Vaginal ring vs Progestogen-only / Mini pill

Need help choosing? Speak to a doctor
Vaginal ring

£From £0.41/day

Progestogen-only / Mini pill

£From £0.22/day

Overview

Rated 3.7

54 reviews

Every 3 weeks

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.7

1407 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Vaginal ring ingredients

Main hormones in Vaginal ring

progestogen

oestrogen


Progestogen-only / Mini pill ingredients

Main hormones in Progestogen-only / Mini pill

progestogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

52% no impact on mood

54% lighter periods

44% lost sex drive

69% no impact

44% no impact on skin

Cycle return

47% in 1 month

31% somewhat negative

44% stopped periods

49% lost sex drive

44% no impact

46% no impact on skin

Cycle return

38% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

Period pain

Try it now

£From £0.41/day

Try it now

£From £0.22/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Vaginal ring reviews

54 reviews

Vaginal ring  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

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.

Read more

Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  17th Jun 25

SyreniRing  

I was recommended the ring after suffering with irregular and heavy periods. I would describe myself as suffering PMDD before and now my moods are so much better. It's easy to insert, I never feel it, and easy to keep in (or briefly take out) when having sex. The ring is great and I recommend to everyone I meet.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  13th May 25

NuvaRing  

The first few months weren’t awful, had regular side effects like nausea, anxiety & tiredness. The main function of the ring for me was to skip my periods & for the first 3 months it worked great. On my 4th ring a few days later I started to feel incredibly nauseous (I didn’t vomit) & the day after I started bleeding, I spotted every day for over a month & still spot every other day, I also had had a large sack of my uterus wall come out which is apparently a side effect when your hormones are unstable. My hips, pelvis, back and legs were aching to the point I struggled to walk. I removed the ring & had instant relief. The nuvaring has made it so I physically can’t have sex as it feels like my vagina is on fire as soon as anything’s inserted, when I took the ring out for a few days this went away & came back the second I reinserted it (it’s also irritated my partners penis). I don’t know if I’m just very sensitive down there or my body doesn’t agree with having a foreign body inside but this just simply hasn’t worked for me. It’s also difficult to get in the right position. My boobs have gotten bigger tho atleast but so has my tummy from the awful bloating!! Swapping to the patch today & hoping it works.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

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 3 - 5 yr
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  17th Jun 25

SyreniRing  

I was recommended the ring after suffering with irregular and heavy periods. I would describe myself as suffering PMDD before and now my moods are so much better. It's easy to insert, I never feel it, and easy to keep in (or briefly take out) when having sex. The ring is great and I recommend to everyone I meet.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  13th May 25

NuvaRing  

The first few months weren’t awful, had regular side effects like nausea, anxiety & tiredness. The main function of the ring for me was to skip my periods & for the first 3 months it worked great. On my 4th ring a few days later I started to feel incredibly nauseous (I didn’t vomit) & the day after I started bleeding, I spotted every day for over a month & still spot every other day, I also had had a large sack of my uterus wall come out which is apparently a side effect when your hormones are unstable. My hips, pelvis, back and legs were aching to the point I struggled to walk. I removed the ring & had instant relief. The nuvaring has made it so I physically can’t have sex as it feels like my vagina is on fire as soon as anything’s inserted, when I took the ring out for a few days this went away & came back the second I reinserted it (it’s also irritated my partners penis). I don’t know if I’m just very sensitive down there or my body doesn’t agree with having a foreign body inside but this just simply hasn’t worked for me. It’s also difficult to get in the right position. My boobs have gotten bigger tho atleast but so has my tummy from the awful bloating!! Swapping to the patch today & hoping it works.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments


Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews

1407 reviews

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Cerelle pill  

I was taking the contraception to stop painful periods or although I wasn’t any physical pain, my mental health went in freefall.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Desogestrel pill  

It feels nice not having a period. But I’ve noticed I’ve become more spotty , I sweat more also & get thrush


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Slynd pill  

Has helped with PMDD symptoms, have not had a period since I’ve been using it. Complete loss of sex drive which I really don’t like.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Cerelle pill  

I was taking the contraception to stop painful periods or although I wasn’t any physical pain, my mental health went in freefall.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Desogestrel pill  

It feels nice not having a period. But I’ve noticed I’ve become more spotty , I sweat more also & get thrush


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Slynd pill  

Has helped with PMDD symptoms, have not had a period since I’ve been using it. Complete loss of sex drive which I really don’t like.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Desogestrel pill  

I spotted for 3 months straight, but then stopped periods all together. I felt a bit sick after taking it, so i should’ve probably taken it after food or at night but i took in the morning. I feel like it made me quite anxious, but i’ve been off it for two years and still have anxiety problems so i’m not 100% whether it’s related! The sickness feeling made me feel quite nervous i think. No other side effects.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Desogestrel pill  

Ok but not a fan of the hair loss and continuous spotting


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Slynd pill  

Compared to other mini pills ive tried, this one has the least side effects by far. The side effects I do get include slightly reduced sex drive, very sore breasts and I cry more easily. All of them are managable though.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
40 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Noriday pill  

Ive been on this pill for a few years..Mood okay most of month but then after my period it seems to drop quite alot to low levels..which concerned me when im not depressed.. sore breasts at times .bleeding very little .no spotting.. but that could be my age. Sex drive okay. Skin seems okay- normal acne. I'm might try cerazette see if it helps mood issue.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Desogestrel pill  

i’m not sure if it is normal but i have been on this pill for 3 months. a week into the taking the pill my period finally came back after around 100 days. since then ive had very irregular periods often bleeding for extended periods of time and also spotting more often with the periods being closer together. i have also experienced much more mood changes as i have felt somewhat more depressed on this pill. this might just be my experience and might also be influenced by the fact i am still going through pubity as i’m 16 yet i still can’t stop thinking that something is wrong .


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Desogestrel pill  

I’m was happy with the mini pill as I took it while breastfeeding my son, however as soon as I weaned him my periods came back but they were all over the place. I bled for nearly 2 weeks straight then it finally stopped, but only for 3 days then it started again. If it wasn’t for this issue I’d have kept using the mini pill but I couldn’t deal with it anymore as it was preventing me from living my life normally


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  18th Jul 25

Zelleta pill  

Started this purely to help my skin after experiencing constant hormonal breakouts, which it did clear up and meant I could eat however I wanted basically with no consequences on my skin (sugar and fatty foods). However I feel as thought the pill has really dampened my mood making me low level depressed all the time. Also experienced a decreased sex drive and lots of hair loss - but still unsure whether these are directly related.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Vaginal ring with other contraceptives

Order online

Order online now

Use our online prescription in under 5 mins

  • No GP appointment needed

  • Free standard delivery

Speak to a doctor

Not sure yet? Speak to a doctor

Schedule an appointment now

87% of women are happier with their contraceptive choice after speaking with one of The Lowdown's doctors

The Lowdown Footer

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

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