Progestogen-only / Mini pill vs Combined pill

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Progestogen-only / Mini pill

£From £0.22/day

Combined pill

£From £0.16/day

Overview

Rated 2.7

1507 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

2798 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Progestogen-only / Mini pill ingredients

Main hormones in Progestogen-only / Mini pill

progestogen


Combined pill ingredients

Main hormones in Combined pill

progestogen

oestrogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

32% somewhat negative

44% stopped periods

49% lost sex drive

44% no impact

46% no impact on skin

Cycle return

39% don’t know impact

31% somewhat negative

47% lighter periods

46% lost sex drive

48% no impact

43% improved skin

Cycle return

36% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Period pain

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

Try it now

£From £0.22/day

Try it now

£From £0.16/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews

1507 reviews

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

Slynd pill  

I was taking Desogestrel for a year and was super happy with it no issues only a small three day period every few months everything seemed great. All of a sudden in the last month I have bled and bled even though I take my pill at the same time everyday. I was so upset and my mood went really low and I’m usually a very happy positively spirited person I have had no issues with mental health before. I believe it was because I was given a different brand of Desogestrel in my last 3 months it was called desorex (gold packaging) I have spoken to 3 girls at my work and they have all had the same problem absolutely fine until they started this brand of pill. The best advice I can give is stick to the brand you know and get on with! As the side effects and changes do differ so much even though they tell you Desogestrel tablets are all the same (they aren’t!!!) I have switched to slynd and my bleeding has completely gone, my mood is happy and normal and I feel healthy on it! I’m also glad to have a 4 day break to have a natural period as it gives me my cycle predictability back! It’s basically like a combined pill but no risk of blood clots which was my biggest worry! My skin is the same I just have small breakouts on my chin sometimes but that’s very normal to me, I don’t feel bloated and my weight has stayed the same. My boobs have definitely got bigger on this though could be temporary I’m not sure. Please try this pill if Desogestrel doesn’t work for you and you still want to be on a mini pill! Within 2 weeks it’s completely changed me making me happy and able to enjoy my sex life again without bleeding all the time! I will update this if anything changes :)

Read more

Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Cerelle pill  

Overall I was very happy with Cerelle. The only side effect I got is that on packs 3 and 4 I started bleeding every other week, but it is was a fairly light flow, and no clots (which I used to have when I wasn't on the pill). I was advised to switch to a combined pill regulate my bleeding, but I wish I didn't as Cerelle was pretty good to me.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desomono pill  

I have been on the mini pill now for around 5 months, not for contraception (sure it’s a bonus) but as a move from taking Omeprazole and Mefenamic Acid to control horrific period pain, which stopped working. The first 2 weeks on this pill were great, no side effects, nothing… After I had such a horrorific period i almost stopped it all together. Bleeding & clotting heavily for almost 2 weeks combined with debilitating cramps. Since then I bleed DAILY, with 2-3week long periods. In my review my doctors pushed me to try another 3 months as “It’s should settle out” But I’m in agonising pain some days from when I wake up and for the last 2 months have had daily headaches with a few turning into full blown migraines, which I have been sent home from work for. I hadn’t had a migraine that bad in almost a year and my headaches, which i am prone to, have NEVER been this frequent, but again i was told to ‘monitor them’ and ‘keep track of them’ by my doctor… I’m genuinely at my wits end and i feel quite lied to as well, as one of the biggest reasons i was put onto the mini pill is my medical record with the combined pill, as well as being worried about weight gain and told oh that one happen, when it most certainly has. I genuinely wouldn’t recommend it to anyone and it makes me not want to try any others due to my horrible experience now and in the past.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Slynd pill  

I was taking Desogestrel for a year and was super happy with it no issues only a small three day period every few months everything seemed great. All of a sudden in the last month I have bled and bled even though I take my pill at the same time everyday. I was so upset and my mood went really low and I’m usually a very happy positively spirited person I have had no issues with mental health before. I believe it was because I was given a different brand of Desogestrel in my last 3 months it was called desorex (gold packaging) I have spoken to 3 girls at my work and they have all had the same problem absolutely fine until they started this brand of pill. The best advice I can give is stick to the brand you know and get on with! As the side effects and changes do differ so much even though they tell you Desogestrel tablets are all the same (they aren’t!!!) I have switched to slynd and my bleeding has completely gone, my mood is happy and normal and I feel healthy on it! I’m also glad to have a 4 day break to have a natural period as it gives me my cycle predictability back! It’s basically like a combined pill but no risk of blood clots which was my biggest worry! My skin is the same I just have small breakouts on my chin sometimes but that’s very normal to me, I don’t feel bloated and my weight has stayed the same. My boobs have definitely got bigger on this though could be temporary I’m not sure. Please try this pill if Desogestrel doesn’t work for you and you still want to be on a mini pill! Within 2 weeks it’s completely changed me making me happy and able to enjoy my sex life again without bleeding all the time! I will update this if anything changes :)


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Cerelle pill  

Overall I was very happy with Cerelle. The only side effect I got is that on packs 3 and 4 I started bleeding every other week, but it is was a fairly light flow, and no clots (which I used to have when I wasn't on the pill). I was advised to switch to a combined pill regulate my bleeding, but I wish I didn't as Cerelle was pretty good to me.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desomono pill  

