Vaginal ring vs Combined pill
Need help choosing? Speak to a doctor
Add your Vaginal ring review
£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
2685 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
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
Try it now
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 26th Oct 25
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
Used for 6 - 12 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3rd Aug 25
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 26th Oct 25
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
Used for 6 - 12 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3rd Aug 25
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
2685 reviews
Used for 8+ yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Love this pill, I've been on it for nearly 10 years now and have noticed few changes and side effects. If anything, my skin is more clear and my periods are light (3-4 days instead of my usual 6-7). I feel more emotional than baseline but it does not bother my day-to-day activities.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Overall its fine, slowed down my metabolism and made me pretty dry but that's all
Gained weight
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
This has by far been the best pill for me I love how confident and comfortable I feel
Very positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Love this pill, I've been on it for nearly 10 years now and have noticed few changes and side effects. If anything, my skin is more clear and my periods are light (3-4 days instead of my usual 6-7). I feel more emotional than baseline but it does not bother my day-to-day activities.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Overall its fine, slowed down my metabolism and made me pretty dry but that's all
Gained weight
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
This has by far been the best pill for me I love how confident and comfortable I feel
Very positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
My worst side effects have been the mood swings, I am crying a lot more for no reason than I ever did before, it definitely has made me more emotional. My period has gone from being 3 to 4 days to being 1.5 / 2. My breasts become really sore and hard before and after my period. I don’t feel as sexually active as before and I experience dryness more regularly than normal. My skin is completely clear with the pill. Everything bad is / has been fairly manageable, not ideal but haven’t had any pregnancy scares.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Worse skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
The “Nordette” pill was not much better than the Nur-Isterate injection. It just decreased my mood swings. I lost a bit of weight (went back to my normal size) my acne got worse . Libido was still incredibly low. And Vag still as dry as a desert
Somewhat positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
This contraception is highly effective, but for me the main side-effect is major hair loss and irregular periods.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
My legs randomly ache, I have. 0 sex drive, the thought of being touched is making me sick. I have severe anxiety and I’m borderline suicidal. This is not the right pill for me but going back to my gp and getting another one seems exhausting.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
I am 26. Have been on yasmin pill 7 months, I take in the evening just after food. I have PCOS and PMDD. I have found it to be good- it has really stabilised my mood as im not getting hormone fluctuations and has helped with insomnia and mood swings. The side effects: Breasts getting bigger [they might be slightly tender but also have large breasts to begin] and potentially more anxious/irritable but I also have more stress in my life so I think this is due to that. I have not noticed changes to skin [pimple every so often like before]. I also do 3 pill packs back to back without a break week and this caused some intermittent bleeding so now I do 2 pills back to back and this has gone away. I would recommend, once you get into the rhythm of taking a pill is easier.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
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
Slide into our DMs
Built by doctors and experts
Our tools are made by medical professionals for your peace of mind
Our website uses affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click on them
