Slynd pill vs Desogestrel pill

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Slynd pill

£From £0.34/day

Desogestrel pill

£From £0.20/day

Overview

Rated 3.5

17 reviews

Daily

Frequency

93% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.7

355 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Slynd pill ingredients

Main hormones in Slynd pill

Anti-Androgenic progestogen


Desogestrel pill ingredients

Main hormones in Desogestrel pill

Less-Androgenic progestogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

29% somewhat negative

41% lighter periods

47% lost sex drive

77% no impact

59% no impact on skin

Cycle return

75% in 1 month

34% somewhat negative

42% stopped periods

55% lost sex drive

43% no impact

45% no impact on skin

Cycle return

40% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

There are no benefits that are recognised in scientific research or guidelines for this contraceptive

Period pain

Try it now

£From £0.34/day

Try it now

£From £0.20/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Slynd pill reviews

17 reviews

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  31st Jul 24

Slynd pill  

I am really happy with this pill. I have tried every type of mini pill available and can no longer take the combined pill for multiple reasons. I now have 2 days of spotting when I take the placebo pills. Less acne, although it wasn't severe it was noticeable. Now I just get a few spots every now and again. Other mini pills have had a negative effect on my mood, this one seems ok so far. I was hoping it would help with my excessive facial hair growth, doesn't seem to have made it any better but it's certainly not worse either (other mini pills I've tried have made it worse in the past). I have noticed my sex drive has reduced a fair amount but this doesn't really bother me and I can still get in the mood with a bit of effort. I may have had quite a high sex drive in the first place so believe it or not I see this as a bit of an advantage as my partner does not! I was on noriday before this and was still having unpredictable and heavy cycles, along with several ovulation and period pain and what seemed to be migraines related to particular points in my cycle. Also mood issues up to 10 days before my periods. I am absolutely thrilled that all of that has improved a huge amount. Not had a migraine since I've been on Slynd either. My pelvic pain is about 75% better and is now manageable and intermittent rather than constant. I'm hopeful that things continue to improve for me taking this pill. I really felt that I'd run out of options with hormonal contraception before I tried this having tried the mirena iud and depo provera in the past and not getting on with them at all. I like that this pill has a 24 hour window to take. You are supposed to take it at the same time every day but reading from the literature they have found that you can be upto 24 hours late taking it upto 4 times in 28 day pill pack and it will still be effective.

Read more

Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Slynd pill  

I was put on Slynd to control heavy bleeding caused by perimenopause and blood thinners , I am so happy that my periods are much lighter. I am able to leave the house without concern of bleeding through my clothes. I do get frequent headaches and feel bloated, but I was told that the bloating should subside after a few months. overall, very happy with this birth control pill!


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
36 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Jun 24

Slynd pill  

Lowered my Bp to the point that I’m off meds. Only mini pill that I haven’t bled through.


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  31st Jul 24

Slynd pill  

I am really happy with this pill. I have tried every type of mini pill available and can no longer take the combined pill for multiple reasons. I now have 2 days of spotting when I take the placebo pills. Less acne, although it wasn't severe it was noticeable. Now I just get a few spots every now and again. Other mini pills have had a negative effect on my mood, this one seems ok so far. I was hoping it would help with my excessive facial hair growth, doesn't seem to have made it any better but it's certainly not worse either (other mini pills I've tried have made it worse in the past). I have noticed my sex drive has reduced a fair amount but this doesn't really bother me and I can still get in the mood with a bit of effort. I may have had quite a high sex drive in the first place so believe it or not I see this as a bit of an advantage as my partner does not! I was on noriday before this and was still having unpredictable and heavy cycles, along with several ovulation and period pain and what seemed to be migraines related to particular points in my cycle. Also mood issues up to 10 days before my periods. I am absolutely thrilled that all of that has improved a huge amount. Not had a migraine since I've been on Slynd either. My pelvic pain is about 75% better and is now manageable and intermittent rather than constant. I'm hopeful that things continue to improve for me taking this pill. I really felt that I'd run out of options with hormonal contraception before I tried this having tried the mirena iud and depo provera in the past and not getting on with them at all. I like that this pill has a 24 hour window to take. You are supposed to take it at the same time every day but reading from the literature they have found that you can be upto 24 hours late taking it upto 4 times in 28 day pill pack and it will still be effective.


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Slynd pill  

I was put on Slynd to control heavy bleeding caused by perimenopause and blood thinners , I am so happy that my periods are much lighter. I am able to leave the house without concern of bleeding through my clothes. I do get frequent headaches and feel bloated, but I was told that the bloating should subside after a few months. overall, very happy with this birth control pill!


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
36 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Jun 24

Slynd pill  

Lowered my Bp to the point that I’m off meds. Only mini pill that I haven’t bled through.


