Progestogen-only / Mini pill vs Implant
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Overview
Rated 2.7
1518 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.8
646 reviews
Every 5 years
Frequency
Over 99%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Progestogen-only / Mini pill ingredients
Main hormones in Progestogen-only / Mini pill
progestogen
Implant ingredients
Main hormones in Implant
progestogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with
Period pain
Heavy periods
Ovulation pain
Period pain
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Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews
1518 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I had always suffered with very minor anxiety, however once I went on this pill I was a wreck. It was like I became a whole different person, I was irritable, mean, and I was constantly upset. In the space of a month I went from a D to and E, and I gained weight like I never have before around my lower stomach. I had always been rather skinny around there, but even after 2 years of not taking it, I have never been able to return to how my body was beforehand. The first 2 and a half weeks were normal, but after that I bled consecutively for 9 weeks, with a few 16 days staggered in between where I only briefly spotted.
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Cerazette has been great for me! Used to get very heavy and debilitatingly painful periods (though not diagnosed with anything), and now occasionally get a day or 2 of light bleeding with very very mild cramps. My mood is not effected by my cycle anymore and I feel much more stable and happy. Has also worked well as contraception, which is what I am taking it for!
Somewhat positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
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
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I had always suffered with very minor anxiety, however once I went on this pill I was a wreck. It was like I became a whole different person, I was irritable, mean, and I was constantly upset. In the space of a month I went from a D to and E, and I gained weight like I never have before around my lower stomach. I had always been rather skinny around there, but even after 2 years of not taking it, I have never been able to return to how my body was beforehand. The first 2 and a half weeks were normal, but after that I bled consecutively for 9 weeks, with a few 16 days staggered in between where I only briefly spotted.
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Cerazette has been great for me! Used to get very heavy and debilitatingly painful periods (though not diagnosed with anything), and now occasionally get a day or 2 of light bleeding with very very mild cramps. My mood is not effected by my cycle anymore and I feel much more stable and happy. Has also worked well as contraception, which is what I am taking it for!
Somewhat positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
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
Implant reviews
646 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
I have attempted trying the implant twice. Once when I was 18 and recently at 25 after having a baby. Whilst insertion is quick, easy and pain free with local anaesthetic, the effects of the implant on my mood have been detrimental. The hormone caused me on both occasions to develop severe anxiety and depression almost immediately after insertion, as someone who doesn't usually suffer with mental health issues. It's like having PMS but on an extreme scale. The implant on both occasions made my life miserable. I had to have both removed early and funnily enough a week or so after I did, I felt like 'me' again. The implant has a massive amount of hormone in that runs through your body daily. A hormonal coil works much better for me as it has almost 1/6th the hormone amount of an implant which is mostly contained within the uterus.
Very negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 30th Sep 26
First year and a bit on the implant absolutely perfect. Minimal periods and literally zero side effects. However coming up to year 2 I started bleeding a lot on it. Almost every other week I was getting my period. My GP recommended I get a new one fitted and sadly from the beginning I’m still having frequent periods and ache. It’s a real shame as I really enjoyed having it at the start but I will be switching now.
Worse skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 26th Sep 26
The fitting was not as scary as I anticipated (helped by an amazing nurse!), and have had similar side effects to the progesterone-only pill, but without the stress of remembering to take it at the same time which is a nice break after years! 'Periods' come every few months generally for me, and are about twice the length of usual but less painful and none of the usual emotional disregulation leading up to it.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
I have attempted trying the implant twice. Once when I was 18 and recently at 25 after having a baby. Whilst insertion is quick, easy and pain free with local anaesthetic, the effects of the implant on my mood have been detrimental. The hormone caused me on both occasions to develop severe anxiety and depression almost immediately after insertion, as someone who doesn't usually suffer with mental health issues. It's like having PMS but on an extreme scale. The implant on both occasions made my life miserable. I had to have both removed early and funnily enough a week or so after I did, I felt like 'me' again. The implant has a massive amount of hormone in that runs through your body daily. A hormonal coil works much better for me as it has almost 1/6th the hormone amount of an implant which is mostly contained within the uterus.
Very negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 30th Sep 26
First year and a bit on the implant absolutely perfect. Minimal periods and literally zero side effects. However coming up to year 2 I started bleeding a lot on it. Almost every other week I was getting my period. My GP recommended I get a new one fitted and sadly from the beginning I’m still having frequent periods and ache. It’s a real shame as I really enjoyed having it at the start but I will be switching now.
Worse skin
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 26th Sep 26
The fitting was not as scary as I anticipated (helped by an amazing nurse!), and have had similar side effects to the progesterone-only pill, but without the stress of remembering to take it at the same time which is a nice break after years! 'Periods' come every few months generally for me, and are about twice the length of usual but less painful and none of the usual emotional disregulation leading up to it.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 24th Aug 26
overall a good experience, used to have very bad acne that was significantly improved. only bad thing I can point out is that my period went to very regular to irregular with ocasional spotting
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 16th Aug 26
I liked the implant however it caused a lot of irregular bleeding and bloating. Once I came off it after 8 years I developed PMDD
Gained weight
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 21st Jul 26
I’ve had this implant twice now both times had side effects I couldn’t deal with first time I gained nearly 3 stone and this time I’m on the weight loss injection and it seems to be countering the weight gain but honestly I’m so emotional and insecure my partner is struggling to deal with my emotions and so am I
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 15th Jul 26
At first, my experience with the implant wasn't too bad as I was still 'wet' and moist, but over time my natural moisture has completely dwindled down to nearly nothing. This severe dryness is driving me absolutely insane because it honestly makes me feel like I have a post-menopausal vagina. Because of this, I am now changing back to the generic Desogestrel mini-pill, as I know from previous use that I at least had a normal, healthy white and milky discharge on that method. I am just stating my own personal experience here, and I still think that other people should definitely try the implant if they fancy a different form of birth control, because everyone's body reacts differently to the hormones. so yeah, thank u, next with the implant.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 14th Jul 26
Been on the implant for 6 years now, initially I was spotting for 6 months before it finally settled. Now much more lighter periods so I can cope better as previously really heavy and needed tranexamic acid to manage, mood is more level now also, very rarely get cramps which is a bonus, have gained a little weight and body hair, overall happy with it
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 8th Jul 26
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
42 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 24th Jun 26
This i my first time, I discovered skin heat rash at the initial stage, presently loosing weight and loosing hair.
Worse skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments

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