Vaginal ring vs Combined pill
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£From £0.16/day
Overview
Rated 3.7
51 reviews
Every 3 weeks
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.8
2562 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
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£From £0.41/day
Try it now
£From £0.16/day
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Vaginal ring reviews
51 reviews
Used for 8+ yr
50 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
I have had the Nuva-ring for years. It's brilliant, no side effects, it gives the hormone dose at the point in my body I need it so I know less hormone is swirling around my body and going through my liver. Surely that's a good thing. I don't think GPs prescribe it here in the UK nearly enough as possibly more expensive than the pill? I was living in Europe after the birth of my second child, initially I was put on the mini-pill and immediately fell into a very low mood which I hadn't felt the weeks after the birth so knew it was the mini-pill that had effected me. I was taken off it straight away and it was suggested I avoid progesterone-only contraceptive as I am probably progesterone-intolerant (beware anyone on the Merina-coil - so many don't realise progesterone can give you depression). I was then given the Nuvaring which I have been on ever since. Oestrogen and me are happy bed fellows. I am also now on HRT which I can take with the ring. When my oestrogen levels dipped as I hit 50 yo the oestorgen in HRT once again lifted my mood. It's all trial and error but only we know what works and what doesn't.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 22nd Jan 25
NuvaRing greatly affected my mood, at one point I thought I had depression and got prescribed antidepressants by incompetent doctors. The second I stopped using NuvaRing (based on INTERNET RECOMMENDATIONS), all my mental problems went away
Very negative mood
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 29th Nov 24
I used the NuvaRing/Syreni ring for over a year without any apparent issues until I began experiencing severe stomach cramps. The pain was so intense that it often woke me up at night, leaving me unable to move or sleep for hours. Despite multiple doctor appointments, my concerns were repeatedly dismissed, and I was left feeling anxious and on edge, uncertain about the cause of my pain. Frustrated with the lack of answers, I decided to take matters into my own hands and removed the ring myself. Remarkably, after five months of excruciating cramps, they stopped immediately upon removal of the ring. It's been five weeks now, and I remain cramp-free. While I cannot say with absolute certainty that the vaginal ring was the cause, the timing feels far too coincidental to ignore.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
50 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
I have had the Nuva-ring for years. It's brilliant, no side effects, it gives the hormone dose at the point in my body I need it so I know less hormone is swirling around my body and going through my liver. Surely that's a good thing. I don't think GPs prescribe it here in the UK nearly enough as possibly more expensive than the pill? I was living in Europe after the birth of my second child, initially I was put on the mini-pill and immediately fell into a very low mood which I hadn't felt the weeks after the birth so knew it was the mini-pill that had effected me. I was taken off it straight away and it was suggested I avoid progesterone-only contraceptive as I am probably progesterone-intolerant (beware anyone on the Merina-coil - so many don't realise progesterone can give you depression). I was then given the Nuvaring which I have been on ever since. Oestrogen and me are happy bed fellows. I am also now on HRT which I can take with the ring. When my oestrogen levels dipped as I hit 50 yo the oestorgen in HRT once again lifted my mood. It's all trial and error but only we know what works and what doesn't.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 22nd Jan 25
NuvaRing greatly affected my mood, at one point I thought I had depression and got prescribed antidepressants by incompetent doctors. The second I stopped using NuvaRing (based on INTERNET RECOMMENDATIONS), all my mental problems went away
Very negative mood
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 29th Nov 24
I used the NuvaRing/Syreni ring for over a year without any apparent issues until I began experiencing severe stomach cramps. The pain was so intense that it often woke me up at night, leaving me unable to move or sleep for hours. Despite multiple doctor appointments, my concerns were repeatedly dismissed, and I was left feeling anxious and on edge, uncertain about the cause of my pain. Frustrated with the lack of answers, I decided to take matters into my own hands and removed the ring myself. Remarkably, after five months of excruciating cramps, they stopped immediately upon removal of the ring. It's been five weeks now, and I remain cramp-free. While I cannot say with absolute certainty that the vaginal ring was the cause, the timing feels far too coincidental to ignore.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Combined pill reviews
2562 reviews
Used for 3 - 6 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
while it's generally alright while I'm on it, the periods are terrible. way more painful than normal and extremely heavy. I've gotta give it credit for the skin though- alot clearer than before
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Please consider the effects AFTER you stop taking Yaz or Eloine (same pill different brand). I never had acne or even spots my whole life and 4 months after stopping Yaz I got post-pill acne. My whole face is red and scarred and there isn’t a part of it that isn’t swollen and bumpy with cystic acne. If I could show you photos you would immediately think twice about trying an anti-androgen contraceptive like Yaz/eloine. I have tried everything with my derm to cure the acne but I wish I had known before taking yaz that this might happen when I stopped. I’m honestly devastated. It’s now been two years since I stopped yaz..
