Patch vs Injection
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Overview
Rated 3.4
118 reviews
Weekly
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.9
302 reviews
Every 2-3 months
Frequency
94% - 99+%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
Short term
Effect on fertility
Patch ingredients
Main hormones in Patch
progestogen
oestrogen
Injection ingredients
Main hormones in Injection
progestogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with
Acne or bad skin
Heavy periods
PMS and PMDD
PCOS symptoms
Period pain
Endometriosis
Heavy periods
Period pain
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Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Patch reviews
118 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
The Evra patch has been a good choice for me so far, and it’s my first time on birth control! I would say the only downfall is around the edge of the patch gets dirty from adhesive, and that it’s nerve racking to swim a lot in fear it will come off! I went on vacation and was nervous but I used a tagaderm to keep it on when swimming!
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
The patch made me feel extremely unwell. I had nausea, heavy headed feeling, headaches, tiredness, sweating and soreness where the patch was placed. I ended up removing it before 24 hours was up because I couldn't sleep and felt so out of sorts.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 25th Oct 25
Went on the patch having been on the implant previously. On the implant I had lots of spotting which thankfully went away on the patch. However I have definitely noticed a distinct rise in anxiety since being on the patch over the last year - enough to stop me wanting to go to things like the theatre or going on tours without getting sweaty. I also think it's killed my sex drive so I'm going to go off it and seek alternative contraception. Its a shame because I do find it convenient and have felt very protected on it. My period increased its flow a lot during the period week and I also got bad headaches around that week which I wasn't used to. Sad to have to change but dont like the quality of life.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
The Evra patch has been a good choice for me so far, and it’s my first time on birth control! I would say the only downfall is around the edge of the patch gets dirty from adhesive, and that it’s nerve racking to swim a lot in fear it will come off! I went on vacation and was nervous but I used a tagaderm to keep it on when swimming!
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
The patch made me feel extremely unwell. I had nausea, heavy headed feeling, headaches, tiredness, sweating and soreness where the patch was placed. I ended up removing it before 24 hours was up because I couldn't sleep and felt so out of sorts.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 25th Oct 25
Went on the patch having been on the implant previously. On the implant I had lots of spotting which thankfully went away on the patch. However I have definitely noticed a distinct rise in anxiety since being on the patch over the last year - enough to stop me wanting to go to things like the theatre or going on tours without getting sweaty. I also think it's killed my sex drive so I'm going to go off it and seek alternative contraception. Its a shame because I do find it convenient and have felt very protected on it. My period increased its flow a lot during the period week and I also got bad headaches around that week which I wasn't used to. Sad to have to change but dont like the quality of life.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Injection reviews
302 reviews
Used for 12 - 18 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I had a very bad experience using this contraceptive. Bad moods, bad skin, bad body image, depression, sweating, low libido. Just bad.
Very positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 16th Oct 25
It's a good injection for me, I have been using it for longest time since I was 16 years started to use it. Who recommended it? Clinic nurse.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 11th Oct 25
took some time before i ever come here mainly because i was scared , shy , & hated myself for what im about to talk about here❤️ trust me when i say it’s hard ( im even trying not to cry ) shap so i started my pregnancy prevention journey this year on April it’s been 6 months now & never missed even a single dose (big ups!!) Starting it was so fun & games bcs i would notice some changes & that for me was a game changer bcs I’ve always wanned to gain weight so badzzzz ( i lost weight before so starting this journey for me was a bounce back ) may started eating a lot!! , June my periods desappeared July i got some pimples , august i experienced painful headaches, September my mood swings would change here & there & all that came unoticed to me because that one thing I’ve always wanned does not happen im not gaining still , bro im so drained i feel like it’s so useless for me to inject i don’t know but yeah hey i just hope god pulls through im even thinking of leaving it
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I had a very bad experience using this contraceptive. Bad moods, bad skin, bad body image, depression, sweating, low libido. Just bad.
Very positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 16th Oct 25
It's a good injection for me, I have been using it for longest time since I was 16 years started to use it. Who recommended it? Clinic nurse.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 11th Oct 25
took some time before i ever come here mainly because i was scared , shy , & hated myself for what im about to talk about here❤️ trust me when i say it’s hard ( im even trying not to cry ) shap so i started my pregnancy prevention journey this year on April it’s been 6 months now & never missed even a single dose (big ups!!) Starting it was so fun & games bcs i would notice some changes & that for me was a game changer bcs I’ve always wanned to gain weight so badzzzz ( i lost weight before so starting this journey for me was a bounce back ) may started eating a lot!! , June my periods desappeared July i got some pimples , august i experienced painful headaches, September my mood swings would change here & there & all that came unoticed to me because that one thing I’ve always wanned does not happen im not gaining still , bro im so drained i feel like it’s so useless for me to inject i don’t know but yeah hey i just hope god pulls through im even thinking of leaving it
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 11th Oct 25
I have had no negative side effects with Sayana Press and my periods have stopped completely, of the four different contraceptives I've tried over the years, this one is my favourite.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 11th Oct 25
Depo-Provera was great for me and it stopped my periods completely. I liked not having to take a pill everyday and I didn't want to get another copper coil so this worked well for me. However after being on it for quite a while I got unlucky and ended up with an abscess at the injection site which eventually had to be operated on, however this could have happened with any kind of injection and was just bad luck. I have since switched to Sayana Press so that I can do my own injections at home and clean the injection site beforehand to prevent another abscess.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6th Oct 25
Worst experience I’ve ever had. Since taking this I’ve felt constantly irritated, had complete lack of concentration and it’s completely wiped out my sex drive. I have now been bleeding for 2 months with no break. I have never regretted taking something so much it’s honestly made me miserable.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 28th Aug 25
I’ve used it on an off for years sudden lost of weight within a month since using it again.
Very positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 26th Aug 25
Somewhat positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 15th Aug 25
I had no problems while using noristerate but I would get annoyed sometimes because I would experience spotting for 2 weeks before my next injection. I had little to no menstrual cycle.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 9th Jul 25
Worse skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
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