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

1446 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

2686 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

38% 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

1446 reviews

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Desorex pill  

The mini-pill has been a life saver for me. I’ve always struggled with combined pills, trying so many to control horrible periods and always having awful side effects. Since first trying the mini pill, I had spotting for about a week, and I haven’t had anything since, it’s been three years! The only side effect I have is that my skin is very sensitive and breaks out easily like it did before I started taking oral contraceptives, which started again about two months in, but it’s worth it for the benefits for me. No mood swings, no migraines, no bleeding, no hair loss, no weight gain, just a bit of manageable acne!

Read more

Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
64 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  

Im a trans needing to help my breast fuller


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
64 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  

Im a trans for estrogen therapy to help with my breast


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Desorex pill  

The mini-pill has been a life saver for me. I’ve always struggled with combined pills, trying so many to control horrible periods and always having awful side effects. Since first trying the mini pill, I had spotting for about a week, and I haven’t had anything since, it’s been three years! The only side effect I have is that my skin is very sensitive and breaks out easily like it did before I started taking oral contraceptives, which started again about two months in, but it’s worth it for the benefits for me. No mood swings, no migraines, no bleeding, no hair loss, no weight gain, just a bit of manageable acne!


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
64 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  

Im a trans needing to help my breast fuller


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
64 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  

Im a trans for estrogen therapy to help with my breast


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments


Combined pill reviews

2686 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Qlaira pill  

I have been prescribed Qlaira for heavy periods and excessive bleeding. I might have endometriosis but they didn't prove it yet. Qlaira stopped my excessive bleeding the very next day after taking the first pill. I also didn't notice any major side effects beside a little soreness in my breasts. My skin is crystal clear. I suffer from PMDD very bad and have bad pains in my abdomen during ovulation. It fixed all of these issues in the first month and I'm happy. My vaginal lubrication improved as well. Mood swings improved significantly.


Very positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Yasmin pill  

Love this pill, I've been on it for nearly 10 years now and have noticed few changes and side effects. If anything, my skin is more clear and my periods are light (3-4 days instead of my usual 6-7). I feel more emotional than baseline but it does not bother my day-to-day activities.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Combined pill  

Overall its fine, slowed down my metabolism and made me pretty dry but that's all


Gained weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Qlaira pill  

I have been prescribed Qlaira for heavy periods and excessive bleeding. I might have endometriosis but they didn't prove it yet. Qlaira stopped my excessive bleeding the very next day after taking the first pill. I also didn't notice any major side effects beside a little soreness in my breasts. My skin is crystal clear. I suffer from PMDD very bad and have bad pains in my abdomen during ovulation. It fixed all of these issues in the first month and I'm happy. My vaginal lubrication improved as well. Mood swings improved significantly.


Very positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Yasmin pill  

Love this pill, I've been on it for nearly 10 years now and have noticed few changes and side effects. If anything, my skin is more clear and my periods are light (3-4 days instead of my usual 6-7). I feel more emotional than baseline but it does not bother my day-to-day activities.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Combined pill  

Overall its fine, slowed down my metabolism and made me pretty dry but that's all


Gained weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 days ago

Dretine pill  

This has by far been the best pill for me I love how confident and comfortable I feel


Very positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Microlite pill  

Thrush constantly. Horrible.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Yasmin pill  

My worst side effects have been the mood swings, I am crying a lot more for no reason than I ever did before, it definitely has made me more emotional. My period has gone from being 3 to 4 days to being 1.5 / 2. My breasts become really sore and hard before and after my period. I don’t feel as sexually active as before and I experience dryness more regularly than normal. My skin is completely clear with the pill. Everything bad is / has been fairly manageable, not ideal but haven’t had any pregnancy scares.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Zoely pill  

I had very good experience for 2.5 years and then I got acne.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Microgynon 30 ED pill  

The “Nordette” pill was not much better than the Nur-Isterate injection. It just decreased my mood swings. I lost a bit of weight (went back to my normal size) my acne got worse . Libido was still incredibly low. And Vag still as dry as a desert


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Zoely pill  

This contraception is highly effective, but for me the main side-effect is major hair loss and irregular periods.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Rigevidon  

My legs randomly ache, I have. 0 sex drive, the thought of being touched is making me sick. I have severe anxiety and I’m borderline suicidal. This is not the right pill for me but going back to my gp and getting another one seems exhausting.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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