Progestogen-only / Mini pill vs Progestogen-only / Mini pill

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Progestogen-only / Mini pill

£From £0.22/day

Progestogen-only / Mini pill

£From £0.22/day

Overview

Rated 2.7

1333 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.7

1333 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Progestogen-only / Mini pill ingredients

Main hormones in Progestogen-only / Mini pill

progestogen


Progestogen-only / Mini pill ingredients

Main hormones in Progestogen-only / Mini pill

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

44% stopped periods

50% lost sex drive

44% no impact

46% no impact on skin

Cycle return

38% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Period pain

Period pain

Try it now

£From £0.22/day

Try it now

£From £0.22/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews

1333 reviews

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Cerelle pill  

I took this for endometriosis, but not worth it because of facial hair growth. I had breakthrough bleeding every 4-6 months for about 4-5 days, fairly light and not too painful. My sex drive and weight were unaffected, however I got thick dark hair on my stomach, inner thighs, chest and face. This destroyed my self esteem so my mood was obviously low. After stopping the hair did not revert back which is common so I had electrolysis which took care of it. Then 2 years later I went back on this pill stupidly to try and help the endometriosis, the hair came back within 2 months. I have since stopped this pill, spent even more money on electrolysis and have had no issues after regarding that. It took about 3-5 months for my cycle to regulate after coming off birth control. I’m thinking about trying slynd as it is supposed to be anti androgenise, we’ll see.

Read more

Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Desogestrel pill  

I had no periods and then all of a sudden had extremely heavy and long periods, bleeding for weeks at a time. I had no libido which isn't ideal at all. I had terrible anxiety with this pill, I would get extremely bad anxiety with intrusive thoughts


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
42 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Cerelle pill  

I used this for 6 months hoping my body would adjust but had to stop. My periods became really irregular, and super heavy. The first month, I had 2 periods (both lasted around 10-12 days), second month I got one period, 3rd month I got nothing, and then months 4 - 6 I had 3 periods in 7 weeks, all lasting around 12 days and far heavier than my normal periods. I felt like I had backache most of those last couple of months as that's something that happens whenever I'm menstruating. I've tried other pills and never had side effects like this, so I've stopped these now and will go back to another type of pill.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Cerelle pill  

I took this for endometriosis, but not worth it because of facial hair growth. I had breakthrough bleeding every 4-6 months for about 4-5 days, fairly light and not too painful. My sex drive and weight were unaffected, however I got thick dark hair on my stomach, inner thighs, chest and face. This destroyed my self esteem so my mood was obviously low. After stopping the hair did not revert back which is common so I had electrolysis which took care of it. Then 2 years later I went back on this pill stupidly to try and help the endometriosis, the hair came back within 2 months. I have since stopped this pill, spent even more money on electrolysis and have had no issues after regarding that. It took about 3-5 months for my cycle to regulate after coming off birth control. I’m thinking about trying slynd as it is supposed to be anti androgenise, we’ll see.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Desogestrel pill  

I had no periods and then all of a sudden had extremely heavy and long periods, bleeding for weeks at a time. I had no libido which isn't ideal at all. I had terrible anxiety with this pill, I would get extremely bad anxiety with intrusive thoughts


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
42 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Cerelle pill  

I used this for 6 months hoping my body would adjust but had to stop. My periods became really irregular, and super heavy. The first month, I had 2 periods (both lasted around 10-12 days), second month I got one period, 3rd month I got nothing, and then months 4 - 6 I had 3 periods in 7 weeks, all lasting around 12 days and far heavier than my normal periods. I felt like I had backache most of those last couple of months as that's something that happens whenever I'm menstruating. I've tried other pills and never had side effects like this, so I've stopped these now and will go back to another type of pill.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments


Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews

1333 reviews

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Cerelle pill  

I took this for endometriosis, but not worth it because of facial hair growth. I had breakthrough bleeding every 4-6 months for about 4-5 days, fairly light and not too painful. My sex drive and weight were unaffected, however I got thick dark hair on my stomach, inner thighs, chest and face. This destroyed my self esteem so my mood was obviously low. After stopping the hair did not revert back which is common so I had electrolysis which took care of it. Then 2 years later I went back on this pill stupidly to try and help the endometriosis, the hair came back within 2 months. I have since stopped this pill, spent even more money on electrolysis and have had no issues after regarding that. It took about 3-5 months for my cycle to regulate after coming off birth control. I’m thinking about trying slynd as it is supposed to be anti androgenise, we’ll see.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Desogestrel pill  

I had no periods and then all of a sudden had extremely heavy and long periods, bleeding for weeks at a time. I had no libido which isn't ideal at all. I had terrible anxiety with this pill, I would get extremely bad anxiety with intrusive thoughts


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
42 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Cerelle pill  

