Patch vs Progestogen-only / Mini pill

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Patch

£From £0.32/day

Progestogen-only / Mini pill

£From £0.22/day

Overview

Rated 3.5

115 reviews

Weekly

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.7

1418 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Patch ingredients

Main hormones in Patch

progestogen

oestrogen


Progestogen-only / Mini pill ingredients

Main hormones in Progestogen-only / Mini pill

progestogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

36% no impact on mood

35% lighter periods

50% no impact

50% no impact

43% no impact on skin

Cycle return

37% don’t know impact

32% 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

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

Period pain

Try it now

£From £0.32/day

Try it now

£From £0.22/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Patch reviews

115 reviews

Patch  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th Aug 25

Evra patch  

I love using the patch. It has made using contraceptive so much easier and I went through a phase of recommending it too everyone I know. I've had a few symptoms recently, but not sure if that is related to the Patch or a different medical issue. In the last year, I've had more hormonal acne than I did before, but that's the main side effect that I would say I've been affected by. We are coming off contraceptive soon, so hoping it is a smooth process

Read more

Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5th Jul 25

Evra patch  

I found this much more convenient than a pill as it only has to be thought about each week. The patch cover seemed to often slip leaving the adhesive to get dirty through the week however, and I was told to stop using them after a short time as they brought back migranes that I had not experienced in years.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  30th Jun 25

Evra patch  

I really liked the patch with my moods, periods, only having to remember once a week to change it, etc, but it gave me a rash. I went to my doctor and was hoping they’d be able to say the rash isn’t a big deal or offer me a patch for more sensitive skin but there isn’t any other patch so sadly I had to come off it and go on the pill


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th Aug 25

Evra patch  

I love using the patch. It has made using contraceptive so much easier and I went through a phase of recommending it too everyone I know. I've had a few symptoms recently, but not sure if that is related to the Patch or a different medical issue. In the last year, I've had more hormonal acne than I did before, but that's the main side effect that I would say I've been affected by. We are coming off contraceptive soon, so hoping it is a smooth process


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5th Jul 25

Evra patch  

I found this much more convenient than a pill as it only has to be thought about each week. The patch cover seemed to often slip leaving the adhesive to get dirty through the week however, and I was told to stop using them after a short time as they brought back migranes that I had not experienced in years.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  30th Jun 25

Evra patch  

I really liked the patch with my moods, periods, only having to remember once a week to change it, etc, but it gave me a rash. I went to my doctor and was hoping they’d be able to say the rash isn’t a big deal or offer me a patch for more sensitive skin but there isn’t any other patch so sadly I had to come off it and go on the pill


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments


Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews

1418 reviews

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Cerelle pill  

I had break through bleeding most weeks for my first 6 months of this pill, then everything was great, however for my final 5 months of the pill I bled again every single day. I decided to come off as it was negatively effecting my mood from the bleeding and also felt zero emotions towards sex or excitement - just felt generally 'meh'.


Decreased sex drive

1 more effect

2 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Cerazette pill  

I´m having a great experience but im loosing too much hair.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Desogestrel pill  

I went on desogestrel twice. The first time I noticed it made me cry extremely easily, and I bled pretty much constantly for 9 months. Then I came off it. When I tried it again for a few months, I had a similar experience, with the added side effect of being so hungry that if I wasn't constantly snacking I was insanely nauseous. Ultimately, it was the bleeding that made me stop it.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Cerelle pill  

I had break through bleeding most weeks for my first 6 months of this pill, then everything was great, however for my final 5 months of the pill I bled again every single day. I decided to come off as it was negatively effecting my mood from the bleeding and also felt zero emotions towards sex or excitement - just felt generally 'meh'.


Decreased sex drive

1 more effect

2 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Cerazette pill  

I´m having a great experience but im loosing too much hair.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Desogestrel pill  

I went on desogestrel twice. The first time I noticed it made me cry extremely easily, and I bled pretty much constantly for 9 months. Then I came off it. When I tried it again for a few months, I had a similar experience, with the added side effect of being so hungry that if I wasn't constantly snacking I was insanely nauseous. Ultimately, it was the bleeding that made me stop it.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
50 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Noriday pill  

I have never been this overweight in my lifetime... Always been a size 10-12, I'm 50yrs old and started taking these at 48 yrs old due to falling pregnant unexpectantly... however this was the worst option I took as I gained over 20kgs in weight. I went from 80kgs to 106kgs


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
36 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Slynd pill  

I went on Slynd to help with endometriosis, but unfortunately I developed a wide range of side effects that made me stop. The most unusual one was nerve-like stinging pain after sex and orgasms. Even though I stayed lubricated, I would get a burning/nerve pain that lasted for days afterwards. Alongside that, I also experienced dry mouth, chest pain, insomnia, low mood, low energy, acne, dry skin, anxiety, and frequent headaches. The combination left me feeling really unwell, physically and emotionally. I wanted to share because painful orgasms and these systemic symptoms weren’t something I’d ever read about with Slynd, and if anyone else is going through the same thing, you’re not imagining it


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

I stopped taking the pill yesterday. I used desogestrel for four months for my endometriosis. I tried really hard to stay positive, to remind myself that it takes time for the side effects to go away and for my endo pain to lessen. Well, unfortunately desogestrel hasn't helped at all, but has made everything worse for me. I've gained 5 kgs in these four months. I've always been naturally skinny and never gained (or lost) weight, so gaining this much in such a short amount of time is a lot for my body and self-esteem. Most of my pants don't fit anymore. Sure, some of it is just endo bloating, but the weight gain does play a part in it. And then there's the hot flashes. One minute I'm sweating like crazy, the next I'm feeling cold. I've also had constant breakthrough bleeding, so I'm using pantyliners daily. For the last two months of using the pills, I've had my periods every other week, which means I'm in terrible pain more often than I was without the pills. That's why I finally decided I've had enough and stopped taking desogestrel. I can't stand all the side effects and the pain. But this is just my experience, the pills might work for someone else! :)


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

1 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  27th Aug 25

Cerazette pill  

I used this for a month hoping it would help with period cramps. Do not recommend. I used it perfectly and felt nauseous everyday after taking it. I got a 9 day period (with cramps) during what was supposed to be my "ovulation" week.It had me feeling very anrgy, caused me period like pains and headaches daily.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Slynd pill  

In general I had a good experience with Slynd. It helped my underlying endometriosis significantly and for the 4 months I was on it I had no period cramps or pain for the first time ever. Unfortunately I had to stop taking it because I was spotting everyday. I thought my body needed time to adjust but after 4 months I was still wearing a pantyliner every day. It was very minimal and I had no pain but I just didn't want to wear liners every day. Once I stopped Slynd I went back to 'normal' after about 3 days but sadly my periods are back to being painful. As an aside, I noticed a reduction in sweating whilst on Slynd and several days I would go without antiperspirant or deodorant.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Aug 25

Cerelle pill  

Great pill been on and off twice for a few years, no side effects bar really really really tender and sore and sensitive breasts. I have such bad health anxiety and honestly this had my questioning if I needed to go to the doctors because of the scary big C that’s how sore and tender my breasts have been, can’t even lie on them.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Cerazette pill  

Went on this for fibroid heavy bleeding and period pain. Have daily bleeding and spotting since starting, and periods are now more irregular and as heavy as before. It didn't help with pain at all. Im going to finish out this month's pack and go off them. However, I got some acupuncture two weeks ago and the pain during my period this month has been greatly reduced. Would reccommend trying it!


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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