Progestogen-only / Mini pill vs Combined pill
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Overview
Rated 2.7
1516 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.8
2807 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
Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with
Period pain
Acne or bad skin
Heavy periods
PMS and PMDD
PCOS symptoms
Period pain
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Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews
1516 reviews
Used for 3 - 6 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
I was put on this after being diagnosed with PMDD. I was wary to go on a hormonal pill after having a horrible time when I was a teenager on the combined pill but this has been lifechanging. I was losing 2 weeks out of the month due to my mood, especially with my AUDHD too. I have now got them back. I feel so much more level and calm. For the first 3 months, I had vaginal dryness (which made sex painful), spotting and nausea but this has now completely gone away. My bloating has also subsided a little and my boobs have grown A LOT, which Im not complaining about haha. My hot flashes have got slightly worse but I had them anyway with my ADHD meds and POTs. I am very relieved that this has worked as it has given me my life back. Try and stick with it for 3-4 months before giving up, as im so glad I did.
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
I have mild adenomyosis and pcos, i wanted to try out a POP before a method with estrogen or inserting something I need a healthcare specialist to take out. In the end I couldn’t stick this out for the 3 months that they advise. Since starting I’ve had different side effects. The first week was bad reflux, the second week I had leg cramps, then I had 3 weeks of a constant thumping in my head with a headache that comes and goes, I was referred for an MRV and told to stop the pill. It’s been a week since I’ve stopped, every day the thumping has gotten quieter, no sudden “hits” in my head and today it’s finally gone. For whatever reason, it’s not for me. I will admit it did lighten my bleeding and it looked like it was on its way to stopping, but it never actually stopped completely before the headaches started.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
The first 2 years on this pill was fine, my moods were neutral and my periods stopped completely. However, this is my 3rd year using it and I’ve started growing darker facial hair on my chin and I’ve become more irritable with occasional breakthrough bleeding. Not sure if my body has just changed hormonally as I’ve grown older and doesn’t agree with Desorex anymore. My pharmacist recommended swapping to Noriday, so shall see how that goes and whether it improves my symptoms despite containing a higher amount of androgen than Desorex.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
I was put on this after being diagnosed with PMDD. I was wary to go on a hormonal pill after having a horrible time when I was a teenager on the combined pill but this has been lifechanging. I was losing 2 weeks out of the month due to my mood, especially with my AUDHD too. I have now got them back. I feel so much more level and calm. For the first 3 months, I had vaginal dryness (which made sex painful), spotting and nausea but this has now completely gone away. My bloating has also subsided a little and my boobs have grown A LOT, which Im not complaining about haha. My hot flashes have got slightly worse but I had them anyway with my ADHD meds and POTs. I am very relieved that this has worked as it has given me my life back. Try and stick with it for 3-4 months before giving up, as im so glad I did.
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
I have mild adenomyosis and pcos, i wanted to try out a POP before a method with estrogen or inserting something I need a healthcare specialist to take out. In the end I couldn’t stick this out for the 3 months that they advise. Since starting I’ve had different side effects. The first week was bad reflux, the second week I had leg cramps, then I had 3 weeks of a constant thumping in my head with a headache that comes and goes, I was referred for an MRV and told to stop the pill. It’s been a week since I’ve stopped, every day the thumping has gotten quieter, no sudden “hits” in my head and today it’s finally gone. For whatever reason, it’s not for me. I will admit it did lighten my bleeding and it looked like it was on its way to stopping, but it never actually stopped completely before the headaches started.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
The first 2 years on this pill was fine, my moods were neutral and my periods stopped completely. However, this is my 3rd year using it and I’ve started growing darker facial hair on my chin and I’ve become more irritable with occasional breakthrough bleeding. Not sure if my body has just changed hormonally as I’ve grown older and doesn’t agree with Desorex anymore. My pharmacist recommended swapping to Noriday, so shall see how that goes and whether it improves my symptoms despite containing a higher amount of androgen than Desorex.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Combined pill reviews
2807 reviews
Used for 8+ yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