I used this for 6 months hoping my body would adjust but had to stop. My periods became really irregular, and super heavy. The first month, I had 2 periods (both lasted around 10-12 days), second month I got one period, 3rd month I got nothing, and then months 4 - 6 I had 3 periods in 7 weeks, all lasting around 12 days and far heavier than my normal periods. I felt like I had backache most of those last couple of months as that's something that happens whenever I'm menstruating. I've tried other pills and never had side effects like this, so I've stopped these now and will go back to another type of pill.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Cerelle pill  

I took this for endometriosis, but not worth it because of facial hair growth. I had breakthrough bleeding every 4-6 months for about 4-5 days, fairly light and not too painful. My sex drive and weight were unaffected, however I got thick dark hair on my stomach, inner thighs, chest and face. This destroyed my self esteem so my mood was obviously low. After stopping the hair did not revert back which is common so I had electrolysis which took care of it. Then 2 years later I went back on this pill stupidly to try and help the endometriosis, the hair came back within 2 months. I have since stopped this pill, spent even more money on electrolysis and have had no issues after regarding that. It took about 3-5 months for my cycle to regulate after coming off birth control. I’m thinking about trying slynd as it is supposed to be anti androgenise, we’ll see.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Desogestrel pill  

I had no periods and then all of a sudden had extremely heavy and long periods, bleeding for weeks at a time. I had no libido which isn't ideal at all. I had terrible anxiety with this pill, I would get extremely bad anxiety with intrusive thoughts


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
42 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Cerelle pill  

I used this for 6 months hoping my body would adjust but had to stop. My periods became really irregular, and super heavy. The first month, I had 2 periods (both lasted around 10-12 days), second month I got one period, 3rd month I got nothing, and then months 4 - 6 I had 3 periods in 7 weeks, all lasting around 12 days and far heavier than my normal periods. I felt like I had backache most of those last couple of months as that's something that happens whenever I'm menstruating. I've tried other pills and never had side effects like this, so I've stopped these now and will go back to another type of pill.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Desogestrel pill  

I've been on the tablet since July 2024. I first had period that lasted a month from August-September, which was followed by a 10 day break. I then came on again in Ocotber and I've been having a period now for 4 months with no sign of it stopping. Thankfully I've been told my gynecologist to come of it later this year. This tablet came as a suggestion because I had issues with the implant. It's pretty much caused me to go through the equivalent of hell. I'm constantly in pain, I cannot have sex with my boyfriend and I'm pretty much hormonal all the time. I do not recommend going on this pill.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Zelleta pill  

Would not stop bleeding for 3 months and in turn felt so low.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

I really wanted to like this pill as I had recently switched from rigevidon however it just wasn’t working for me at all. I found that my moods became very low and I would always cry for no reason. This pill also made my periods stop and me being a very anxious person this did not help as I was constantly worrying about being pregnant. I have now stopped taking my pill for a couple of weeks and I am so much happier now. Overall I have not had the best experience and I will be switching


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
40 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Desogestrel pill  

I'm 40 and originally was prescribed Desogestrel to tackle severe period pain which was requiring me to take strong painkillers 3-4 days a month, making me wake up in pain in the night and stopping me exercising/walking the dog during those days as I was in such intense pain. The first two months I experienced pretty bad acne which has since settled down a bit but I definitely have spots throughout the month now which I didn't previously. The pill certainly helped reduce my period pain to a manageable amount but has just led to really irregular periods... frequently I'd have nothing for 5-6 weeks, then suddenly a 2-3 week long period! It's also really killed my sex drive. So some good (less pain) but lots of negatives too.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Noriday pill  

My doctor switched me to this after another progesterone only pill didn’t work. I took this alongside norethisterone 5mg. I kept having breakthrough bleeds that were painful and heavy and the only way they would stop is if I increased my Norethisterone dose. Finally I couldn’t take any more Norethisterone on top of the Noriday and I had the most painful bleed I have ever experienced. I stopped taking everything and needed multiple strong painkillers and other meds just to manage the pain and flow. Other than this I felt my skin get a little worse and my hair was thinning. I also gained some weight which I lost after stopping this pill.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Cerazette pill  

I took this for a month and had issues everyday from nausea to headaches. My mood was terrible and I was crying or anxious regularly. I stopped because during my last week of being in this pill I had a breakthrough bleed that was so painful and heavy I couldn’t leave my bed. It was worse than my regular period so I stopped this pill.


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Cerelle pill  

Had some mood issues during the first 3 months such a depression, low moods, emotional but put that down to my body adjusting. But after 5/6 months all the side effects of depression, low mood, constant crying can back much worse. Had 6 week period cycles with irregular bleeding and spotting and heavy cramping. Had to come off the pills as they were affecting my life so greatly.


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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