Withdrawal or pull out method vs Progestogen-only / Mini pill

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Withdrawal or pull out method

Add your withdrawal or pull out method review

Progestogen-only / Mini pill

£From £0.22/day

Overview

Rated 3.6

14 reviews

During or before sex

Frequency

80% - 96%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.7

1427 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Withdrawal or pull out method ingredients

The withdrawal method (also known as the pull out method) relies on the penis being all the way out of the vagina before ejaculation and ejaculation occurring away from the vagina or vulva.

Progestogen-only / Mini pill ingredients

Main hormones in Progestogen-only / Mini pill

progestogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

57% no impact on mood

71% no change

86% no impact

93% no impact

86% no impact on skin

Cycle return

100% 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

There are no benefits that are recognised in scientific research or guidelines for this contraceptive

Period pain

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Add your withdrawal or pull out method review

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£From £0.22/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Withdrawal or pull out method reviews

14 reviews

Withdrawal or pull out method  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Mar 24

Withdrawal or pull out method  

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

Read more

Very positive mood

3 helpful

0 comments

Withdrawal or pull out method  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  22nd Feb 24

Withdrawal or pull out method  

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

Withdrawal or pull out method  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  15th Feb 24

Withdrawal or pull out method  

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

Withdrawal or pull out method  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Mar 24

Withdrawal or pull out method  

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

Withdrawal or pull out method  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  22nd Feb 24

Withdrawal or pull out method  

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

Withdrawal or pull out method  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  15th Feb 24

Withdrawal or pull out method  

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


Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews

1427 reviews

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days 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
  •  4 days 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
  •  2 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 6 - 12 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days 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
  •  4 days 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
  •  2 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
  •  2 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
  •  2 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
  •  2 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
  •  2 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
  •  3 weeks 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

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

Cerelle pill  

I had break through bleeding most weeks for my first 6 months of this pill, then everything was great, however for my final 5 months of the pill I bled again every single day. I decided to come off as it was negatively effecting my mood from the bleeding and also felt zero emotions towards sex or excitement - just felt generally 'meh'.


Decreased sex drive

1 more effect

2 helpful

0 comments

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