Vaginal ring vs Combined pill
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£From £0.41/day
£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
2576 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
• 1 month 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
• 1 month 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
2576 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
Within 48 hours of swallowing the first tablet I started to have Brown discharge which has grown into what would be described as a full on period with horrendous stomach ache, it will be 2 weeks on Sunday since I swallowed the first tablet. I'm assuming this is the breakthrough bleeding and my body needs to adjust but anyone else experienced this?
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
It was working perfectly fine at first, was helping me with unbearable cramps and nausea, but after about four months of use, I wasn't feeling like myself at all. It made my anxiety so much worse that is was making me nauseous and kept giving me heart palpitations and trembling limbs. I've had a major loss of appetite which is really bad for someone who is already considered underweight for her age. I couldn't tell the difference between feeling hungry or feeling sick, but whenever I did eat, I continued to feel this way. I became so emotionally unstable that I was in a near constant state of dread for no apparent reason and would be crying without even being upset, every day. I struggled to sleep with the increased negative mood, the only think to help me sleep was to listen to educational videos in the background to distract me from the anxiety and nausea. I took travel pills to alleviate both of these which is working well and helping me sleep, and two days after stopping with the pill, my mood has been gradually improving. I'm still getting heart palpitations and tearing up a little at times, butI'm starting to feel like myself again. I wouldn't recommend rigevidon if you have a history with anxiety or depression. Made my hormones go haywire, lost my already small appetite, and messed around a whole lot with my sleep schedule.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Really helpful for my moods, only 10 months in did i randomly experience breast secretion and so swapped to the sister pill eloine with less oestrogen
Very positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• today
Within 48 hours of swallowing the first tablet I started to have Brown discharge which has grown into what would be described as a full on period with horrendous stomach ache, it will be 2 weeks on Sunday since I swallowed the first tablet. I'm assuming this is the breakthrough bleeding and my body needs to adjust but anyone else experienced this?
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
It was working perfectly fine at first, was helping me with unbearable cramps and nausea, but after about four months of use, I wasn't feeling like myself at all. It made my anxiety so much worse that is was making me nauseous and kept giving me heart palpitations and trembling limbs. I've had a major loss of appetite which is really bad for someone who is already considered underweight for her age. I couldn't tell the difference between feeling hungry or feeling sick, but whenever I did eat, I continued to feel this way. I became so emotionally unstable that I was in a near constant state of dread for no apparent reason and would be crying without even being upset, every day. I struggled to sleep with the increased negative mood, the only think to help me sleep was to listen to educational videos in the background to distract me from the anxiety and nausea. I took travel pills to alleviate both of these which is working well and helping me sleep, and two days after stopping with the pill, my mood has been gradually improving. I'm still getting heart palpitations and tearing up a little at times, butI'm starting to feel like myself again. I wouldn't recommend rigevidon if you have a history with anxiety or depression. Made my hormones go haywire, lost my already small appetite, and messed around a whole lot with my sleep schedule.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Really helpful for my moods, only 10 months in did i randomly experience breast secretion and so swapped to the sister pill eloine with less oestrogen
Very positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
I've been on it for a year and a half, it made me gain 10 kgs (even though I work out more than usual and eat a healthy diet), especially weight in my lower stomach, I have a pooch now and am always bloated, which is very uncomfortable. It also made me go up two cup sizes, I was a B cup before starting this contraception and now am a D cup. I also lost all my sex drive and it makes me really moody. I was hoping to be a fan since it's supposed to be less hormones than other pills but unfortunately my body did not react well to it.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
Experiences severe pms before taking this pill, first tried deso 30 again as I used it in the past, but I definitely gained weight with that one and still experienced feelings of depression every now and then. With this pill, I still have my normal weight and I feel like any dark feelings are almost gone, sometimes I still have an off day ofcourse. Overall I am very happy; clear skin, I am feeling great, and my weight is normal.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
So I might just be allergic to the pill. I was given this as it's low dose and I've had strong reactions to everything else. I had an anxiety attack on the first day, then couldn't stop crying on the second so I stopped it quickly. I had started it because I was feeling really good so thought I could cope with the mood changes but they were so severe it scared me. I've then had a horrible period in the month after and back at square 1.
Very negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 week ago
Ive been on 3 different pills and Levest was my long term. My skin got clearer and my periods have been much more managable (I used to be prescribed meds for pain control). However the main effect is decreased sex drive dramatically and just feeling 'meh' all the time very dampened emotions over everything. Not many highs not many lows just an overall feeling of meh.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
My psychiatrist put me on Zoely in August of 2024, I had recently been diagnosed with PMDD (pre menstrual dysphoric disorder) and was at a point in my life where if I didn’t find a way to manage the symptoms I was at breaking point. I’d been misdiagnosed with bipolar, major depression, borderline personality disorder and had been on a rollercoaster of treatments from ages 13-30. So I was hesitant to trust this psychiatrist and go on another potentially damaging rollercoaster of meds. Alas, after 3 weeks I noticed dramatic changes to my moods, I was balanced! I felt in control, grounded and sane! Obviously my period stopped and my cycle was no longer existent but this medication saved my life, my relationship, my mental health and gave me back my life! The only negative side is my low to zero sex drive, that’s been tough but I’m navigating it now, my partner doesn’t feel desirable because I don’t want sex.. like ever but we are both just happy to have a peaceful life without the ups and down. It seems like a fair trade to me. So very grateful for this medication.
Very positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
This pill ruined my mental health, doctor told me it was the best option despite me telling her i was worried about the mental effects. I lost all confidence- felt disgusting all the time. Made my anxiety and overthinking 10 times worse, i was crying multiple times every day. It felt like i had no control over my emotions, i could go from happy to crying within seconds and this could be set off by anything at all. Would not recommend this to anyone, have an appointment to come off it this week.
Very negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
13 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
overall made periods easier but changed my mood to be lower. it definitely improved things for me.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments

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