Morning after pill vs Combined pill
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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
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
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Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Morning after pill reviews
31 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 19th Apr 25
Complete loss of sex drive for over a week. Accompanied by low mood.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3rd Feb 25
I am going through the most excruciating lower back pain ever, can’t get up
Very negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 19th Apr 25
Complete loss of sex drive for over a week. Accompanied by low mood.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3rd Feb 25
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
Used for 3 - 6 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
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
Used for 12 - 18 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
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
Used for 3 - 6 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
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
Used for 12 - 18 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
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
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
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
Used for 3 - 5 yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
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
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
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

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