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

1513 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

2805 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

31% somewhat negative

44% stopped periods

49% lost sex drive

44% no impact

46% no impact on skin

Cycle return

40% 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

1513 reviews

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Desogestrel pill  

My side effects were all fine (basically non-existent) on Desogestrel besides very regular bleeding/spotting. The first 2-3 months were okay with a period-like bleed every 3 or 4 weeks with cramps too (although a lot less painful than my usual periods). But then the frequency increased. I tried to wait it out but after 7 months I was still experiencing spotting/bleeding every other week. Besides this I would’ve stayed on it and had no other problems. I’ve now changed to a combined pill which will hopefully make me bleed less.

Read more

Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

I was put on Desogestrel after being on the combined pill (Rigevidon) for many years, but I was suffering from migraines. I was on Desogestral for roughly 5 months, and didn't have a single migraine for the entire time. I also had started to get period like cramps when taking the combined pill, but not when I was actually on my period. This also completely vanished for me which was great. Unfortunately the one big down side for me, which has caused me to try another type of mini pill was that I ended up having more days than not where I was bleeding. It wasn't always a lot, but it was always on my mind, and I didn't know which days would be clear and which would be not clear. Some days the bleeding would fade out but it might start like I was on my period, causing me to use a pad just in case it carried on. I stuck with it as the mentioned pros were so good that I really wanted it to work for me but in the end I just couldn't stand having more days that I bled than not, and I never felt like I could relax.


Worse skin

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Cerazette pill  

Ive been on this pill for over 5 months and I’m stopping. When I started about a month in I got horrible acne breakouts but I started using benzoyl peroxide and now it’s okay. I’ve had 3-4 periods and each one I’ve bled for weeks at a time so I am switching to a different one


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Desogestrel pill  

My side effects were all fine (basically non-existent) on Desogestrel besides very regular bleeding/spotting. The first 2-3 months were okay with a period-like bleed every 3 or 4 weeks with cramps too (although a lot less painful than my usual periods). But then the frequency increased. I tried to wait it out but after 7 months I was still experiencing spotting/bleeding every other week. Besides this I would’ve stayed on it and had no other problems. I’ve now changed to a combined pill which will hopefully make me bleed less.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

I was put on Desogestrel after being on the combined pill (Rigevidon) for many years, but I was suffering from migraines. I was on Desogestral for roughly 5 months, and didn't have a single migraine for the entire time. I also had started to get period like cramps when taking the combined pill, but not when I was actually on my period. This also completely vanished for me which was great. Unfortunately the one big down side for me, which has caused me to try another type of mini pill was that I ended up having more days than not where I was bleeding. It wasn't always a lot, but it was always on my mind, and I didn't know which days would be clear and which would be not clear. Some days the bleeding would fade out but it might start like I was on my period, causing me to use a pad just in case it carried on. I stuck with it as the mentioned pros were so good that I really wanted it to work for me but in the end I just couldn't stand having more days that I bled than not, and I never felt like I could relax.


Worse skin

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Cerazette pill  

Ive been on this pill for over 5 months and I’m stopping. When I started about a month in I got horrible acne breakouts but I started using benzoyl peroxide and now it’s okay. I’ve had 3-4 periods and each one I’ve bled for weeks at a time so I am switching to a different one


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments


Combined pill reviews

2805 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Drovelis pill  

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

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

Millinette 30/75 pill  

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

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

Microgynon 30 pill  

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

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Drovelis pill  

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

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

Millinette 30/75 pill  

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

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

Microgynon 30 pill  

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

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

Rigevidon  

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

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Yasmin pill  

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

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

Yasmin pill  

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

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

Gedarel 20/150 pill  

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

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

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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