I was having very irregular, heavy, long periods to the point I became aneamic. This really helped bring it under control, it was great at first. With time I noticed I didn’t feel like myself, I couldn’t experience happiness like normal, I had put on weight, I was getting gut issues like reflux and sensitivity, my hair had thinned, my libido was gone and I was dry even when aroused. I stopped the pill and all these issues fixed themselves after about 6 months but now my periods are irregular again.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Switched from Yasmin to Qlaira safe to say i’m going back to Yasmin. I have been on Qlaira for about a month, it was fine up until i realised near the end of the pack I began feeling extremely “crazy” and depressed, my emotions were too much and extreme like an emotional rollercoaster, I also noticed so much of my hair shedding, it made my hair thin, avoid if you don’t want to risk your hair falling out and if you want to keep your sanity.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
No major side effects that I can think of. Its the only pill that did not make me feel irritated for the whole 28 days after having my two babies.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
I was having very irregular, heavy, long periods to the point I became aneamic. This really helped bring it under control, it was great at first. With time I noticed I didn’t feel like myself, I couldn’t experience happiness like normal, I had put on weight, I was getting gut issues like reflux and sensitivity, my hair had thinned, my libido was gone and I was dry even when aroused. I stopped the pill and all these issues fixed themselves after about 6 months but now my periods are irregular again.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Switched from Yasmin to Qlaira safe to say i’m going back to Yasmin. I have been on Qlaira for about a month, it was fine up until i realised near the end of the pack I began feeling extremely “crazy” and depressed, my emotions were too much and extreme like an emotional rollercoaster, I also noticed so much of my hair shedding, it made my hair thin, avoid if you don’t want to risk your hair falling out and if you want to keep your sanity.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
No major side effects that I can think of. Its the only pill that did not make me feel irritated for the whole 28 days after having my two babies.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I absolutely love this pill! It’s honestly the best one I’ve ever been on. I experienced very mild, temporary changes at the start which passed quickly - nothing troublesome at all. And best of all my moods haven’t changed like they have on previous combined pills I’ve tried, which is life changing. My withdrawal bleeds are regular and predictable which is a bonus. Overall, my experience has been really positive :)
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Painful sex painful vagina, pain when peeing, constipation, no sex drive, low mood, achey legs, insomnia, generally felt rubbish
Worse skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
After having not been on any birth control for two years, I went to my GP to get a prescription for a new bc. I had previously been on Yasmin for 9 years but due to getting recurrent minor thrush, I was wondering if a different pill could avoid that side effect. They prescribed me Rigedevon and my god, I can’t believe how awful it was. My skin that very rarely breaks out became covered in acne, my mood went through the floor and I felt miserable about everything. My GP had suggested me to stick the pill out for two months but I never had any side effects even close to being this bad on Yasmin, I’ve stopped it after one month. NEVER AGAIN
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 8+ yr
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
This pill was amazing for my skin, it looked amazing and as a result I also had less greasy hair! I was on it for many years but went off as I no longer needed birth control. One side effect I found annoying was I seemed to get recurrent thrush, even when I was abstinent. This completely went away when I was off the pill. Aside from that, this pill was pretty good
Improved skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
I was on yasmin for 3 years, my first pill when i was freshly 16 and it was PERFECT. My skin cleared, breasts got bigger, i had a slightly heavier period but nothing over the top. I then came off it for 4 months before deciding i wanted to start again. This is where the issues started, I did 4 months and was genuinely evil, i felt like i was 13 again. I’m not a crier and i was bawling over absolutely everything, almost tantrum level crying. I was lashing out at everyone, and was just overall a mess. My skin also started breaking out badly, and i’ve now had to swap to a new pill(millinette)
Very negative mood
2 more effects
1 helpful
1 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
After my bad experience with a different pill, the doctors put me onto a lower dose in August and felt fine, now it’s September (my 2nd month) and it didn’t come until a couple of days, but I feel fatigued during the day and exhausted.
Improved skin
1 helpful
1 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5th Sep 26
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

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