Withdrawal or pull out method vs Combined pill
Need help choosing? Speak to a doctor
Add your withdrawal or pull out method review
£From £0.16/day
Overview
Rated 3.6
14 reviews
During or before sex
Frequency
80% - 96%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.8
2642 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Withdrawal or pull out method ingredients
Combined pill ingredients
Main hormones in Combined pill
progestogen
oestrogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with
There are no benefits that are recognised in scientific research or guidelines for this contraceptive
Acne or bad skin
Heavy periods
PMS and PMDD
PCOS symptoms
Period pain
Try it now
Add your withdrawal or pull out method review
Try it now
£From £0.16/day
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Withdrawal or pull out method reviews
14 reviews
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 26th Mar 24
I came off the combined pill around 4 years ago after trying many different pills and never quite feeling myself/having terrible clots in my periods on breaks. I'd been told by drs it was the only way to have safe sex from pregnancy and felt i had no choice. The good old fashioned pull out method has been my best friend ever since! Once i spoke to a very wise nurse who told me that i could try the natural cycle way or rely on pull out cleverly. Now i want to say that this isn't for everyone. I have been in a healthy long term relationship with someone i trust and with whom we communicate during all aspects of sex. Because of this we have been able to have all kinds of sex (including penetrative) without any pregnancy scares. My partner is a cis man and i a cis women, and the secret is FULL COMMUNICATION. If he is close to cuming he stops (NEVER ACTUALLY RELY ON PULLING OUT AS YOU CUM NO NO). It's about calming things down on his end when he thinks he'll climax. that means pulling out and moving to oral etc for a while before going again. Normlly this means i get a whole lotta love while he calms down so BONUS!! POSITIVES - I often cum first as it means i always get to cum as he can keep going and we are not relying on one way to have sex. I feel myself! We are more experimental and go on for longer. Its about trust so things feel more intimate, it has led to better communication and much better forplay. This means i cum more often. Knowing my own cycle and getting to know how my body and hormones work. Having sex slowly and sensually, with my pleasure and his both being taken into account due to the fact you can't just have full penetrative sex without thinking. NEGATIVES- he obvs can't cum in me. he doesnt personally feel sad about that. When finally he can't be in me anymore he has to cum using other ways to finish. It means it can be a bit stop and start (personally i think this is fun). You do have to be more careful. THIS IS DEFINITELY FOR PEOPLE WHO KNOW THEIR SEXUAL PARTNER WELL. ITS ABOUT TRUST. You can't just bang it out like in the movies haha! I do pregnancy tetss every 3 months just in case pre cum has snuck in (it's very unlikely this gets you pregnant especially if your partner is aware of this. but worth thinking about) Overall, Chefs Kiss - but i do sometimes miss he cumming inside me ! BUT WON'T GO BACK
Very positive mood
3 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 22nd Feb 24
Only used it on occasion and normally alongside another form of contraception. I don't really recommend it as it feel risky
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 15th Feb 24
The withdrawal method is really not for everyone. But me and my partner prefer to not use male condoms and I use my Flo app to track my ovulation and period which helps me gauge when is the best time to use this method. As I’m not trying to fall pregnant again right now, and I don’t really want to use any hormonal contraceptives, this method has definitely worked for me but can only work if your willing to take control with family planning.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 26th Mar 24
I came off the combined pill around 4 years ago after trying many different pills and never quite feeling myself/having terrible clots in my periods on breaks. I'd been told by drs it was the only way to have safe sex from pregnancy and felt i had no choice. The good old fashioned pull out method has been my best friend ever since! Once i spoke to a very wise nurse who told me that i could try the natural cycle way or rely on pull out cleverly. Now i want to say that this isn't for everyone. I have been in a healthy long term relationship with someone i trust and with whom we communicate during all aspects of sex. Because of this we have been able to have all kinds of sex (including penetrative) without any pregnancy scares. My partner is a cis man and i a cis women, and the secret is FULL COMMUNICATION. If he is close to cuming he stops (NEVER ACTUALLY RELY ON PULLING OUT AS YOU CUM NO NO). It's about calming things down on his end when he thinks he'll climax. that means pulling out and moving to oral etc for a while before going again. Normlly this means i get a whole lotta love while he calms down so BONUS!! POSITIVES - I often cum first as it means i always get to cum as he can keep going and we are not relying on one way to have sex. I feel myself! We are more experimental and go on for longer. Its about trust so things feel more intimate, it has led to better communication and much better forplay. This means i cum more often. Knowing my own cycle and getting to know how my body and hormones work. Having sex slowly and sensually, with my pleasure and his both being taken into account due to the fact you can't just have full penetrative sex without thinking. NEGATIVES- he obvs can't cum in me. he doesnt personally feel sad about that. When finally he can't be in me anymore he has to cum using other ways to finish. It means it can be a bit stop and start (personally i think this is fun). You do have to be more careful. THIS IS DEFINITELY FOR PEOPLE WHO KNOW THEIR SEXUAL PARTNER WELL. ITS ABOUT TRUST. You can't just bang it out like in the movies haha! I do pregnancy tetss every 3 months just in case pre cum has snuck in (it's very unlikely this gets you pregnant especially if your partner is aware of this. but worth thinking about) Overall, Chefs Kiss - but i do sometimes miss he cumming inside me ! BUT WON'T GO BACK
Very positive mood
3 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 22nd Feb 24
Only used it on occasion and normally alongside another form of contraception. I don't really recommend it as it feel risky
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 15th Feb 24
