Micronor pill vs Desogestrel pill

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Micronor pill

Add your Micronor pill review

Desogestrel pill

£From £0.20/day

Overview

Rated 3.0

6 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.7

400 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Micronor pill ingredients

Main hormones in Micronor pill

Androgenic progestogen


Desogestrel pill ingredients

Main hormones in Desogestrel pill

Less-Androgenic progestogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

67% no impact on mood

50% stopped periods

67% no impact

67% gained weight

100% no impact on skin

Cycle return

Not enough data to say

33% somewhat negative

43% stopped periods

52% lost sex drive

44% no impact

47% no impact on skin

Cycle return

41% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Period pain

Period pain

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£From £0.20/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Micronor pill reviews

6 reviews

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  22nd Feb 23

Micronor pill  

I am currently on Norethindrone and i do not recommend it. I have been eating healthy and trying to stay active. I have gained a total of 7lb in the last 3 months. It does not matter what diet i am on. I keep gaining weight. I also got mild headaches in the beginning. My breast are super tender and they feel larger. My appetite has increased a lot from being on this pill. I am planning on no longer taking this mini pill.

Read more

Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  21st Mar 21

Micronor pill  

This medication improved my skin and stopped my periods and I didn’t get pregnant so it definitely went above and beyond it’s job. However, I’ve gained 15 pounds thus far and it seems like thats continuing to go up. I will likely stop taking it soon for that reason alone. Otherwise, it’s been the perfect experience of birth control.


Gained weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Sep 19

Micronor pill  

This has worked well for me for years, no side effects (I already had migraines) and it reduced and lightened my periods.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  22nd Feb 23

Micronor pill  

I am currently on Norethindrone and i do not recommend it. I have been eating healthy and trying to stay active. I have gained a total of 7lb in the last 3 months. It does not matter what diet i am on. I keep gaining weight. I also got mild headaches in the beginning. My breast are super tender and they feel larger. My appetite has increased a lot from being on this pill. I am planning on no longer taking this mini pill.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  21st Mar 21

Micronor pill  

This medication improved my skin and stopped my periods and I didn’t get pregnant so it definitely went above and beyond it’s job. However, I’ve gained 15 pounds thus far and it seems like thats continuing to go up. I will likely stop taking it soon for that reason alone. Otherwise, it’s been the perfect experience of birth control.


Gained weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Sep 19

Micronor pill  

This has worked well for me for years, no side effects (I already had migraines) and it reduced and lightened my periods.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments


Desogestrel pill reviews

400 reviews

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

Desogestrel pill  

It feels nice not having a period. But I’ve noticed I’ve become more spotty , I sweat more also & get thrush


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

I spotted for 3 months straight, but then stopped periods all together. I felt a bit sick after taking it, so i should’ve probably taken it after food or at night but i took in the morning. I feel like it made me quite anxious, but i’ve been off it for two years and still have anxiety problems so i’m not 100% whether it’s related! The sickness feeling made me feel quite nervous i think. No other side effects.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

Ok but not a fan of the hair loss and continuous spotting


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

It feels nice not having a period. But I’ve noticed I’ve become more spotty , I sweat more also & get thrush


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

I spotted for 3 months straight, but then stopped periods all together. I felt a bit sick after taking it, so i should’ve probably taken it after food or at night but i took in the morning. I feel like it made me quite anxious, but i’ve been off it for two years and still have anxiety problems so i’m not 100% whether it’s related! The sickness feeling made me feel quite nervous i think. No other side effects.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

Ok but not a fan of the hair loss and continuous spotting


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

i’m not sure if it is normal but i have been on this pill for 3 months. a week into the taking the pill my period finally came back after around 100 days. since then ive had very irregular periods often bleeding for extended periods of time and also spotting more often with the periods being closer together. i have also experienced much more mood changes as i have felt somewhat more depressed on this pill. this might just be my experience and might also be influenced by the fact i am still going through pubity as i’m 16 yet i still can’t stop thinking that something is wrong .


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

I’m was happy with the mini pill as I took it while breastfeeding my son, however as soon as I weaned him my periods came back but they were all over the place. I bled for nearly 2 weeks straight then it finally stopped, but only for 3 days then it started again. If it wasn’t for this issue I’d have kept using the mini pill but I couldn’t deal with it anymore as it was preventing me from living my life normally


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Desogestrel pill  

After coming off a combined pill (Yasmin) that I was on for 14 years - I am now on Desogestrel, within a week I suffered a mild acne rash/breakout on chin and neck but some gel from my GP quickly sorted that. I am now 2 days late to what would have been a bleed/period and my lower back and period cramps are quite severe and prolonged - my breasts are bigger and tender to touch - hoping these symptoms begin to decrease if I get my bleed or not! Saw GP today to discuss and they’re just general side effects whilst my hormones adjust (I’m told to allow >3 months to review) - general mood has decreased a bit and I feel a bit numb emotionally but started feeling better today so fingers crossed I’m on the up!


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5th Jul 25

Desogestrel pill  

Switched eventually to an implant because of having to remember to bring them everywhere each day. Overall a positive experience though - a reduction in headaches, and usually say it 'flattened' my mood. Whereas before there would be some very low mood points in my cycle, this greatly reduced those. Sometimes it felt a little dull as it seemed to also reduce some of the good spikes, but this was worth it to me to not have to deal with such mood swings.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Jun 25

Desogestrel pill  

The first 3-5 months were a bit rough, having sex would cause me to get a period and sometimes was painful. I also was definitely more emotional than before. It all calms down over time, I’ve been on it for almost 3 years now and it was the best decision i get very occasionally spotting and cramps if i miss a pill or two but overall I like it


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Jun 25

Desogestrel pill  

I was on Microgynon 30 for almost 8 years and I never had any issues! I changed 3 months ago to the progesterone only pill (Desogesterel) due to my friend getting a blood clot from microgynon, and within a month I began getting spots all over my jawline! I have now had constant spots for 2 months. I also have breakthrough bleeding which I never had on Microgynon. I will be heading back to the pharmacy to discuss my options


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
43 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th Jun 25

Desogestrel pill  

I’m very satisfied with the pill. I only been taking it for few weeks but my mental health improved so much ! I can’t actually believe it. I used to suffer mood swings due to hormonal fluctuations . None of this is happening . Very happy. No side effects either


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Micronor pill with other contraceptives

Compare the Desogestrel pill with other contraceptives

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