Desogestrel pill vs Noriday pill

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Desogestrel pill

£From £0.20/day

Noriday pill

£From £0.17/day

Overview

Rated 2.6

363 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.7

107 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Desogestrel pill ingredients

Main hormones in Desogestrel pill

Less-Androgenic progestogen


Noriday pill ingredients

Main hormones in Noriday pill

Androgenic progestogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

34% somewhat negative

42% stopped periods

54% lost sex drive

43% no impact

45% no impact on skin

Cycle return

40% don’t know impact

36% somewhat negative

41% irregular periods

42% no impact

48% no impact

55% no impact on skin

Cycle return

52% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Period pain

Period pain

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£From £0.20/day

Try it now

£From £0.17/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Desogestrel pill reviews

363 reviews

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

Desogestrel pill  

I started the POP because I had a few migraines with auras on the combined pill and had to stop this. When I started the mini-pill my periods became very irregular. However, I went on the combined pill in the first place because of my irregular cycle so this may just be me. I have noticed my periods are lighter but I never had heavy periods anyway. I have had a few cases of spotting for 2-3weeks after getting my period but this hopefully seems to have settled now after 5/6 months and I get a 3-5 day light period. My skin flared up with bad hormonal acne about 3/4months after I started taking the POP and hasn’t gotten any better. Another reason why I went on the combined pill initially was to help with acne so I feel this has regressed since starting the mini-pill. Also, I have had some horrific cramping at random times. A couple of times has been a whole week of painful cramps but again this hopefully seems to have settled down a bit after about 7/8 months of taking the POP. Overall, I’m not happy with the side effects I’m experiencing, especially my skin, and am considering trying the hormonal coil, but will give it a full year on the POP to see if my body starts to settle.

Read more

Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

I really wanted to like Desogestrel. Initially, my skin was the worst - so oily and immediately broke out in painful acne. This quickly subsided after about 2 weeks. For 3 months, my breasts were so enlarged and sore all the time. I noticed around the 3 month mark that I was experiencing vaginal dryness too. My periods have been totally irregular - since starting Desogestrel in May I've had 10 periods. Many of these were trigged by intercourse. The volume of blood and the level of pain was variable for every period, making it hard to predict. The final straw for me was I started losing my hair around the 5-6 month mark. My hair is noticeably thinner on top and the ends are ruined / look awful. The only positive for me has been that it made me more energetic and have a better / more even mood. It did has not affected my sex drive and I gained a negligible amount of weight.


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  20th Oct 24

Desogestrel pill  

I was prescribed generic Desogestrel mini pill to treat my adenomyosis. I was only on it for a couple of weeks, but I couldn't cope with the symptoms. Daily bleeding and bloating but more worryingly, horrendous nausea, dizziness and migraines. Also had swollen tender enlarged breasts.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

I started the POP because I had a few migraines with auras on the combined pill and had to stop this. When I started the mini-pill my periods became very irregular. However, I went on the combined pill in the first place because of my irregular cycle so this may just be me. I have noticed my periods are lighter but I never had heavy periods anyway. I have had a few cases of spotting for 2-3weeks after getting my period but this hopefully seems to have settled now after 5/6 months and I get a 3-5 day light period. My skin flared up with bad hormonal acne about 3/4months after I started taking the POP and hasn’t gotten any better. Another reason why I went on the combined pill initially was to help with acne so I feel this has regressed since starting the mini-pill. Also, I have had some horrific cramping at random times. A couple of times has been a whole week of painful cramps but again this hopefully seems to have settled down a bit after about 7/8 months of taking the POP. Overall, I’m not happy with the side effects I’m experiencing, especially my skin, and am considering trying the hormonal coil, but will give it a full year on the POP to see if my body starts to settle.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

I really wanted to like Desogestrel. Initially, my skin was the worst - so oily and immediately broke out in painful acne. This quickly subsided after about 2 weeks. For 3 months, my breasts were so enlarged and sore all the time. I noticed around the 3 month mark that I was experiencing vaginal dryness too. My periods have been totally irregular - since starting Desogestrel in May I've had 10 periods. Many of these were trigged by intercourse. The volume of blood and the level of pain was variable for every period, making it hard to predict. The final straw for me was I started losing my hair around the 5-6 month mark. My hair is noticeably thinner on top and the ends are ruined / look awful. The only positive for me has been that it made me more energetic and have a better / more even mood. It did has not affected my sex drive and I gained a negligible amount of weight.


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  20th Oct 24

Desogestrel pill  

I was prescribed generic Desogestrel mini pill to treat my adenomyosis. I was only on it for a couple of weeks, but I couldn't cope with the symptoms. Daily bleeding and bloating but more worryingly, horrendous nausea, dizziness and migraines. Also had swollen tender enlarged breasts.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments


Noriday pill reviews

107 reviews

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  21st Jul 24

Noriday pill  

I got pregnant whilst using Noriday i was on Yasmin but because of migrains with aura i decided to change the docs put me on Noriday and i never had any problems what so ever appart from the fact i got pregnant lucky i still had regular periods so i knew straight away i was deverstated i felt let down by the pill and i couldnt trust it anymore sex hasnt been the same scince im now on the implant and ask men to use condoms cause im paranoid contrception will let me down again.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  10th Jun 24

Noriday pill  

I have PCOS, so don’t get regular periods and take the mini pill in order to balance my hormones. However, I don’t feel that it truly does balance them; I frequently get break through bleeding, feel bloated, have very low energy and experience cramps even when not on my period. As there is no breaks in this pill cycle, I never know if bleeding is a real period or an effect from this pill which concerns me. If I forget to take this pill, it can trigger a hormonal migraine.


