Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion) vs Combined pill

Need help choosing? Speak to a doctor
Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)

Want to switch contraception?

Combined pill

£From £0.16/day

Overview

Rated 4.4

7 reviews

Permanent

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

Permanent

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

2457 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion) ingredients

Plastic or titanium clamps or silicone ring may be used to block the fallopian tubes.

Combined pill ingredients

Main hormones in Combined pill

progestogen

oestrogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

57% no impact on mood

57% no change

43% no impact

71% no impact

100% no impact on skin

Cycle return

Not enough data to say

32% somewhat negative

46% lighter periods

46% lost sex drive

48% no impact

44% improved skin

Cycle return

36% 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

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

Try it now

Want to switch contraception?

Try it now

£From £0.16/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion) reviews

7 reviews

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th May 24

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  

Feel much better not having extra hormones circulating through my body and not worrying about contraception.

Read more

Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  25th Mar 24

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  

eryew4yhwesgs


Decreased sex drive

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  30th Jul 23

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  

This procedure saved my life! I was sterilised earlier this year aged 36, I suffer from Tokophobia (fear of pregnancy) and don’t want children so this surgery was the perfect solution. I opted to have both tubes removed completely to reduce any risk of recanalisation in the future. I feel so much happier in myself and no longer experience panic attacks related to sex/pregnancy scares so I’m actually able to relax and enjoy myself 😅 I had to go private because of my age and where I live but it was definitely worth the money. There is a Childfree friendly doctors list on Reddit, I found the link on a Childfree Facebook group. Definitely recommend sterilisation!


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th May 24

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  

Feel much better not having extra hormones circulating through my body and not worrying about contraception.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  25th Mar 24

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  

eryew4yhwesgs


Decreased sex drive

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  30th Jul 23

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)  

This procedure saved my life! I was sterilised earlier this year aged 36, I suffer from Tokophobia (fear of pregnancy) and don’t want children so this surgery was the perfect solution. I opted to have both tubes removed completely to reduce any risk of recanalisation in the future. I feel so much happier in myself and no longer experience panic attacks related to sex/pregnancy scares so I’m actually able to relax and enjoy myself 😅 I had to go private because of my age and where I live but it was definitely worth the money. There is a Childfree friendly doctors list on Reddit, I found the link on a Childfree Facebook group. Definitely recommend sterilisation!


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments


Combined pill reviews

2457 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
45 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Drovelis pill  

Good


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Lizinna pill  

I moved on to this from Cilique due to a shortage. At first I didn't notice any side effects or difference from cilique, but as the months went on (started around 3 months onwards) I noticed that the pill seemed to trigger my cold sores every single month, at least 1 week prior to my period starting. I've never had them triggered by hormones before and this is a big reason for coming off this pill. Looking back I also can see my sex drive dramatically reduced, but this could be also due to the cold sores.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Microgynon 30 pill  

Originally went on the contraceptive pill to control and ease very painful and heavy periods, it helped and made my periods regular and easier to deal with. However, around 12 months in I began having regular migraines with aura which are dangerous when using this pill, it was an amazing pill other than that major side effect I had no emotional affect because of it.


Gained weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
45 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Drovelis pill  

Good


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Lizinna pill  

I moved on to this from Cilique due to a shortage. At first I didn't notice any side effects or difference from cilique, but as the months went on (started around 3 months onwards) I noticed that the pill seemed to trigger my cold sores every single month, at least 1 week prior to my period starting. I've never had them triggered by hormones before and this is a big reason for coming off this pill. Looking back I also can see my sex drive dramatically reduced, but this could be also due to the cold sores.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Microgynon 30 pill  

Originally went on the contraceptive pill to control and ease very painful and heavy periods, it helped and made my periods regular and easier to deal with. However, around 12 months in I began having regular migraines with aura which are dangerous when using this pill, it was an amazing pill other than that major side effect I had no emotional affect because of it.


Gained weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Lizinna pill  

Very few side effects other than a bit of breast tenderness and nausea in the first couple of months. Since then I've had much lighter periods and it helped with breakouts


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Rigevidon  

I used this pill continuously but my body rejected it. I had 2 breakthrough spotting bleeds every 6 months but after 1 and a ½ years I had a full blown period while on the pill. So I had to come off it. Had no issues on it other than that because I have endometriosis, the pain built up and during self pleasure I'd get debilitating cramps. This stopped after coming off the pill. However no one talks about how hard it is to come off the pill. Your hormones are bring shifted and changed and the emotional toll is so harsh. I've had the worst anxiety and paranoia and it's really hard.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Yacella pill  

Initially I thought that Yacella was suiting me, I had no noticeable side effects, I was able to take it straight away and not have any nausea etc. It was only after a year I noticed how much thinner my hair had become since taking this pill and also had affected my hair texture (I have naturally curly hair and on this pill it was getting straighter). I decided to come off Yacella and since my hair has started to return to its natural texture and thickness. Ironically I went on Yacella as it’s meant to prevent hair loss, even encourage hair growth!


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Rigevidon  

I was weary to go on Rigevidon after switching from a mini pill which caused non stop bleeding and decreased sex drive however, I was positively surprised. For me I found the side effects minimal if not positive: clearer skin and slightly bigger boobs. I take it without a break which means I only bleed every few months and find it a convenient method of contraception.


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Dretine pill  

Ive been given this pill as a substitute for yasmin from my pharmacy and the last few months ive suffered alot of hormonal issues. I only linked all my issues ater googling why I had spots in each ear that has never happened before. It said its due to hormonal problems and then I realised all my other problems such as mouth ulcers every week, migraine, increased acne on my face and spots in my ear are down to this pill. I never had any problems like this on other contraceptions so I wont be using this again.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Gedarel 20/150 pill  

Have been using Gedarel for 2 weeks now, the initial side effects in week 1 were strong.I got dizzy, was nauseous and slightly depressed.By week 2 I didn't feel as bad, my boobs started to hurt and I got light cramping, my moods are still up and down but not as severely.Overall ive had mild symptoms.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Rigevidon  

I was put on Rigevidon to help my pms and OCD symptoms which worsened the week before and during my period. I was on this pill for a month only and had to stop because of the side effects; the first day I took it i vomited in the middle of the night and every time I took this pill i would feel some sort of nausea. It made my mood much worse, I was uncontrollably sobbing almost every day and would frequently get very annoyed and shout at my family. It also worsened my OCD a lot which was triggered by my mood. I felt a lot better coming off of it.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion) with other contraceptives

Order online

Order online now

Use our online prescription in under 5 mins

  • No GP appointment needed

  • Free standard delivery

Speak to a doctor

Not sure yet? Speak to a doctor

Schedule an appointment now

87% of women are happier with their contraceptive choice after speaking with one of The Lowdown's doctors

The Lowdown Footer

Women's health, reviewed.

Get the best women’s health info in your inbox

You are signing up to receive The Lowdown's latest findings and news in women's health. Your data will be used in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie policy

Built by doctors and experts

Our tools are made by medical professionals for your peace of mind

Pharmacy services provided by Phlo Technologies Ltd. GPhC reg number: 9011171

When you click on some links on this site, we may get a small affiliate commission