Progestogen-only / Mini pill vs Injection

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Progestogen-only / Mini pill

£From £0.22/day

Injection

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Overview

Rated 2.7

1440 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.9

302 reviews

Every 2-3 months

Frequency

94% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

Short term

Effect on fertility

Progestogen-only / Mini pill ingredients

Main hormones in Progestogen-only / Mini pill

progestogen


Injection ingredients

Main hormones in Injection

progestogen

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

32% somewhat negative

70% stopped periods

57% lost sex drive

48% gained weight

48% no impact on skin

Cycle return

42% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Period pain

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Period pain

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£From £0.22/day

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Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews

1440 reviews

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

Noriday pill  

I switched to Noriday to stop the irregular bleeding and spotting I developed on Desogestrel/Cerelle. After eight years without periods on Desogestrel, I began having irregular bleeding at 40 — two periods a month plus spotting in between. Once I changed to Noriday, the chaotic bleeding stopped immediately, and the brain fog and fatigue also lifted. I suspect these symptoms were linked to perimenopause, and they’ve settled since starting Noriday. Ideally, I’d prefer no period at all, but having a predictable three-day period on Noriday is far better than the chaotic bleeding I had on Desogestrel.

Read more

Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Noriday pill  

I switched to Noriday to stop the irregular bleeding and spotting I developed on Desogestrel/Cerelle. After eight years without periods on Desogestrel, I began having irregular bleeding at 40 — two periods a month plus spotting in between. Once I changed to Noriday, the chaotic bleeding stopped immediately, and the brain fog and fatigue also lifted. I suspect these symptoms were linked to perimenopause, and they’ve settled since starting Noriday. Ideally, I’d prefer no period at all, but having a predictable three-day period on Noriday is far better than the chaotic bleeding I had on Desogestrel lately.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Cerazette pill  

I was moved from Yasmin to Cerazette by my gp due to my blood pressure being affected. It's my second month and I hate it. I had no side effects from my other pill and was on it for 4 years. My periods used to last 4 days and were regular. Now I'm on day 12 of a very heavy and painful period. Even when I wasnt bleeding I was spotting. My skin has gotten worse, constantly oily and my hair is so greasy all the time. I used to be able to wash my hair once a week (curly), now I have to wash it 2 or 3 times a week due to build up of oils. I have also started losing a significant amount of hair Everytime I brush and wash it. I also lost all appetite and have lost almost 4kg. Also I've never struggled with body odor until now, no antiperspirant helps to prevent it and it's very embarrassing. My entire lower back and pelvis aches and I feel really depressed and fatigued.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Noriday pill  

I switched to Noriday to stop the irregular bleeding and spotting I developed on Desogestrel/Cerelle. After eight years without periods on Desogestrel, I began having irregular bleeding at 40 — two periods a month plus spotting in between. Once I changed to Noriday, the chaotic bleeding stopped immediately, and the brain fog and fatigue also lifted. I suspect these symptoms were linked to perimenopause, and they’ve settled since starting Noriday. Ideally, I’d prefer no period at all, but having a predictable three-day period on Noriday is far better than the chaotic bleeding I had on Desogestrel.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Noriday pill  

I switched to Noriday to stop the irregular bleeding and spotting I developed on Desogestrel/Cerelle. After eight years without periods on Desogestrel, I began having irregular bleeding at 40 — two periods a month plus spotting in between. Once I changed to Noriday, the chaotic bleeding stopped immediately, and the brain fog and fatigue also lifted. I suspect these symptoms were linked to perimenopause, and they’ve settled since starting Noriday. Ideally, I’d prefer no period at all, but having a predictable three-day period on Noriday is far better than the chaotic bleeding I had on Desogestrel lately.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Cerazette pill  

I was moved from Yasmin to Cerazette by my gp due to my blood pressure being affected. It's my second month and I hate it. I had no side effects from my other pill and was on it for 4 years. My periods used to last 4 days and were regular. Now I'm on day 12 of a very heavy and painful period. Even when I wasnt bleeding I was spotting. My skin has gotten worse, constantly oily and my hair is so greasy all the time. I used to be able to wash my hair once a week (curly), now I have to wash it 2 or 3 times a week due to build up of oils. I have also started losing a significant amount of hair Everytime I brush and wash it. I also lost all appetite and have lost almost 4kg. Also I've never struggled with body odor until now, no antiperspirant helps to prevent it and it's very embarrassing. My entire lower back and pelvis aches and I feel really depressed and fatigued.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments


Injection reviews

302 reviews

Injection  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Noristerat injection  

I had a very bad experience using this contraceptive. Bad moods, bad skin, bad body image, depression, sweating, low libido. Just bad.