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Has been really helpful for my moods as i would get bad pms, i feel a lot more stable through the months. i gained a lot of weight at one point but then lost it. my boobs consistently got bigger, at certain times in the month they are very very tender. i had lost my sex drive for a few months when i first started but it then came back, but i was really not eager for anything for ages. It’s helped my back and chest acne, and my face is better but has flare ups. I get a period every 3 months but it lasts like 14 days but not that heavy.
Somewhat positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
while it's generally alright while I'm on it, the periods are terrible. way more painful than normal and extremely heavy. I've gotta give it credit for the skin though- alot clearer than before
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Please consider the effects AFTER you stop taking Yaz or Eloine (same pill different brand). I never had acne or even spots my whole life and 4 months after stopping Yaz I got post-pill acne. My whole face is red and scarred and there isn’t a part of it that isn’t swollen and bumpy with cystic acne. If I could show you photos you would immediately think twice about trying an anti-androgen contraceptive like Yaz/eloine. I have tried everything with my derm to cure the acne but I wish I had known before taking yaz that this might happen when I stopped. I’m honestly devastated. It’s now been two years since I stopped yaz..
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Has been really helpful for my moods as i would get bad pms, i feel a lot more stable through the months. i gained a lot of weight at one point but then lost it. my boobs consistently got bigger, at certain times in the month they are very very tender. i had lost my sex drive for a few months when i first started but it then came back, but i was really not eager for anything for ages. It’s helped my back and chest acne, and my face is better but has flare ups. I get a period every 3 months but it lasts like 14 days but not that heavy.
Somewhat positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
I have been on 3 different pills 10 years ago of which the last one was a pill prescribed for acne, before I decided to switch to a non-hormonal IUD, which resulted into heavy-flow periods that looked like someone had stabbed me everytime I got my period. I never had a heavy flow period but the copper IUD definitely increased this. After 2 years, I switched to the hormonal IUD Mirena and no complaints except that my hormonal acne is still present. I actually lost weight and no more periods. I went to my Gyno to ask for a solution against my acne and she prescribed the Yasmin pill. I took it and stopped after 9 days because I got super lethargic, emotional and cried almost every day, I started getting cystic acne even though I never had any cystic acne before, but a few small pimples on my jawline & chin. My breast were tender and in pain, I felt nauseous and I got 4 headaches in 9 days. Generally I don't get 5 headaches, maybe a maximum of 3-5 per year and that's it and my breasts are tender & in pain only when I am on my period. Needless to say that, I was not willing to go through the 3-month period with these symptoms just to see if my acne can disappear. I feel like there is no miracle solution and that's the most difficult to accept. My dermatologist prescribed spironolactone for my acne, which apparently has similar effects than the pill in terms of acne, without all the side effects.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
I started taking Dianette as my first ever contraception pill. It is a combined pill which gives me migraines for a period of time. I was told to stop using it immediately as it put me at an increased risk of having blood clots and stroke. Now I am left not knowing what to do. Overall it did not give me any other side effect and I see a big difference on my skin. It is just me having a reaction to estrogen-related pills.
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
Worked really great for many years. Still had the ocassionally leg cramp, and my breast started to be really tender. After some years I got panic attacks and anxiety. Quit the pill in june 2023, still strugeling with panic and anxiety at times
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 week ago
It went smoothly in the start. No side effects other than weight gain. Slowly the mood startet to be affected. I startet to swear more and react more angrily towards situations and people around me. Felt almost like I was a child and could not contain myself. My husband told me I had to get of because I was horrible to live with. The anger subsided when I stopped
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I essentially started crying almost every day and couldn't fully function like normal because of how low my mood was. I took it for bad period cramps and it definitely helped with this but had to get off it because of the effect on my mood
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I had a heavy painfull n long period after usage so i stoped it after 8 days but im still bleeding with pain after 2 weeks
Very negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I’ve tried 10+ pills all with various side effects and haven’t found one I’ve been happy with. I was on the Evra patch until recently but found that it had affected my anxiety a lot so i stopped using it. I started on Norimin as I’ve tended to tolerate higher dose pills better historically. I’m not thrilled with having to take the pill everyday as I’m very forgetful but it’s been the best one yet. No affect on anxiety yet, my skin has broken out a bit around my chin but nothing too bad. I have definitely gained weight as my appetite has significantly increased and my boobs are a lot bigger and more tender. Best of all, I’m able to skip periods as i have debilitating painful periods. With Norimin, I take it back to back for about 4 months then have a week break. I can have very light spotting about the 2.5 month mark but i don’t mind it at all and it clears up within a week. I’m only using this pill as a stop gap while I decide between the Nuva Ring or the Mirena coil but i’m happy with it for now!
Worse skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments

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