Morning after pill vs Progestogen-only / Mini pill
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Overview
Rated 3.4
30 reviews
Once after sex
Frequency
97 - 98%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.7
1366 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
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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Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Morning after pill reviews
30 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
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 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 15th Apr 24
Increased sex drive
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
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 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 15th Apr 24
Increased sex drive
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews
1366 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
The first few months have been rough. Originally went on this pill to alleviate symptoms of Endemetriosis but I’ve had worse side effects then my natural cycle with Endo. I’m giving it one more cycle and if nothing changes then I’ll go off the pill
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
I’ve been on multiple brands of pills, Cerazette, Yasminelle and Microlite. Microlite was the bane of my existence , it made me extremely hormonal I was constantly crying and a very irritable person but I’ve been on Cerazette about 2 years and have found it’s the one I agree with the most
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
Generally happy with this pill, which I'm now able to get from my GP. It's much better than Desogestrel for me. I haven't had a period since I started it and no breakthrough bleeding either. My skin is great on this pill and my weight hasn't changed - if anything I lost a bit of weight, which unfortunately made my boobs smaller. I read this pill has a diuretic effect but I haven't noticed that at all. Initially I had headaches and some disturbed sleep, but these went away after the first month. My sex drive is lower but not to the point of it being an issue. I love that it has the safety of a 24-hour window, plus it's made my mood really stable and has stopped my periods.
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
The first few months have been rough. Originally went on this pill to alleviate symptoms of Endemetriosis but I’ve had worse side effects then my natural cycle with Endo. I’m giving it one more cycle and if nothing changes then I’ll go off the pill
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
I’ve been on multiple brands of pills, Cerazette, Yasminelle and Microlite. Microlite was the bane of my existence , it made me extremely hormonal I was constantly crying and a very irritable person but I’ve been on Cerazette about 2 years and have found it’s the one I agree with the most
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
Generally happy with this pill, which I'm now able to get from my GP. It's much better than Desogestrel for me. I haven't had a period since I started it and no breakthrough bleeding either. My skin is great on this pill and my weight hasn't changed - if anything I lost a bit of weight, which unfortunately made my boobs smaller. I read this pill has a diuretic effect but I haven't noticed that at all. Initially I had headaches and some disturbed sleep, but these went away after the first month. My sex drive is lower but not to the point of it being an issue. I love that it has the safety of a 24-hour window, plus it's made my mood really stable and has stopped my periods.
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I have been taking Hana for 4-5 months now. Generally I have enjoyed the effects of taking a POP, but the specific effect Desogestrel had has led me to trying Slynd instead. Aside from the contraceptive effect, I mainly started taking this pill to combat low mood, hormonal headaches and to hopefully lighten my period. I did find all of these things improved on Hana, but I found that inconsistent and increasingly frequent bleeding was killing my sex drive, making it a touch redundant and prompting the switch. I would have likely reluctantly kept taking Hana (or tried a different brand) as I do feel my mood has benefited overall, and it is advised that bleeding can settle down over time, but now that Slynd was finally available in the UK, I see no need to compromise. In my first month on the pill, I had no bleeding at all (as you would expect). I also generally didn't notice many other side effects. I did have some mood swings - which took me by surprise, but were easier to handle once I identified what was happening and generally settled down after the first month. I also noticed slight vaginal dryness (not uncommon for me in my luteal phase and nothing a bit of lube can't fix) but have been unable to determine if this has also settled. As I got to the last week of pills in my first pack, I had a withdrawal bleed, which again was not unexpected. I was pleased to note that this was much lighter than my normal period, even if it lasted longer, because I could essentially just wear period underwear instead of my normal underwear and that would last all day. In my second month, I noticed some light but otherwise entirely manageable spotting. This alone would not have dissuaded me from taking this pill. I again had a withdrawal bleed around the start of the last week in the pack and would have been happy with that cadence. This is where the problems started, however. Through the course of the third month, I noticed that the light spotting was turning into more prolonged bleeding, which by the end of the month was almost constant and in some cases led me to leak through my clothes. Having done some research online, I decided to try taking two pills instead of just one - this did seem to make the bleeding lighter but it has continued. While I feel that the hormones have overall had a positive impact on my sex drive, it is very hard to feel attractive or think about sex when you are constantly bleeding.
Somewhat positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I have been on this pill for 4 months. My periods are regular which is the ONLY good thing about it. My skin is awful, bloating is insane. The bleeding is heavier than I’ve ever experienced and my sex drive has completely disappeared. Everyone’s experience is different but personally, this is the worst pill I’ve ever tried.
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
3-6 months: (started the pill on 14/10/2024. I've done a review on my first 3 months so this is a follow up) Day 126 - 17/02/2024 – I’ve pretty much had 2 back to back periods with a 2 day break between which I really didn’t appreciate. They really hurt and I convinced myself something was wrong. I have made a doctors appointment to talk through everything. I’m just fed up with bleeding all of the time. I’m spending SO MUCH on pads it’s ridiculous. 12/03/2025 - I’m on my second week of my 6th month of the pill. I’ve kept having back to back periods and consulted the doctor. Because I’m coming up to 25 I had a routine smear (that came back clear) and the doctor did a pelvic exam and they recon it’s the pill that’s the cause of all the bleeding (which I assumed it was anyway. But better safe than sorry). I’m fed up of the bleeding but they’ve given me 6 more months after this to see if it settles. If not we’ll switch to something else. 5/4/2025 - I’m coming to the end of my 1st week in the 7th month of the pill. All I can say is that I’ve stopped bleeding/spotting for the most part. It’s been about 3 weeks since I last bled. So I guess the doctor was right. However, I had like a 1 day period at the beginning of the week it was painful and some period blood and then nothing since. But the last couple of days I’ve had some cramping as if a period wants to start but hasn’t yet. Overall, I think we’re getting back on track hopefully. Sorry I didn't reflect as much but it's pretty much been the same sort of story for the past 3 months
Worse skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Since taking the zelleta pull my mood has gotten a lot worse. I catch myself crying over little things I would have never cried about before. I used to take the cerelle pill which worked well for me but now I get irritated easily and lasch out at my boyfriend a lot.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Never have had a pregnancy scare (touch wood). I’ve been on Noriday for at least 5 years now and affect trying 2 different BC’s and another mini-pill, this is by far the best off.
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
I’ve been on this pill for about 4 years now and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. Periods come and go when they please (at least 2/3 times a month) and can last for weeks on end. I tried to change to Desogestrel after a trip to the doctors but that made me throw up for 5 days straight. I’m limited to what pills I can take due to family history so I’m stuck with this until I can find an alternative, only plus side is is haven’t fell pregnant once whilst on it.
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
I wanted to come on here to write this review and want people of the potential side effects of this medicine. I have experienced a really negative change in general outlook, mood and self worth and completely put it down to this pill. I have today thrown it in the bin after becoming so down that I couldn’t function. I have been on this pill before & for a lengthy stretch, but this time (after having a child) has been completely different and utterly awful. At the start of taking it my periods were quite constant, but they did get lighter and more manageable on this pill. If the mood change wasn’t so bad I would still take it but it’s not worth it at all
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments

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