Vaginal ring vs Combined pill

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Vaginal ring

Add your Vaginal ring review

Combined pill

£From £0.16/day

Overview

Rated 3.6

56 reviews

Every 3 weeks

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

2721 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Vaginal ring ingredients

Main hormones in Vaginal ring

progestogen

oestrogen


Combined pill ingredients

Main hormones in Combined pill

progestogen

oestrogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

50% no impact on mood

52% lighter periods

45% lost sex drive

66% no impact

41% no impact on skin

Cycle return

47% in 1 month

31% somewhat negative

47% lighter periods

46% lost sex drive

48% no impact

43% improved skin

Cycle return

37% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

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Add your Vaginal ring review

Try it now

£From £0.16/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Vaginal ring reviews

56 reviews

Vaginal ring  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  10th Nov 25

NuvaRing  

This has been one of the worst experiences of my life. It killed my mood completely, I never felt worse about myself and had worse mood swings. Low libido, feeling ugly, body pain... overall, never again.

Read more

Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Oct 25

NuvaRing  

I had a terrible reaction to this unfortunately, despite my optimism. Main symptoms were intense nausea that caused me to not eat for several days, insane anxiety with some panic attacks (especially as I slept) and some depressive thoughts. I took sick days from work believing it was the flu. I thought there is no way birth control could cause these side effects. After a call with my GP, we suspected it could be the ring. I tried to stick with it but on only day 14, awake at 5am due to recurrent panic attacks, I took it out. The next days were perfect. I ate all the food I could and was so grateful for a restful night's sleep. The difference in how I feel is night and day. I understand that this reaction is probably rare but this is what happened to me.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Aug 25

SyreniRing  

I suffer with PMDD, making my periods a very awful time for me due to how depressed I feel. I was on the combined pill before, but found this was worsening my emotions and making me feel horrendous. The ring was an idea my GP suggested, thinking that because the ring is a gradual release, that stays in your body for the duration you don’t wish to bleed, it would affect me less. This is absolutely what’s happened and I’m much happier on the ring. I’ve never had any problems with feeling it, I’ve noticed a few reviews stating they bleed through when taking it back to back and from my experience this is the case with most contraception. I wouldn’t recommend if you want to take back to back as you do bleed through.


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  10th Nov 25

NuvaRing  

This has been one of the worst experiences of my life. It killed my mood completely, I never felt worse about myself and had worse mood swings. Low libido, feeling ugly, body pain... overall, never again.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Oct 25

NuvaRing  

I had a terrible reaction to this unfortunately, despite my optimism. Main symptoms were intense nausea that caused me to not eat for several days, insane anxiety with some panic attacks (especially as I slept) and some depressive thoughts. I took sick days from work believing it was the flu. I thought there is no way birth control could cause these side effects. After a call with my GP, we suspected it could be the ring. I tried to stick with it but on only day 14, awake at 5am due to recurrent panic attacks, I took it out. The next days were perfect. I ate all the food I could and was so grateful for a restful night's sleep. The difference in how I feel is night and day. I understand that this reaction is probably rare but this is what happened to me.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Aug 25

SyreniRing  

I suffer with PMDD, making my periods a very awful time for me due to how depressed I feel. I was on the combined pill before, but found this was worsening my emotions and making me feel horrendous. The ring was an idea my GP suggested, thinking that because the ring is a gradual release, that stays in your body for the duration you don’t wish to bleed, it would affect me less. This is absolutely what’s happened and I’m much happier on the ring. I’ve never had any problems with feeling it, I’ve noticed a few reviews stating they bleed through when taking it back to back and from my experience this is the case with most contraception. I wouldn’t recommend if you want to take back to back as you do bleed through.


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments


Combined pill reviews

2721 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Rigevidon  

I ended up getting headaches daily which is why i stopped after taking it for 7 years. After stopping (7 months currently) i am dizzy DAILY. I dont have spinning dizziness. its more off balance feeling all the time nearly. I only took this pill to regulate my periods more as this is what was prescribed by the doctors..


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Drovelis pill  

I have positive and negative experiences with this pill. Negative, I gaint weight, I am tired and have not libido. Positive, no cramps, less of blood, no mood swings


Decreased sex drive

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Yacella pill  

My skin seems to have cleared up nicely over the short course I have been taking it. My periods have not come at all, but I am experiencing breakthrough bleeding on my gap week that doesn't cause any discomfort for me. No significant weight change as far as I can tell. The only issue I really have is my mood and mental health has depleted rapidly. I wake up feeling sick with anxiety every morning and get into a low depressive mood during the day which is affecting my energy, my friendships and overall ability to enjoy life. The fact is that I recently got an ADHD diagnosis and was just coming to terms with myself around the time that these depressive moods started, so ultimately with a consultation I will be trying to change the brand that I am on.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Rigevidon  

I ended up getting headaches daily which is why i stopped after taking it for 7 years. After stopping (7 months currently) i am dizzy DAILY. I dont have spinning dizziness. its more off balance feeling all the time nearly. I only took this pill to regulate my periods more as this is what was prescribed by the doctors..


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Drovelis pill  

I have positive and negative experiences with this pill. Negative, I gaint weight, I am tired and have not libido. Positive, no cramps, less of blood, no mood swings


Decreased sex drive

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Yacella pill  

My skin seems to have cleared up nicely over the short course I have been taking it. My periods have not come at all, but I am experiencing breakthrough bleeding on my gap week that doesn't cause any discomfort for me. No significant weight change as far as I can tell. The only issue I really have is my mood and mental health has depleted rapidly. I wake up feeling sick with anxiety every morning and get into a low depressive mood during the day which is affecting my energy, my friendships and overall ability to enjoy life. The fact is that I recently got an ADHD diagnosis and was just coming to terms with myself around the time that these depressive moods started, so ultimately with a consultation I will be trying to change the brand that I am on.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Yaz pill 🇺🇸  

I was very depressed on Yaz Pill, crying every morning and some days didn't want to get out of bed, I gained water weight for the first 6 - 8 months. I did have an increased sex drive on Yaz compared to my current pill.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6 days ago

Femodene pill  

I switched from Yaz Plus to Femodene to help regulate my moods as I was quite depressed on Yaz plus. Femodene helped control my depression a bit but I had mood swings more often. I never really gained any weight or water weight on femodene.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Yacella pill  

,,,


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Levest pill  

switched from a minipill to a combined pill loved it as my periods stopped and i didnt gain any weight although i was taken off of it as i experiance migranes and wasn't supposed to be perscribed it i did notice i was more sensitive and emotional whilst on it


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Drovelis pill  

Experienced breast tenderness and growth. Reduced cramping. Reduced sided effects compared to alternative oral contraceptives


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Yasmin pill  

During my first month I’ve had severe breakthrough bleeding that was heavy and lasted for 3 weeks, during the 3 weeks I was very emotional and paranoid. After the breakthrough bleed I developed two large spots on my lip and cheek (I never had this issue nor acne). Over all the pill hasn’t done much for me so far other than making me very paranoid about the side effects.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Yasmin pill  

utis


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Vaginal ring with other contraceptives

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