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

55 reviews

Every 3 weeks

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.7

1428 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

51% no impact on mood

53% lighter periods

44% lost sex drive

67% no impact

42% no impact on skin

Cycle return

47% in 1 month

32% 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

55 reviews

Vaginal ring  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

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.

Read more

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 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 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

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 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


Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews

1428 reviews

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

Slynd pill  

Im loosing so much hair since I started taking slynd, my first couple of months I was constantly dizzy. My sexy drive is very low. Im constantly bleeding, im considering stopping it.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Slynd pill  

Overall is ok but still have a lot of sid effects


Decreased sex drive

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Cerazette pill  

I have been on this pill just over a month and the side effects have been horrendous. I have felt suicidal and utterly depressed everyday, I feel as though I am completely not myself. I have insomnia and wake in the night with intense anxiety and my hands are shaking. I have had bleeding for the past week, extreme hunger, weight gain and feeling so angry I could punch someone. Would NOT recommend this at all, it's dangerous for women. Going to stop taking today as I can't keep feeling like this.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Slynd pill  

Im loosing so much hair since I started taking slynd, my first couple of months I was constantly dizzy. My sexy drive is very low. Im constantly bleeding, im considering stopping it.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Slynd pill  

Overall is ok but still have a lot of sid effects


Decreased sex drive

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Cerazette pill  

I have been on this pill just over a month and the side effects have been horrendous. I have felt suicidal and utterly depressed everyday, I feel as though I am completely not myself. I have insomnia and wake in the night with intense anxiety and my hands are shaking. I have had bleeding for the past week, extreme hunger, weight gain and feeling so angry I could punch someone. Would NOT recommend this at all, it's dangerous for women. Going to stop taking today as I can't keep feeling like this.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Cerelle pill  

I have been using the pill for around 6 months and I keep getting irregular bleeding whilst taking the pill. I take my pill everyday but somehow seem to bleed anyway it’s not spotting as people say it’s heavier like a normal period. It changed my mood within seconds and keeps giving me my Period every 2-3 weeks.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Lovima pill  

After years of being on no contraception I decided to give the Mini Pill another go. It worked for me several years ago but began impacting my mental health so I stopped. This time round I have been more in tune with my body. The first 3-5 days I had itchy nipples. I’ve gained 4kg in a month and my diet hasn’t changed. I have had a headache and neck pain since day one, if I didn’t keep on top of pain relief it would come back. I already have acne prone skin which has took years to get under control and within the first week I developed cystic acne. I’ve felt myself snapping at others in my house over silly things and also felt unable to make decisions. They say to give it 3 months to settle into your system but it’s a no go for me. I cannot deal with the daily head and neck pain, acne and mood issues - so back to condoms we go.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Cerazette pill  

Everything seems ok only issue is that period has fully stopped. Unsure if i should be concerned.


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Zelleta pill  

It's great to stop your period but after being on it for a long time losing weight is almost impossible.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Slynd pill  

Started taking Slynd to help with heavy periods and cramping. First month was fine, felt a little extra emotional. Second month I got my period two weeks before I was supposed to and I am still bleeding after two weeks. Crazy cramping, clotting, heavy bleeding. Had a day or two in there that was light or medium. Poking around on Reddit this seems quite common. Most people stop, not a lot of folks talking about continuing and it levelling out. Waiting to see.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Slynd pill  

Constant low mood, lack of energy and motivation, brain fog, bloating, cramping most of the month, breakthrough bleeding data 10 - 22 of pills for 3 months.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

I was put on this pill to manage endometriosis. I had clear skin for years, and after around a month of desogetrel I experienced a massive flare up in cystic acne on chin and cheeks. I also gained 6 kilos in 3 months. I would not recommend.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Vaginal ring with other contraceptives

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