The withdrawal method is really not for everyone. But me and my partner prefer to not use male condoms and I use my Flo app to track my ovulation and period which helps me gauge when is the best time to use this method. As I’m not trying to fall pregnant again right now, and I don’t really want to use any hormonal contraceptives, this method has definitely worked for me but can only work if your willing to take control with family planning.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Combined pill reviews
2642 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Overall a good pill and much better than countless others I’ve tried in the past. Migraines are worst for me I’ve been experiencing them more than ever whilst being on this pill.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
Eloine completely cleared up the acne I had for 6 years! I would definitely reccomend it, although I will say that when I first started using it I had very intense mood swings but I think that’s normal due to the hormone change.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
Lost my sex drive, every birth control I’ve been on has this effect on me. The biggest change I noticed is I was so hungry on this, I was bingeing yet before I took it I had great self control and was working out. It makes me feel like I’ve got early pregnancy symptoms which isn’t good for when you worry about it. I get nausea a lot and cravings, I don’t know for sure if it’s this pill but it started about 4 weeks after I started on the pill and I’ve never had anything like this before except for when I was pregnant
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Overall a good pill and much better than countless others I’ve tried in the past. Migraines are worst for me I’ve been experiencing them more than ever whilst being on this pill.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
Eloine completely cleared up the acne I had for 6 years! I would definitely reccomend it, although I will say that when I first started using it I had very intense mood swings but I think that’s normal due to the hormone change.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
Lost my sex drive, every birth control I’ve been on has this effect on me. The biggest change I noticed is I was so hungry on this, I was bingeing yet before I took it I had great self control and was working out. It makes me feel like I’ve got early pregnancy symptoms which isn’t good for when you worry about it. I get nausea a lot and cravings, I don’t know for sure if it’s this pill but it started about 4 weeks after I started on the pill and I’ve never had anything like this before except for when I was pregnant
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
From the ages of 15-20 I took Yasmin for my acne and I remember it was wonderful for my skin, hair and lightening of periods. My moods were a bit erratic and I was always teary, but I could contribute some of that to puberty/developmental years. Fast forward 13 or so years and I’ve restarted the pill, and decided on Yasmin. The first two weeks on Yasmin have been absolute hell. The main and so far only issue has been nausea which has been extreme. I’ve taken the pill in the morning with food, then in the evening with food. No matter what, I wake up feeling extremely sick and I have to take anti-nausea tablets (dramamine) to get me through the day. Considering I’ve not been on hormonal oral contraceptives in years, I’m trying to ride out the first month and see if it gets better, but for now I’m seriously nauseous with tender boobs and a teary mood, and considering quitting. It’s a shame as I feel the skin benefits and lighter periods historically were worth it.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
From the ages of 15-20 I took Yasmin for my acne and I remember it was wonderful for my skin, hair and lightening of periods. My moods were a bit erratic and I was always teary, but I could contribute some of that to puberty/developmental years. Fast forward 13 or so years and I’ve restarted the pill, and decided on Yasmin. The first two weeks on Yasmin have been absolute hell. The main and so far only issue has been nausea which has been extreme. I’ve taken the pill in the morning with food, then in the evening with food. No matter what, I wake up feeling extremely sick and I have to take anti-nausea tablets (dramamine) to get me through the day. Considering I’ve not been on oral contraceptives in years, I’m trying to ride out the first month and see if it gets better, but for now I’m seriously unwell and considering quitting. Shame as I feel the skin benefits and lighted periods generally are well worth it.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
other than my boobs getting bigger i experienced significant mood swings and emotions that didn't feel like me at all. in addition to this i noticed now after being off yasmin my sex drive is THROUGH THE ROOF. i felt as if yasmin took away my sex drive and made me into an angry emotional crazy lady. sadly im going to miss my d cups; it was hard to stop yasmin because of that but mentally im so much better. after reading the reviews from other people, im glad to see that i am not crazy about yasmin decreasing my libido.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
Loved Maexeni annoyingly however it’s pretty impossible to get in the UK due to medication shortages. Great sex drive, boobs got bigger and didn’t make me depressed like my first pill - what’s not love ahaha (minimal weight gain but may have also been due to uni lifestyle)
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
I got switched from Maexeni to Levest due to medication shortages. Despite levest having few negative side effects, it’s caused vaginal dryness especially during sex. My sex drive has also disappeared and it is now very painful to have, which is obviously very frustrating (and embarrassing when hooking up with people), not something I had ever experienced before January this year. I’ve noticed this seems to be a very common side effect so beware. Safe to say I will be switching back to Maexeni asap!!!!
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
Overall okay, main side effect affecting me is the loss of libido and vaginally dryness as someone in a long-term relationship.
Improved skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I’ve been on this for 2 1/2 months for perimenopause. My mood has been so bad I’ve had to have 2 weeks off work. I’m tired to the point even the smallest of things seem overwhelming. No sex drive whatsoever and unable to orgasm. I’m crying all the time and my poor husband doesn’t know what to do. The worst pill I’ve ever had.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments

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
Slide into our DMs
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