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

1395 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

2604 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

38% don’t know impact

31% somewhat negative

47% lighter periods

46% lost sex drive

48% no impact

44% 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

1395 reviews

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Cerelle pill  

Got pregnant on it because I wasn’t taking it properly, since having my son and ensuring to take it regularly I have had no issues

Read more

Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Cerazette pill  

I really wanted to write about my positive experience as most people write reviews when they have a negative experience, for me the Cerazette has been really good, it improved my feeling of being in balance and lessened mood swings, it did not effect my libido, in fact in the beginning I noticed a higher libido, but most importantly I suffer from migraines with aura and since I started taking this a month ago I didn’t have an intense migraine, just one or two mild days and I normally have 2/3 days per week so in a month 8 at least. The only negative things are not too bad: I have very tender breasts which became a bit bigger but I heard this might go away after 3 months or so and I got a little bit of acne but nothing too crazy and this also usually settles after taking it consistently for a few month. All in all for me it’s truly been life changing.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Desogestrel pill  

The first 3-5 months were a bit rough, having sex would cause me to get a period and sometimes was painful. I also was definitely more emotional than before. It all calms down over time, I’ve been on it for almost 3 years now and it was the best decision i get very occasionally spotting and cramps if i miss a pill or two but overall I like it


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Cerelle pill  

Got pregnant on it because I wasn’t taking it properly, since having my son and ensuring to take it regularly I have had no issues


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Cerazette pill  

I really wanted to write about my positive experience as most people write reviews when they have a negative experience, for me the Cerazette has been really good, it improved my feeling of being in balance and lessened mood swings, it did not effect my libido, in fact in the beginning I noticed a higher libido, but most importantly I suffer from migraines with aura and since I started taking this a month ago I didn’t have an intense migraine, just one or two mild days and I normally have 2/3 days per week so in a month 8 at least. The only negative things are not too bad: I have very tender breasts which became a bit bigger but I heard this might go away after 3 months or so and I got a little bit of acne but nothing too crazy and this also usually settles after taking it consistently for a few month. All in all for me it’s truly been life changing.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Desogestrel pill  

The first 3-5 months were a bit rough, having sex would cause me to get a period and sometimes was painful. I also was definitely more emotional than before. It all calms down over time, I’ve been on it for almost 3 years now and it was the best decision i get very occasionally spotting and cramps if i miss a pill or two but overall I like it


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments


Combined pill reviews

2604 reviews

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

Gedarel 20/150 pill  

This was prescribed to me to help regulate my periods; however did the complete opposite and have made them worse. I have no clue when my periods are going to begin or end now, as well as if the bleeding will be light spotting or extremely heavy. I have become incredibly sensitive to many things that would never have bothered me pre-pill, as well have been bed bound due to negative mood changes that I have no explanation for. I have been sad before, however, these feelings I could not explain or combat so I have decided to switch pill.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Ovranette pill  

My period was ok on it. My acne was very bad cystic nothing would get rid of it. Changed to Yasmin and I haven’t had cystic acne my skin is clearing. Hair thinned on top of my head too. This pill can cause high androgens which can cause bad hormonal acne and hair loss


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Rigevidon  

This sent me nearly insane with my moods. I had no other side effects other than it made me nearly suicidal. I know you could say maybe it wasn’t the pill but I was fine before taking it, happy in myself, then after I had a mental breakdown I stopped taking it and suddenly felt like myself again. I’ve heard a lot of people say it’s been awful for their mood and I’m surprised they haven’t banned it yet


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Gedarel 20/150 pill  

This was prescribed to me to help regulate my periods; however did the complete opposite and have made them worse. I have no clue when my periods are going to begin or end now, as well as if the bleeding will be light spotting or extremely heavy. I have become incredibly sensitive to many things that would never have bothered me pre-pill, as well have been bed bound due to negative mood changes that I have no explanation for. I have been sad before, however, these feelings I could not explain or combat so I have decided to switch pill.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Ovranette pill  

My period was ok on it. My acne was very bad cystic nothing would get rid of it. Changed to Yasmin and I haven’t had cystic acne my skin is clearing. Hair thinned on top of my head too. This pill can cause high androgens which can cause bad hormonal acne and hair loss


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Rigevidon  

This sent me nearly insane with my moods. I had no other side effects other than it made me nearly suicidal. I know you could say maybe it wasn’t the pill but I was fine before taking it, happy in myself, then after I had a mental breakdown I stopped taking it and suddenly felt like myself again. I’ve heard a lot of people say it’s been awful for their mood and I’m surprised they haven’t banned it yet


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Combined pill  

I’ve never had Thrush before and went on this pill 2 months ago and got it within the first 20 days of using it. I’ve also felt nauseas everyday since maybe the first week into it. Will symptoms subside? I really hope so. I havent bled but I was on the depo injection for the last year so its normal for it to take a while to bleed again.


