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

1342 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.9

279 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

50% 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

49% gained weight

51% no impact on skin

Cycle return

43% 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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Add your Injection review

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews

1342 reviews

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

Desogestrel pill  

Did not enjoy this pill! Tried for around 5 months, mood was poor and crying very easily or completely numb! Skin got bad at first but then was okay! Gained weight around increase by a dress size or two, felt bloated constantly and breast size increased but sore! Vaginal dryness was extreme was even sore to walk and have thrush twice in this 5 month period! Was spotting pretty much constantly and obviously unable to track periods with it being a continuous pill and they were irregular.

Read more

Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  

there will always be side effects to any contraceptive pill, but if it wotks, it works


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Cerazette pill  

Was on this pill for about 4/5 months. Positives were that it got rid of any cramps/ period symptoms - great as I was previously prescribed meds for dysmenorrhea. However, it gave me constant spotting and light bleeding - I bled for about 75% of the time while on this pill and it didn’t get any better. Doctor recommended that I doubled dose (from 75 to 150mg) - this killed my sex drive and didn’t fix the bleeding issue, so I eventually came off.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

Did not enjoy this pill! Tried for around 5 months, mood was poor and crying very easily or completely numb! Skin got bad at first but then was okay! Gained weight around increase by a dress size or two, felt bloated constantly and breast size increased but sore! Vaginal dryness was extreme was even sore to walk and have thrush twice in this 5 month period! Was spotting pretty much constantly and obviously unable to track periods with it being a continuous pill and they were irregular.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  

there will always be side effects to any contraceptive pill, but if it wotks, it works


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Cerazette pill  

Was on this pill for about 4/5 months. Positives were that it got rid of any cramps/ period symptoms - great as I was previously prescribed meds for dysmenorrhea. However, it gave me constant spotting and light bleeding - I bled for about 75% of the time while on this pill and it didn’t get any better. Doctor recommended that I doubled dose (from 75 to 150mg) - this killed my sex drive and didn’t fix the bleeding issue, so I eventually came off.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments


Injection reviews

279 reviews

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
41 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Noristerat injection  

Caused me horrendous hunger such that i couldn't feel satisfied with any amount of food. It was terrible for me. And the side effects continue even after stopping. It was my first time in 11 years to back to hormonal contraception and l will never ever do it again. I only go non hormonal. I honestly can't take the risk.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Noristerat injection  

As a newer young and childless nuristrate injection patient I don't recommend it for use . So far my body is experiencing a hell of changes . Irregular periods ,green smelly discharge and ugly acne


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
39 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Dec 24

Noristerat injection  

Its a right contraception but it stopped my periods since I was young end now I'm struggling to conceive end I think I'm running out of time and my marriage it's on thin ice here so I don't think that someone can still use it


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
41 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Noristerat injection  

Caused me horrendous hunger such that i couldn't feel satisfied with any amount of food. It was terrible for me. And the side effects continue even after stopping. It was my first time in 11 years to back to hormonal contraception and l will never ever do it again. I only go non hormonal. I honestly can't take the risk.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Noristerat injection  

As a newer young and childless nuristrate injection patient I don't recommend it for use . So far my body is experiencing a hell of changes . Irregular periods ,green smelly discharge and ugly acne


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
39 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Dec 24

Noristerat injection  

Its a right contraception but it stopped my periods since I was young end now I'm struggling to conceive end I think I'm running out of time and my marriage it's on thin ice here so I don't think that someone can still use it


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  17th Dec 24

Depo-Provera injection  

Great that it stopped my period completely, only have to remember to have it every 12 weeks


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  9th Dec 24

Depo-Provera injection  

I’ve only had the injection once and had to come off, I already suffer mental health for years and the depo made my anxiety worse, constant bloated, the bleeding never stopped which led me to constant itch down below due to wearing constant pads, my hair was falling out so so badly, now my baby hairs are growing through and I look awful, not like my self asteem is poor already,


Very negative mood

2 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  22nd Nov 24

Injection  

Eix very terrible,,everything I eat taste very back even the food I love,have terrible headache n my period stopped with my first shot so was thinking I was pregnant,I’ve gained a lot lot of weight 😫😫


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  12th Nov 24

Depo-Provera injection  

I’ve had a really positive experience with depo. I was on it for around 4 years pre-covid, and have currently been using again for 18 months. Periods have completely stopped and I haven’t experienced side effects (my hair might be slightly thinner, but I’m not sure if I’d just never noticed I have thin hair). After stopping use the first time it did take many months for my periods to return. I’m only thinking about stopping taking it now with the recent studies on links to brain tumours.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  11th Nov 24

Depo-Provera injection  

I have really enjoyed not having periods and not having to remember my pill as I am very forgetful. I have gained an increased sex drive and I used to get cramps all the time and it stopped most of those. I rarely get migraines. Maybe one every two months. My only major issue was my hair loss. I’ve lost about 50% of my hair and now it’s brittle but after taking calcium supplements and changing my diet it’s a bit more normal. It could be unrelated but around the same time as I started the depo I also got Dyshidrotic eczema on my feet. What makes me think this could be related is I’m also very itchy on my hands, and legs since starting. I could just be getting older and I’ve had issues in the past with my hips but I’ve also pulled my back, and badly sprained my ankle and hip. This has only happened after starting the depo. After a year of being on it everything seems to have leveled out. All bad points above have now become less noticeable and I feel very comfortable. External issues are still an issue like being constantly interrogated like I don’t know what I’m doing in the nurses office as I take my depo every 10 weeks due to bleeding for the last 3 weeks of the cycle. They also seem to want you on the coil I’m not sure what that is about but it’s very annoying. Also depending on who is administering the shot you may feel basically no pain or a ton that could last for a few hours These side effects may not be for some but from my past personal issues I am happy with the contraceptive compared to others I’ve tried


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  23rd Oct 24

Noristerat injection  

Since taking the injection I have experienced severe lower back pain. I sometimes struggle to sleep


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  21st Oct 24

Noristerat injection  

I felt like I was going crazy or losing my mind while on this contraceptive. I was an emotional wreck, I was not doing so well physically either. I had zero sex drive, so it did not make sense for me to be on birth control when I was not even having sex (markedly diminished libido).


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Progestogen-only / Mini pill with other contraceptives

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