Increased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1st Apr 24

Noriday pill  

Took this for 7 weeks and my mood has rapidly declined over the last two weeks. Any inconvenience that I’d usually be able to brush off or get over seems to leave my crying uncontrollably. Anxiety levels are higher than normal for me. The two periods that I had while on the pill were definitely longer lasting, would usually be 5 days max but last one was 8 days (although light towards the end). Stopping today because of the depressive thoughts


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  21st Jul 24

Noriday pill  

I got pregnant whilst using Noriday i was on Yasmin but because of migrains with aura i decided to change the docs put me on Noriday and i never had any problems what so ever appart from the fact i got pregnant lucky i still had regular periods so i knew straight away i was deverstated i felt let down by the pill and i couldnt trust it anymore sex hasnt been the same scince im now on the implant and ask men to use condoms cause im paranoid contrception will let me down again.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  10th Jun 24

Noriday pill  

I have PCOS, so don’t get regular periods and take the mini pill in order to balance my hormones. However, I don’t feel that it truly does balance them; I frequently get break through bleeding, feel bloated, have very low energy and experience cramps even when not on my period. As there is no breaks in this pill cycle, I never know if bleeding is a real period or an effect from this pill which concerns me. If I forget to take this pill, it can trigger a hormonal migraine.


Increased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1st Apr 24

Noriday pill  

Took this for 7 weeks and my mood has rapidly declined over the last two weeks. Any inconvenience that I’d usually be able to brush off or get over seems to leave my crying uncontrollably. Anxiety levels are higher than normal for me. The two periods that I had while on the pill were definitely longer lasting, would usually be 5 days max but last one was 8 days (although light towards the end). Stopping today because of the depressive thoughts


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
40 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Mar 24

Noriday pill  

Noriday worked well for me with regards to my mental health. I didn't notice any major change, unlike other progesterone only pills. However, I had UTIs constantly for the whole time I was on it. I've been off Noriday for a week and my bladder feels back to normal!


Decreased sex drive

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th Mar 24

Noriday pill  

I've been on Noriday for 3 months now and it's been a more positive experience than Cerazette, but I am ultimately stopping because I want to have a sex drive again and I won't be sexually active for some months. This pill did balance out my moods a lot, I experienced less headaches, my periods were lighter and less painful but I did experience spotting as soon as it was my ovulation week through to my periods which I continued to get. I also experienced hair loss, my hair tends to shed any but it was noticeably more and even came out in a clump one time. In the future I'll be using condoms whilst I contemplate a copper IUD as I think hormonal methods just aren't for me.


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  21st Jan 24

Noriday pill  

I was on Noriday for just over 6 months. While my skin improved and my boobs got bigger, this was not worth the other side effects. Not only did I have constant break through bleeding but it tanked my mental health. I had been lucky enough to have never suffered mental health issues but since going on the Noriday pill, I have been riddled with anxiety and started having semi-regular panic attacks. It also killed my motivation for life (including my sex drive). I came off it 3 months ago in favour of the non-hormonal IUD and I am STILL feeling the knock on effects from this pill. I still have significantly bad anxiety / panic attacks which I am hoping goes away once my hormones regulate themselves but right now it feels like a never ending nightmare. Obviously everyone reacts differently to the pill but I just wish someone had warned me of this possibility before I started taking it.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

3 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  27th Sep 23

Noriday pill  

I have no idea what to do, my options are limited. I’ve been on this since coming off desgesterol, which was working for me for years until it decided it wasn’t. Weight gain, dizziness and heavy periods. I’m always tired too.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  10th Jul 23

Noriday pill  

This pill worked perfectly for around a year then it started disagreeing with me. Most of the literature says that periods stop when taking this pill but that wasn't the case for me. They would come every month, last 7 days and be heavy for roughly 4 of those days. Then I started getting spotting/breakthrough bleeding most months. I mostly went on this pill to help my periods, it was disheartening that it didn't work for me as my mood wasn't massively affected and I felt it would finally be the pill that worked for me.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  30th Jun 23

Noriday pill  

Tender breasts 2ish weeks before period. Loss of sex drive. Very bad bloating and constipation at times. My anxiety increased but this could have been due to the relationship I was in. I would feel very depressed a day before my period, but the rest of the time I was OK. I would get pink/brown discharge a day or 2 before my period and I am still getting this after 4 months of being off this pill. My period were lighter which was good and I had no pregnancy which was good. I felt bigger (I don't weigh myself though) and this may have been because of the bloating or due to weight gain.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  10th Jun 23

Noriday pill  

I have had some side effects, but they're all small and manageable. Ive found that if I take the pill on the dot of when im supposed to I don't get any symptoms, they just tend to pop up when I've taken a pill a little late (say 2 hours past when I was supposed to). For me this has been the best contraceptive I've been on, my libido hasn't been changed, i'm not bleeding excessively and I haven't noticed an effect on my mood either (all of which I had experienced to an extreme level on both other contraceptives I've used before; the Depo-Provera shot and the Cerazette (Desogestrel)).


Gained weight

1 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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Compare the Noriday pill with other contraceptives

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