Vaginal ring vs Progestogen-only / Mini pill

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Vaginal ring

£From £0.41/day

Progestogen-only / Mini pill

£From £0.22/day

Overview

Rated 3.6

50 reviews

Every 3 weeks

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.7

1346 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

56% no impact on mood

56% lighter periods

48% lost sex drive

66% no impact

43% no impact on skin

Cycle return

47% in 1 month

32% somewhat negative

44% stopped periods

50% lost sex drive

44% no impact

45% 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

50 reviews

Vaginal ring  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  22nd Jan 25

NuvaRing  

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

Read more

Very negative mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  29th Nov 24

NuvaRing  

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

Vaginal ring  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  29th Aug 24

NuvaRing  

No side effects at all but the ring kept falling out so i always felt it while standing up


Increased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  22nd Jan 25

NuvaRing  

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

Vaginal ring  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  29th Nov 24

NuvaRing  

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

Vaginal ring  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  29th Aug 24

NuvaRing  

No side effects at all but the ring kept falling out so i always felt it while standing up


Increased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments


Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews

1346 reviews

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

Noriday pill  

It is good for those who struggled with irregular periods and breakthrough bleeding. I was on the injection for a year before and it ruined my body made me gain 30 kgs and caused me to constantly bleed all the time! This pill has been good at regulating my periods, and no breakthrough bleeding. However I changed the time I took it recently for the first time since I started taking it and it has badly affected my moods, anxiety and period. I hope once I settle into it, the symptoms will subside. I need to change the time back to the morning in a month and I think I will just take it at the time I intend to change it to instead of taking it a few hours later every day until desired time.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

During the first 2-3 months of using Desogestrel, I'd have prolonged periods (14+ days) of spotting/bleeding around times when my period would normally have been. I wasn't having cramps or any other pain, it was just a little annoying to be bleeding like this. It did settle down after a few months and I stopped getting my period altogether. Overall, I found the contraception to be pretty easy to use (I don't really have issues remembering to take the pill), physical side-effects were pretty minimal and it was nice to not have a period after suffering with really heavy painful periods for years. I had a gnarly chronic UTI issue around this time, but don't think this was necessarily because of the pill, there's a million other reasons why that could have been happening. I eventually stopped using it because I noticed it was really having an effect on my mood. I'd have days every few weeks where something small in the morning would set me off and I wouldn't be able to stop crying all day, which was starting to affect my social life, relationships, and productivity. I decided to stop using it a few weeks before my partner and I shifted into being a long-distance relationship.


Gained weight

0 helpful

1 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

The mini pill worked well for lack of periods and I only had one break through bleed. However I felt very emotionally unstable, crying a lot and feeling overwhelmed. I have come off this pill due to those issues. I also had very bad headaches in the first few months.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Noriday pill  

It is good for those who struggled with irregular periods and breakthrough bleeding. I was on the injection for a year before and it ruined my body made me gain 30 kgs and caused me to constantly bleed all the time! This pill has been good at regulating my periods, and no breakthrough bleeding. However I changed the time I took it recently for the first time since I started taking it and it has badly affected my moods, anxiety and period. I hope once I settle into it, the symptoms will subside. I need to change the time back to the morning in a month and I think I will just take it at the time I intend to change it to instead of taking it a few hours later every day until desired time.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

During the first 2-3 months of using Desogestrel, I'd have prolonged periods (14+ days) of spotting/bleeding around times when my period would normally have been. I wasn't having cramps or any other pain, it was just a little annoying to be bleeding like this. It did settle down after a few months and I stopped getting my period altogether. Overall, I found the contraception to be pretty easy to use (I don't really have issues remembering to take the pill), physical side-effects were pretty minimal and it was nice to not have a period after suffering with really heavy painful periods for years. I had a gnarly chronic UTI issue around this time, but don't think this was necessarily because of the pill, there's a million other reasons why that could have been happening. I eventually stopped using it because I noticed it was really having an effect on my mood. I'd have days every few weeks where something small in the morning would set me off and I wouldn't be able to stop crying all day, which was starting to affect my social life, relationships, and productivity. I decided to stop using it a few weeks before my partner and I shifted into being a long-distance relationship.


