Morning after pill vs Progestogen-only / Mini pill

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Morning after pill

£From £0.10/day

Progestogen-only / Mini pill

£From £0.22/day

Overview

Rated 3.4

32 reviews

Once after sex

Frequency

97 - 98%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.7

1394 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Morning after pill ingredients

Main hormones in Morning after pill

progestogen


Progestogen-only / Mini pill ingredients

Main hormones in Progestogen-only / Mini pill

progestogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

38% somewhat negative

28% no change

63% no impact

69% no impact

65% no impact on skin

Cycle return

67% in 1 month

31% somewhat negative

44% stopped periods

49% lost sex drive

44% no impact

46% no impact on skin

Cycle return

38% 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

Period pain

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£From £0.10/day

Try it now

£From £0.22/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Morning after pill reviews

32 reviews

Morning after pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Morning after pill  

test

Read more

Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

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 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Morning after pill  

test


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

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


Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews

1394 reviews

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 days ago

Cerazette pill  

I really wanted to write about my positive experience as most people write reviews when they have a negative experience, for me the Cerazette has been really good, it improved my feeling of being in balance and lessened mood swings, it did not effect my libido, in fact in the beginning I noticed a higher libido, but most importantly I suffer from migraines with aura and since I started taking this a month ago I didn’t have an intense migraine, just one or two mild days and I normally have 2/3 days per week so in a month 8 at least. The only negative things are not too bad: I have very tender breasts which became a bit bigger but I heard this might go away after 3 months or so and I got a little bit of acne but nothing too crazy and this also usually settles after taking it consistently for a few month. All in all for me it’s truly been life changing.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Desogestrel pill  

The first 3-5 months were a bit rough, having sex would cause me to get a period and sometimes was painful. I also was definitely more emotional than before. It all calms down over time, I’ve been on it for almost 3 years now and it was the best decision i get very occasionally spotting and cramps if i miss a pill or two but overall I like it


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6 days ago

Zelleta pill  

Went on the mini pill at 16 for 3 years. The first 9 months I bled pretty constantly (no cramps at least) then bled randomly most months. Bleeding was usually light and unpainful. My mood swings were awful and my skin broke out and got so much worse (quite discouraging after being on accutane). Didn’t notice any weight gain or other side effects. I later changed to the combined pill to try and help my skin but this caused other issues (high blood pressure, recurrent yeast infections) so last week I got the copper IUD! Would not recommend. As a 16 year old the doctor did not give me much information about my choice and the impact it would have on me. She just said “if you trust your boyfriend you don’t need to use condoms now” …


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 days ago

Cerazette pill  

I really wanted to write about my positive experience as most people write reviews when they have a negative experience, for me the Cerazette has been really good, it improved my feeling of being in balance and lessened mood swings, it did not effect my libido, in fact in the beginning I noticed a higher libido, but most importantly I suffer from migraines with aura and since I started taking this a month ago I didn’t have an intense migraine, just one or two mild days and I normally have 2/3 days per week so in a month 8 at least. The only negative things are not too bad: I have very tender breasts which became a bit bigger but I heard this might go away after 3 months or so and I got a little bit of acne but nothing too crazy and this also usually settles after taking it consistently for a few month. All in all for me it’s truly been life changing.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Desogestrel pill  

The first 3-5 months were a bit rough, having sex would cause me to get a period and sometimes was painful. I also was definitely more emotional than before. It all calms down over time, I’ve been on it for almost 3 years now and it was the best decision i get very occasionally spotting and cramps if i miss a pill or two but overall I like it


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6 days ago

Zelleta pill  

Went on the mini pill at 16 for 3 years. The first 9 months I bled pretty constantly (no cramps at least) then bled randomly most months. Bleeding was usually light and unpainful. My mood swings were awful and my skin broke out and got so much worse (quite discouraging after being on accutane). Didn’t notice any weight gain or other side effects. I later changed to the combined pill to try and help my skin but this caused other issues (high blood pressure, recurrent yeast infections) so last week I got the copper IUD! Would not recommend. As a 16 year old the doctor did not give me much information about my choice and the impact it would have on me. She just said “if you trust your boyfriend you don’t need to use condoms now” …


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

Desogestrel pill  

I was on Microgynon 30 for almost 8 years and I never had any issues! I changed 3 months ago to the progesterone only pill (Desogesterel) due to my friend getting a blood clot from microgynon, and within a month I began getting spots all over my jawline! I have now had constant spots for 2 months. I also have breakthrough bleeding which I never had on Microgynon. I will be heading back to the pharmacy to discuss my options


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Slynd pill  

I started using slynd around 6 months ago for period control due to heavy flow and pain Initially I felt optimistic I never took the placebo green pills as I was on tricycling method I still had a period every month with ovarian pain I had a 4 week spotting episode I’ve had 3 utis which I never had in my life every month for the last 3 My sex drive dropped off the earth and there was none My mood went from frantic cycling cleaning the house and obsessing over things to emotionally crying before feeling stupid and back to normal The biggest thing for me was hair loss at least half my hair fell Out in week one I stayed commuted thinking it would get better until bald patches started to appear in month 5 that’s when I jd enough I also had graphic nightmares waking up with sweating so bad my sheets were soaked Since finished this pill I feel like I’m getting back to me with no mood swings or low mood I am 38 and maybe I needed some Oestrogen to balance it out this pill was not for me


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Cerazette pill  

I swapped from the combined pill to Cerazette because I was having anxiety, dizziness and low libido. These have both improved since changing. The most annoying thing has been inconsistent bleeding and spotting. I won’t bleed for 3 months then will have spotting out of nowhere for 3 weeks. I have also got acne on my chin which I didn’t have before. Overall though these extra inconveniences have far outweighed the reduced anxiety, dizziness and libido issues.


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
43 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Desogestrel pill  

I’m very satisfied with the pill. I only been taking it for few weeks but my mental health improved so much ! I can’t actually believe it. I used to suffer mood swings due to hormonal fluctuations . None of this is happening . Very happy. No side effects either


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Desogestrel pill  

I was so concerned about weight gain and mood changes but have not experienced this. I have barely any side effects and have had a really positive experience!


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Desogestrel pill  

I use this pill in combination with a copper coil and it has helped enormously with my PMDD symptoms. I used to really struggle around ovulation with feeling very unwell and now that I don’t have a cycle everything is a lot calmer. I’ve had some spotting and I’m sweating more but it’s much better than having hellish and painful periods. I now don’t have periods at all, which is so much less stressful. I feel like I can finally enjoy my life.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  25th May 25

Norgeston pill  

I tried the mini pill after experiencing migraines after 6 years on the combined pill. First I tried Zelleta which gave me such low mood and tearful all the time, as well as constant spotting. I wanted to try Norgeston as the synthetic hormone is different. My mood definitely improved (although a little more anxious) and I’ve had no spotting, but my periods are so irregular, really close together and so heavy I can get through more than 3 pads a day. I’ve had 2 periods a month for the last few months and will end up with an iron deficiency at this rate! Running out of options


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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