Very positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  16th Oct 25

Noristerat injection  

It's a good injection for me, I have been using it for longest time since I was 16 years started to use it. Who recommended it? Clinic nurse.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  11th Oct 25

Noristerat injection  

took some time before i ever come here mainly because i was scared , shy , & hated myself for what im about to talk about here❤️ trust me when i say it’s hard ( im even trying not to cry ) shap so i started my pregnancy prevention journey this year on April it’s been 6 months now & never missed even a single dose (big ups!!) Starting it was so fun & games bcs i would notice some changes & that for me was a game changer bcs I’ve always wanned to gain weight so badzzzz ( i lost weight before so starting this journey for me was a bounce back ) may started eating a lot!! , June my periods desappeared July i got some pimples , august i experienced painful headaches, September my mood swings would change here & there & all that came unoticed to me because that one thing I’ve always wanned does not happen im not gaining still , bro im so drained i feel like it’s so useless for me to inject i don’t know but yeah hey i just hope god pulls through im even thinking of leaving it


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Noristerat injection  

I had a very bad experience using this contraceptive. Bad moods, bad skin, bad body image, depression, sweating, low libido. Just bad.


Very positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  16th Oct 25

Noristerat injection  

It's a good injection for me, I have been using it for longest time since I was 16 years started to use it. Who recommended it? Clinic nurse.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  11th Oct 25

Noristerat injection  

took some time before i ever come here mainly because i was scared , shy , & hated myself for what im about to talk about here❤️ trust me when i say it’s hard ( im even trying not to cry ) shap so i started my pregnancy prevention journey this year on April it’s been 6 months now & never missed even a single dose (big ups!!) Starting it was so fun & games bcs i would notice some changes & that for me was a game changer bcs I’ve always wanned to gain weight so badzzzz ( i lost weight before so starting this journey for me was a bounce back ) may started eating a lot!! , June my periods desappeared July i got some pimples , august i experienced painful headaches, September my mood swings would change here & there & all that came unoticed to me because that one thing I’ve always wanned does not happen im not gaining still , bro im so drained i feel like it’s so useless for me to inject i don’t know but yeah hey i just hope god pulls through im even thinking of leaving it


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  11th Oct 25

Sayana Press injection  

I have had no negative side effects with Sayana Press and my periods have stopped completely, of the four different contraceptives I've tried over the years, this one is my favourite.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  11th Oct 25

Depo-Provera injection  

Depo-Provera was great for me and it stopped my periods completely. I liked not having to take a pill everyday and I didn't want to get another copper coil so this worked well for me. However after being on it for quite a while I got unlucky and ended up with an abscess at the injection site which eventually had to be operated on, however this could have happened with any kind of injection and was just bad luck. I have since switched to Sayana Press so that I can do my own injections at home and clean the injection site beforehand to prevent another abscess.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th Oct 25

Depo-Provera injection  

Worst experience I’ve ever had. Since taking this I’ve felt constantly irritated, had complete lack of concentration and it’s completely wiped out my sex drive. I have now been bleeding for 2 months with no break. I have never regretted taking something so much it’s honestly made me miserable.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  28th Aug 25

Depo-Provera injection  

I’ve used it on an off for years sudden lost of weight within a month since using it again.


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Aug 25

Sayana Press injection  

i think it’s amazing


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  15th Aug 25

Noristerat injection  

I had no problems while using noristerate but I would get annoyed sometimes because I would experience spotting for 2 weeks before my next injection. I had little to no menstrual cycle.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  9th Jul 25

Injection  

Side effects are bad


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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