Progestogen-only / Mini pill vs Injection
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Overview
Rated 2.7
1452 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.9
303 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
Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with
Period pain
Endometriosis
Heavy periods
Period pain
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Real life reviews from people like you
Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews
1452 reviews
Used for 6 - 12 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
I started the pill 12 months ago and it was fine for the first 2 months,no pain or anything but then i started bleeding and i havnt stopped bleeding for 10 months straight,it ranges in how heavy it is but it is constant everyday
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
42 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
My overall experience on this pill was a very negative one. I was on this pill for 12 months. I'm hoping to switch to the coil in January, still deciding which one, the copper or Mirena. I am 42 years old. On the mini pill I was emotional, very irritable and anxiety was through the roof. I could be okay one minute then the next I could flip a switch and be kicking off over minor things. I had racing thoughts most of the time which led me to be crying and causing my anxiety to be out of control. The spotting and breakthrough bleeding were horrendous which led to heavy clotting and sometimes it would happen unexpectingly. Sex most of the time wasn't happening due to this. The stomach cramps are so painful and because of this I felt unmotivated to do any hobbies and lost interest. I describe my hair as fine but I noticed it started to really thin and fall out which has led me to have low self-esteem and not wanting to engage in social events.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 week ago
This pill made me feel emotionally empty and depressed. I know it wasn't placebo because I'm a pretty anxious person, and have tried everything to get rid of anxiety, without much success! A week on this pill and I had absolutely no anxiety because I had absolutely no emotions. I'm also a very motivated person normally, but I found it really hard to just get out of bed and function. It was wild. Took it for 2 weeks and then stopped, couldn't find any hard evidence that side effects improve after 3 months, and I genuinely didn't have time to be that unproductive and miserable for more than a couple of weeks.
Very negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
I started the pill 12 months ago and it was fine for the first 2 months,no pain or anything but then i started bleeding and i havnt stopped bleeding for 10 months straight,it ranges in how heavy it is but it is constant everyday
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
42 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
My overall experience on this pill was a very negative one. I was on this pill for 12 months. I'm hoping to switch to the coil in January, still deciding which one, the copper or Mirena. I am 42 years old. On the mini pill I was emotional, very irritable and anxiety was through the roof. I could be okay one minute then the next I could flip a switch and be kicking off over minor things. I had racing thoughts most of the time which led me to be crying and causing my anxiety to be out of control. The spotting and breakthrough bleeding were horrendous which led to heavy clotting and sometimes it would happen unexpectingly. Sex most of the time wasn't happening due to this. The stomach cramps are so painful and because of this I felt unmotivated to do any hobbies and lost interest. I describe my hair as fine but I noticed it started to really thin and fall out which has led me to have low self-esteem and not wanting to engage in social events.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 week ago
This pill made me feel emotionally empty and depressed. I know it wasn't placebo because I'm a pretty anxious person, and have tried everything to get rid of anxiety, without much success! A week on this pill and I had absolutely no anxiety because I had absolutely no emotions. I'm also a very motivated person normally, but I found it really hard to just get out of bed and function. It was wild. Took it for 2 weeks and then stopped, couldn't find any hard evidence that side effects improve after 3 months, and I genuinely didn't have time to be that unproductive and miserable for more than a couple of weeks.
Very negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Injection reviews
303 reviews
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I experience mood swings, low libido, aura migraine, my face got darker than usual and I stopped seeing my period.
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 18th Nov 25
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
Used for 3 - 5 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 16th Oct 25
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
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I experience mood swings, low libido, aura migraine, my face got darker than usual and I stopped seeing my period.
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 18th Nov 25
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
Used for 3 - 5 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 16th Oct 25
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
Used for 3 - 6 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 11th Oct 25
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
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 11th Oct 25
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
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 11th Oct 25
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
Used for 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6th Oct 25
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 28th Aug 25
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
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 26th Aug 25
Somewhat positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 15th Aug 25
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
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