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

1412 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

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

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

1412 reviews

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

Cerazette pill  

I used this for a month hoping it would help with period cramps. Do not recommend. I used it perfectly and felt nauseous everyday after taking it. I got a 9 day period (with cramps) during what was supposed to be my "ovulation" week.It had me feeling very anrgy, caused me period like pains and headaches daily.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Slynd pill  

In general I had a good experience with Slynd. It helped my underlying endometriosis significantly and for the 4 months I was on it I had no period cramps or pain for the first time ever. Unfortunately I had to stop taking it because I was spotting everyday. I thought my body needed time to adjust but after 4 months I was still wearing a pantyliner every day. It was very minimal and I had no pain but I just didn't want to wear liners every day. Once I stopped Slynd I went back to 'normal' after about 3 days but sadly my periods are back to being painful. As an aside, I noticed a reduction in sweating whilst on Slynd and several days I would go without antiperspirant or deodorant.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Cerelle pill  

Great pill been on and off twice for a few years, no side effects bar really really really tender and sore and sensitive breasts. I have such bad health anxiety and honestly this had my questioning if I needed to go to the doctors because of the scary big C that’s how sore and tender my breasts have been, can’t even lie on them.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Cerazette pill  

I used this for a month hoping it would help with period cramps. Do not recommend. I used it perfectly and felt nauseous everyday after taking it. I got a 9 day period (with cramps) during what was supposed to be my "ovulation" week.It had me feeling very anrgy, caused me period like pains and headaches daily.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Slynd pill  

In general I had a good experience with Slynd. It helped my underlying endometriosis significantly and for the 4 months I was on it I had no period cramps or pain for the first time ever. Unfortunately I had to stop taking it because I was spotting everyday. I thought my body needed time to adjust but after 4 months I was still wearing a pantyliner every day. It was very minimal and I had no pain but I just didn't want to wear liners every day. Once I stopped Slynd I went back to 'normal' after about 3 days but sadly my periods are back to being painful. As an aside, I noticed a reduction in sweating whilst on Slynd and several days I would go without antiperspirant or deodorant.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Cerelle pill  

Great pill been on and off twice for a few years, no side effects bar really really really tender and sore and sensitive breasts. I have such bad health anxiety and honestly this had my questioning if I needed to go to the doctors because of the scary big C that’s how sore and tender my breasts have been, can’t even lie on them.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
45 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Cerazette pill  

Went on this for fibroid heavy bleeding and period pain. Have daily bleeding and spotting since starting, and periods are now more irregular and as heavy as before. It didn't help with pain at all. Im going to finish out this month's pack and go off them. However, I got some acupuncture two weeks ago and the pain during my period this month has been greatly reduced. Would reccommend trying it!


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

Since i was 18 i tried 7 different contraception methods (pills and nuvaring). However i had diagnosed migraines, but none of the OBGYNs i was seeing though this was a concern. Now i am 24 and i finally found a competent OBGYN thanks to my friend. She was the only one who really looked through and studied my medical history and suggested taking desogestrel for my ovarian cysts and corpus luteum cyst, which were more rare occasion. I started my second pack today and i’m scared to jinx but the last two weeks were amazing. The first two weeks were a hell, i had bleeding for quite some time and then spotting for a week or more. Now i don’t have any spotting, my sex drive is the same, i am happy and i feel like i even started to lose weight. I am planning to update my story next month to see how my body would feel on these pills.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

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