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments


Desogestrel pill reviews

355 reviews

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

Desogestrel pill  

Started this pill as I had horrendous migraines on Rigevidon. Was excited to start the mini pill and to not have bleeds in between pills but was I wrong. The first 5 months I’ve had random bleeding- which I expected (but not for over a week straight) I’ve also been heavily dizzy, nauseous and have had 0 sex drive which has affected my relationship heavily.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 8+ yr
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th Aug 24

Desogestrel pill  

Hugely helped with period pains (no periods!). Has evened out any emotional changes - I feel very stable. No nausea like with the combined pill. Lost weight (as well as boob!) but unsure if that's compared to when I was on combined pill or baseline.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  17th Jul 24

Desogestrel pill  

I have only been on this pill for around 2 months however my side effects have been so drastic in this time period. My mood is unstable and I have become more irritable and quick to be upset, as for periods they have been irregular and my cramps have been the same if not worse than before i started contraception.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

Started this pill as I had horrendous migraines on Rigevidon. Was excited to start the mini pill and to not have bleeds in between pills but was I wrong. The first 5 months I’ve had random bleeding- which I expected (but not for over a week straight) I’ve also been heavily dizzy, nauseous and have had 0 sex drive which has affected my relationship heavily.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 8+ yr
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th Aug 24

Desogestrel pill  

Hugely helped with period pains (no periods!). Has evened out any emotional changes - I feel very stable. No nausea like with the combined pill. Lost weight (as well as boob!) but unsure if that's compared to when I was on combined pill or baseline.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  17th Jul 24

Desogestrel pill  

I have only been on this pill for around 2 months however my side effects have been so drastic in this time period. My mood is unstable and I have become more irritable and quick to be upset, as for periods they have been irregular and my cramps have been the same if not worse than before i started contraception.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  16th Jul 24

Desogestrel pill  

it’s really good, like that there’s no estrogen and doesn’t make me feel like i’m going crazy. only annoying thing is the loss of sex drive but that’s something i work through with my partner


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  30th Jun 24

Desogestrel pill  

This was my first time using a hormonal contraception method and was given this by my doctor to start with. I persevered for 3-4 months but experienced continuous medium break through bleeding that didn’t show any sign of stopping. At this point my sex drive had disappeared and I switched over to a combined pill which I now have a much better time with.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Jun 24

Desogestrel pill  

This is the first time I’ve tried the mini pill after using the combined pill since I was 15 (until 18), the hormonal coil (18-22) and then experiencing my adult body for around 3 months with no hormones. After this contraceptive break, I fell pregnant and had a really rough abortion. After this experience I was terrified of this happening again and noticed my weight had increased due to pregnancy and my moods were really up and down in the last 6-8 weeks. After speaking to a doctor I got given this pill due to optical migraines and high risk of stroke. It was fine for the first few weeks and got used to it very quick, however, I noticed an insane decrease in sex drive. I never think about sex now and it’s really hard to get in the mood, this had led to me getting too in my head during sex and ruining it for me, a constant cycle!! Recently I’ve also became really irritable and short tempered which is very out of character for me. *Really important note* that I’ve not seen in many reviews!! After a quarterly checkup with the nurse she told me this pill is one of the worst for weight gain!! Saying that basically no matter how much of a calorie deficit you’re in/how active you are, you’re going to gain some weigh. Wasn’t informed about this prior to prescription. For context I was 69kg prior to taking this pill and in 6 months I’ve gained 11kg without changing my diet and increasing my cardio and general exercise. Apart from this the pros are no periods, very minimal cramps. I’m leaving this (very long) review to help anyone else who’s using this or considering it, like other reviews say, it really depends on you and unfortunately you’ll never know how these things affect you until you try. To help some sisters out, I’m now considering the copper coil as I’m missing having periods (sounds crazy I know) and really want a non-hormonal option


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  12th Jun 24

Desogestrel pill  

I have endometriosis and this is the only pill I’ve tried that has stopped my daily pain. After a couple of failed attempts at a coil fitting my doctor suggested the progesterone only pill and I wish I had started taking it years ago! It’s increased my sex drive, dramatically reduced my endometriosis pain, had a positive impact on my mood and hasn’t caused weight gain or acne. The two main side effects I’ve had are occasional spotting and nausea, I’m still only on my 2nd month of the pill so hoping these settle down soon.


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  12th Jun 24

Desogestrel pill  

This pill has been amazing for me, I went on it because of very heavy periods and it really helped with that, I would really recommend it. I have heard a lot of bad stories from friends about their (different) pills but for me I don’t think I’ve had any bad side effects or experiences with it and I’ve been on it for nearly 7 years!


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th Jun 24

Desogestrel pill  

I completely lost my appetite for sex and became very irritable


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5th Jun 24

Desogestrel pill  

I have tried lots of contraception and this has not been good for me. I was in agony with abdominal pain for a week and had period symptoms with no bleeding, followed by random bleeds.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Slynd pill with other contraceptives

Compare the Desogestrel pill with other contraceptives

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