I have been on the mini pill now for around 5 months, not for contraception (sure it’s a bonus) but as a move from taking Omeprazole and Mefenamic Acid to control horrific period pain, which stopped working. The first 2 weeks on this pill were great, no side effects, nothing… After I had such a horrorific period i almost stopped it all together. Bleeding & clotting heavily for almost 2 weeks combined with debilitating cramps. Since then I bleed DAILY, with 2-3week long periods. In my review my doctors pushed me to try another 3 months as “It’s should settle out” But I’m in agonising pain some days from when I wake up and for the last 2 months have had daily headaches with a few turning into full blown migraines, which I have been sent home from work for. I hadn’t had a migraine that bad in almost a year and my headaches, which i am prone to, have NEVER been this frequent, but again i was told to ‘monitor them’ and ‘keep track of them’ by my doctor… I’m genuinely at my wits end and i feel quite lied to as well, as one of the biggest reasons i was put onto the mini pill is my medical record with the combined pill, as well as being worried about weight gain and told oh that one happen, when it most certainly has. I genuinely wouldn’t recommend it to anyone and it makes me not want to try any others due to my horrible experience now and in the past.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments


Combined pill reviews

2798 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 days ago

Rigevidon  

Ive been on rigivedon for about 21 days now my first packet so still quite early on. However I’ve been experiencing lower back ache which has been going on and off for a while and it is getting me down I have booked a GP appointment incase it’s something more serious or to change pill. I can see 1 in 3 women experience back ache on this pill so I am quite sure it’s this.i think I have also felt quite down within myself and my gums have been more tender and sensitive.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Rigevidon  

I was on Rigevidon when I was 20, switched to mini-pill then the coil. I asked to go back on Rigevidon because it worked for me the last time. Cut to 29, I am miserable. My main side effects are - Extreme fatigue Nausea Mood swings / irritability Not feeling myself Brain fog Low sex drive Skin worsen Headaches Tender and swollen breasts I am at the GP tomorrow to be asked to change to a different kind of hormone and smaller dose. The nausea and tiredness I cannot take anymore.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

1 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Marvelon pill  

Been on it for 2 weeks now and my anxiety has gotten so bad, should I wait 3months for my body to adjust or just switch?


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 days ago

Rigevidon  

Ive been on rigivedon for about 21 days now my first packet so still quite early on. However I’ve been experiencing lower back ache which has been going on and off for a while and it is getting me down I have booked a GP appointment incase it’s something more serious or to change pill. I can see 1 in 3 women experience back ache on this pill so I am quite sure it’s this.i think I have also felt quite down within myself and my gums have been more tender and sensitive.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Rigevidon  

I was on Rigevidon when I was 20, switched to mini-pill then the coil. I asked to go back on Rigevidon because it worked for me the last time. Cut to 29, I am miserable. My main side effects are - Extreme fatigue Nausea Mood swings / irritability Not feeling myself Brain fog Low sex drive Skin worsen Headaches Tender and swollen breasts I am at the GP tomorrow to be asked to change to a different kind of hormone and smaller dose. The nausea and tiredness I cannot take anymore.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

1 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Marvelon pill  

Been on it for 2 weeks now and my anxiety has gotten so bad, should I wait 3months for my body to adjust or just switch?


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Microgynon 30 pill  

I started Microgynon30 becase my previous mini-pill (Cerelle) made me bleed every other week. Pharmacist advised the combined would regulate the periods. Unfortunately within 24h of starting Microgynon30 I have severely painful breasts, swollen and itchy (I went up a full cup size and it's not fun, I can't fit into my bras and running has become impossible). Nipples are itchy and sensitive and get scabby and dry. I have sore muscles as if I was constantly PMSing. The worst side effect though has been migraines with aura. Never had migraines in my life before, and now I do. I'm gonna switch to Slynd now, I don't ever wanna go back on a combined pill ever again.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Gedarel 30/150 pill  

Only lasted a month on this pill as it made me incredibly low and irritable. Severe bloating


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Levest pill  

Generally my mood on it was brilliant however it caused severe bloating and cravings so I gained weight


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Gedarel 20/150 pill  

I have tried a few contraceptives including the implant, mini pill and a different combined pill before landing on this one and it was by far the best. Lighter periods, can predict them starting to the hour. No cramps or pains or nausea which i did have before contraception. I do have hormonal headache leading up to and during the break week. Moods were awful on the progesterone only pills but on gedarel I am very level to the point of sometimes feeling a bit numb.


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Yacella pill  

I have been happy with this pill and haven’t really noticed anything significant and has been working as it should, however over the past 15ish months i have been having recurring thrush and i have worked it down to i believe being this pill. i have gone to the pharmacy today and gotten a new pill to try so fingers crossed but yeah turns out thrush is a symptom i believe 1 in 10 people on it


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Yasmin pill  

no comment


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
39 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  7th Aug 26

Zoely pill  

Brilliant medication, the bio identical oestrogen is definitely kinder and easier to manage. I managed to gain weight and keep it, it's something I struggled with massively before. I have nicer bust size too 😁. Tbh is better than Eloine and I have less tension in my body. I recommend it to neurodiverse ppl for certain.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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