Gained weight

0 helpful

1 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

The mini pill worked well for lack of periods and I only had one break through bleed. However I felt very emotionally unstable, crying a lot and feeling overwhelmed. I have come off this pill due to those issues. I also had very bad headaches in the first few months.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Slynd pill  

I have taken this pill for four months to help with endometriosis symptoms. Previously, I was on Eloine for about a year which worked greatly for me with minor side effects, but changed out of precautions due to having had two or three migraines with an aura. Within the first month of taking Slynd, my headaches became more frequent and intense (to such degree that I need to see a neurologist). Without changing my food habits, I gradually gained 8 kg in the four months of taking Slynd. I also have felt my mental health has been negatively affected by depressive feelings and mood swings. I am a mental health professional and was very surprised at this side effect, given my self-care routines and emotional regulation skills are usually optimal. I also developed adult acne, which I would have been ok with if it was the only side effect. The acne and weight gain have negatively affected my self-esteem. One good thing I experienced on Slynd is that my endometriosis cramps were less intense and that I was able to take this pill continuously, thereby skipping my periods and making endometriosis symptoms more manageable. As a result of this, I had more energy to work out.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

Did not enjoy this pill! Tried for around 5 months, mood was poor and crying very easily or completely numb! Skin got bad at first but then was okay! Gained weight around increase by a dress size or two, felt bloated constantly and breast size increased but sore! Vaginal dryness was extreme was even sore to walk and have thrush twice in this 5 month period! Was spotting pretty much constantly and obviously unable to track periods with it being a continuous pill and they were irregular.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  

there will always be side effects to any contraceptive pill, but if it wotks, it works


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Cerazette pill  

Was on this pill for about 4/5 months. Positives were that it got rid of any cramps/ period symptoms - great as I was previously prescribed meds for dysmenorrhea. However, it gave me constant spotting and light bleeding - I bled for about 75% of the time while on this pill and it didn’t get any better. Doctor recommended that I doubled dose (from 75 to 150mg) - this killed my sex drive and didn’t fix the bleeding issue, so I eventually came off.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Cerelle pill  

I had an unpleasant experience using Cerelle. It was the first birth control I tried and wasn't given any other options or choice by the GP at the time. I had a 2month long heavy and painful period, worsened skin, hair loss, severe backne to name a few side effects. Really bad experience for me sadly. Having now tried over 10 other birth control pills- mini and combined, I learned that I am very sensitive to progesterone so the mini pill just isn't for me sadly. I'm now on the Patch and loving it.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

I got put on this pill when i had a miscarriage, i get worried from time to time about my period. I have the flo app and i’m on my period about every 2 weeks, but it’s not exactly a period it’s just very very light and lasts for longer then a period should last this only started happening when i missed a pill for a day and the next day took 2 of them so it didn’t screw the pill up in my body and it has so it worries me. I’ve also put on so much weight using the pill.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Desogestrel pill  

I was 30 when I started this for anyone wanting reference and have had three children. I suffered from horrific period and ovulation pain coupled with ovarian cysts. I had tried many different forms of contraception but I cannot take estrogen as it gives me Hyperemesis Gravidarum, not uncommon in those who have also experienced it in pregnancy, which I did. The first three months weren’t great, mood was all over the place and libido plummeted but after that it levelled out and I’m glad I waited it out. My periods stopped almost immediately and so did my ovulation pain. As I usually got ovarian cysts that burst at the time of ovulation, that’s pretty much stopped too and I’ve gone from having cysts burst monthly, to maybe once or twice a year. It’s dramatically improved my quality of life and I’m so happy on it. What with it being desogestrel, it has a 12 hour time window, so if you forget to take it at your usual time, as long as you take it in the 12 hours following, you’ll still be protected. I’m usually fine as I take it first thing, but it’s always good to know.


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Vaginal ring with other contraceptives

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