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

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

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

36% 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

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

Vaginal ring  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

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
  •  1 month ago

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

2685 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Yasmin pill  

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

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

Combined pill  

Overall its fine, slowed down my metabolism and made me pretty dry but that's all


Gained weight

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Dretine pill  

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

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Yasmin pill  

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

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

Combined pill  

Overall its fine, slowed down my metabolism and made me pretty dry but that's all


Gained weight

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Dretine pill  

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

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

Microlite pill  

Thrush constantly. Horrible.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Yasmin pill  

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

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

Zoely pill  

I had very good experience for 2.5 years and then I got acne.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Microgynon 30 ED pill  

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

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Zoely pill  

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

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

Rigevidon  

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

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

Yasmin pill  

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

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Vaginal ring with other contraceptives

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