoms and night sweats but I think this contributed. I wonder if its linked to the heightened anxiety. A shame because otherwise no impact on skin, weight or periods sadly it just does not work with my mental health. I recently switched to Yasmin and it was like a light came on almost to the day I switched. I'd avoided it because of some negative stories id heard but for me its been much better so far. Sadly its a bit of trial and error to find the right one for you.


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Mercilon pill  

Vagina is very dry and sex has become a chore as I also have a low sex drive now


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Brevinor pill  

This combined pill has been the best one for me that I have tried so far. It hasn’t impacted my mood (as far as I can tell) and I haven’t experienced many negative side effects.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Marvelon pill  

Overall, Haven’t noticed any changes to mood, it’s definitely made me gain a little bit of weight. However, My period i had when coming off the pill was in one word…. Excruciating. I’ve never had bad period cramps but with this pill my period came out in massive blood clots and it was very very painful.


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Microgynon 30 pill  

Gave me cystitis all the time and even after coming off I keep getting it after seeing a specialist they told me it’s due to the The pill, lowering my oestrogen


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Gedarel 20/150 pill  

I thought i had gotten on well with Gedarel, didn’t have side effects really and took it continuously to not have periods which only about every 6mnths got beeak-through bleeding, the periods during a pill break were getting heavier each time though. only after coming off it and changing to the mini pill did I realise my sez drive was affected by it as it came back to my normal and my mood felt more stable generally also? The reason for switching was because I had one really bad migrane (and no history of it)


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Brevinor pill  

nknkn


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Microgynon 30 ED pill  

I started this pill 4 months ago, and i’ve noticed that i’ve bruised a lot, especially on my arms knees legs etc. i had swapped birth controls> from the injection seyena press to the combined pill and the injection, i had no period for the 2 year period i was using, started the pill and have had 2 quite big heavy periods- having a clear out isn’t an issue but the pain i am in is a lot. either way this pill is great whilst using for 4 months+ :)


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Rigevidon  

I really didn't like this pill. It caused my mood to plummet, and I gained weight on it.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Femodette pill  

I was prescribed Femodette because I wanted a COC pill that would not cause my mood to worsen. It didn't have any impact on my mood, which is great, but the weight gain I experienced on this pill made me consider alternative methods of contraception.


Increased sex drive

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Morning after pill with other contraceptives

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