Gained weight

0 helpful

1 comments

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

Drovelis pill  

My experience is overall positive. For the first month I had breakthrough spotting almost every day, it was light and painless, just a bit worrisome, but it settled in the 2nd month. I started taking Drovelis for painful periods, and I have to say that while they are shorter and lighter, it's not like it completely changed around. I used to take around 4 painkillers a day on my period, now I'm down to one: so it is a big change, but I can't say the periods are painless. In the first month I also had some mood swings, but I can't be sure if that's due to the pill. I'm writing this review because I was very scared of taking birth control after reading so many negative opinions, but overall it's a net positive experience. No changes to my weight, my libido is stable, overall it's nothing too scary.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Eloine pill  

I switched to this after using Yasmine (no problems with that, I just wanted to try a lower-dose estrogen pill). In the first year, all seemed fine, regular light periods, no break-outs, fewer mood swings, but lately in the past 6 months, I noticed my mental health worsen, my ADHD symptoms became stronger, my depression and my anxiety crept higher, and my libido slowly went non-existent. Also, my breasts (or rather my nipples), which were usually only swollen/sore before the placebo tablets, became constantly sensitive in a bad way. Now I am looking for a different pill.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Eloine pill  

I started taking Eloine after I had experienced depression-like symptoms on the two weeks before my period for around 3 months. It was really hard to deal with and I think I have very bad PMT or maybe PMDD? I also had horrendous hormonal acne that really damaged the way I felt about myself, this mixed with the pre period mood swings made me feel like I wasn’t myself anymore. I researched different treatments that can help both PMT symptoms and hormonal acne, so I gave Eloine a go. I started it in February and wow has it changed how I experience periods (not to be dramatic but it really has changed my quality of life too). I feel very little mood swings now, I just feel when my luteal phase starts but in terms of energy not mentally! I just feel soooo much better in myself. My only complaint is I’ve experienced slight breast enlargement - but I’m consistently working out to try and combat this. I’ve never really had issues with period heaviness or cramps, but I would say my period is a lot lighter but last a day or so longer than before I was on the pill. Overall, my PMT symptoms have been totally ushered away by Eloine, I’m currently seeing a dermatologist for acne who also says this will help alongside other treatments. Facial oil is very much reduced. If you are struggling with acne or mood problems, please know that you are not alone. My mum grew up dealing with this, and so did her mum. Unfortunately some people are just dealt that hormonal issue card but I would definitely recommend this pill, sometimes natural remedies just don’t scratch the surface of what you’re going through. You’ve got this!!! Things will get better and I’m rooting for you 🩷


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Lucette pill  

Stopped the mini pill after 3 years and switched to the combined to see if my skin and moods would improve. My skin definitely has improved and is similar to my post-accutane skin I had before I started hormonal birth control. My mood swings remained awful. I took the packs typically back to back but on a couple occasions I had breakthrough bleeding so took a 4 day break. I never had a yeast infection/thrush before taking this pill but in the 10 months of taking the combined pill I’ve had about 7 cases of thrush. Doctors kind of dismissed me saying it must be something else but it’s the only thing in my life that has changed, must be the estrogen! Finally had enough of the recurrent yeast infections affecting my relationship and sex life as well as day to day comfort so decided to switch to the copper coil last week. Fingers crossed my hormones will balance out!


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Rigevidon  

I’ve used Rigevidon on and off for years. It was great from my late teens to about age 25, my periods reduce to 3 days on this pill and are very light, with minimal cramping. When I hit 25, I really started to notice mood swings and complete loss of libido. Came off the pill for a while, then back on it, and am noticing the same symptoms again


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Microgynon 30 pill  

I was on Microgynon 30 for almost 8 years and I never had any issues! I changed 3 months ago to the progesterone only pill due to my friend getting a blood clot from microgynon, and within a month I began getting spots all over my jawline! I have now had constant spots for 2 months. I will be going back to the pharmacy to discuss my options and potentially move back to Microgynon.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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