Progestogen-only / Mini pill vs Patch
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Overview
Rated 2.7
1472 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 3.4
124 reviews
Weekly
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
Patch ingredients
Main hormones in Patch
progestogen
oestrogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with
Period pain
Acne or bad skin
Heavy periods
PMS and PMDD
PCOS symptoms
Period pain
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Real life reviews from people like you
Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews
1472 reviews
Used for 12 - 18 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
I was so scared to go on this pill because of the mounds of negative stuff on it online as well as my own medical anxiety but it’s the best thing I ever did. Went on it at 17 due to heavy painful long periods and for the first like 6 months? I spotted every day. Which no isn’t ideal but it wasn’t painful. After those 6 months I have not bled or had any period since. My general anxiety has decreased so much after being on the pill and my overall mood. No side effects except maybe a small weight gain. Don’t let bad reviews put you off, this pill works for so many people, it changed me and my friends life for the better
Gained weight
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
I'm not really sure how I feel about this pill. I've been on the combined pill for the last four years, and had to switch suddenly because one of my doctors said that I cannot take it anymore due to chronic migraines (without aura). One of the main reasons I started birth control was for the awful hormonal acne I've had since the age of 9. I've spent almost my entire life attempting to get clear skin, and managed to do so while I was within a few months of taking the combined pill. Now, I've had some of the worst breakouts ever since I was first going through puberty mainly around the cheek and jaw. Deep, blind pimples that stay there for days without coming to a head, and, when they do come to a head they take ages to go away. Even smaller pimples take around a week, maybe two, to heal fully. They'll scar over and stay there indefinitely. I am extremely diligent with my skincare, I stick to the same rotation of products and generally take good care of myself, so this has completely ruined my confidence. Not to mention the horror of viewing my face underneath dim lighting to see all the closed comedones threatening to crawl out of my skin. I say I'm not sure about this pill because the amount of pimples I get are around 3-4 at once, but as aforementioned, they take absolutely forever to heal which has never happened to me before. I have combination skin, so already the pores around my T-zone are slightly larger than most people's due to this and genetic factors, but some days I physically cannot stand to look at them in the mirror. Ever since starting this pill I swear I've had pores that literally look like dents in the size of my nose and it is HORRIFYING. It is so devastating to spend so much time and effort working on skincare for it to not matter because of hormones. I can only pray that as time goes on my body gets used to the pill and my skin doesn't look like this anymore. Another thing is that I definitely feel I'm sweating a lot more, having to re-apply deodorant much more frequently than before.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
36 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
I have endometriosis and wanted something that would stop my period and ovulation, slynd did this but it also gave me such low blood pressure I was having pins and needles in my extremities, I had crippling anxiety, felt like I was on the edge of a panic attack constantly, intense chest pain to the point I had a full ecg to be sure my heart was ok, I was constipated, I had no sex drive and couldn’t reach orgasm most of the time even alone, I also had irritation and dryness down there and overall it was just awful I wouldn’t wish this pill on anyone. If you have high blood pressure it might help but low is a bad move
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
I was so scared to go on this pill because of the mounds of negative stuff on it online as well as my own medical anxiety but it’s the best thing I ever did. Went on it at 17 due to heavy painful long periods and for the first like 6 months? I spotted every day. Which no isn’t ideal but it wasn’t painful. After those 6 months I have not bled or had any period since. My general anxiety has decreased so much after being on the pill and my overall mood. No side effects except maybe a small weight gain. Don’t let bad reviews put you off, this pill works for so many people, it changed me and my friends life for the better
Gained weight
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
I'm not really sure how I feel about this pill. I've been on the combined pill for the last four years, and had to switch suddenly because one of my doctors said that I cannot take it anymore due to chronic migraines (without aura). One of the main reasons I started birth control was for the awful hormonal acne I've had since the age of 9. I've spent almost my entire life attempting to get clear skin, and managed to do so while I was within a few months of taking the combined pill. Now, I've had some of the worst breakouts ever since I was first going through puberty mainly around the cheek and jaw. Deep, blind pimples that stay there for days without coming to a head, and, when they do come to a head they take ages to go away. Even smaller pimples take around a week, maybe two, to heal fully. They'll scar over and stay there indefinitely. I am extremely diligent with my skincare, I stick to the same rotation of products and generally take good care of myself, so this has completely ruined my confidence. Not to mention the horror of viewing my face underneath dim lighting to see all the closed comedones threatening to crawl out of my skin. I say I'm not sure about this pill because the amount of pimples I get are around 3-4 at once, but as aforementioned, they take absolutely forever to heal which has never happened to me before. I have combination skin, so already the pores around my T-zone are slightly larger than most people's due to this and genetic factors, but some days I physically cannot stand to look at them in the mirror. Ever since starting this pill I swear I've had pores that literally look like dents in the size of my nose and it is HORRIFYING. It is so devastating to spend so much time and effort working on skincare for it to not matter because of hormones. I can only pray that as time goes on my body gets used to the pill and my skin doesn't look like this anymore. Another thing is that I definitely feel I'm sweating a lot more, having to re-apply deodorant much more frequently than before.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
36 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
I have endometriosis and wanted something that would stop my period and ovulation, slynd did this but it also gave me such low blood pressure I was having pins and needles in my extremities, I had crippling anxiety, felt like I was on the edge of a panic attack constantly, intense chest pain to the point I had a full ecg to be sure my heart was ok, I was constipated, I had no sex drive and couldn’t reach orgasm most of the time even alone, I also had irritation and dryness down there and overall it was just awful I wouldn’t wish this pill on anyone. If you have high blood pressure it might help but low is a bad move
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Patch reviews
124 reviews
Used for 3 - 6 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
noticed that the side effects were less or more intense depending on where i put the patch on my body. i used to have it on my arm and had intense nausea nonstop and after putting on my hip/ bum it stopped. also cystitis symptoms however i’m not sure if they are related
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Started taking the Evra patch to help regulating my hormones and to help with bad health anxiety. The 3rd day I had it on resulted in me taking the patch off straight away due to immense nausea, panic, shaking and complete loss of appetite. 3 months later my hormones have been worse than ever with random crying and anxiety increasing throughout my cycle.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
noticed that the side effects were less or more intense depending on where i put the patch on my body. i used to have it on my arm and had intense nausea nonstop and after putting on my hip/ bum it stopped. also cystitis symptoms however i’m not sure if they are related
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Started taking the Evra patch to help regulating my hormones and to help with bad health anxiety. The 3rd day I had it on resulted in me taking the patch off straight away due to immense nausea, panic, shaking and complete loss of appetite. 3 months later my hormones have been worse than ever with random crying and anxiety increasing throughout my cycle.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 28th Jan 26
Overall good birth control. I do get random cramps throughout the day ever since I started it and my skin is irritated and itchy where I place my patch.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2nd Jan 26
Overall good, so far effective. But my periods are a lot heavier and a lot more painful. Tender breasts for at least half of the month and random cramps throughout the month even when I’m not on my period.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 26th Nov 25
The Evra patch has been a good choice for me so far, and it’s my first time on birth control! I would say the only downfall is around the edge of the patch gets dirty from adhesive, and that it’s nerve racking to swim a lot in fear it will come off! I went on vacation and was nervous but I used a tagaderm to keep it on when swimming!
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 9th Nov 25
The patch made me feel extremely unwell. I had nausea, heavy headed feeling, headaches, tiredness, sweating and soreness where the patch was placed. I ended up removing it before 24 hours was up because I couldn't sleep and felt so out of sorts.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 25th Oct 25
Went on the patch having been on the implant previously. On the implant I had lots of spotting which thankfully went away on the patch. However I have definitely noticed a distinct rise in anxiety since being on the patch over the last year - enough to stop me wanting to go to things like the theatre or going on tours without getting sweaty. I also think it's killed my sex drive so I'm going to go off it and seek alternative contraception. Its a shame because I do find it convenient and have felt very protected on it. My period increased its flow a lot during the period week and I also got bad headaches around that week which I wasn't used to. Sad to have to change but dont like the quality of life.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6th Aug 25
I love using the patch. It has made using contraceptive so much easier and I went through a phase of recommending it too everyone I know. I've had a few symptoms recently, but not sure if that is related to the Patch or a different medical issue. In the last year, I've had more hormonal acne than I did before, but that's the main side effect that I would say I've been affected by. We are coming off contraceptive soon, so hoping it is a smooth process
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Women's health, reviewed.
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