Side effects
Desogestrel pill common side effects
Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews
54% of Desogestrel pill reviewers reported tender breasts
44% of Desogestrel pill reviewers reported vaginal discharge
44% of Desogestrel pill reviewers reported period like cramps
43% of Desogestrel pill reviewers reported breast enlargement
38% of Desogestrel pill reviewers reported vaginal dryness
Desogestrel pill rare side effects
Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews
5% of Desogestrel pill reviewers reported hair loss
4% of Desogestrel pill reviewers reported migraine with aura
4% of Desogestrel pill reviewers reported a latex allergy
Possible Desogestrel pill side effects
Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews
- Tender breasts (54%)
- Vaginal discharge (44%)
- Period like cramps (44%)
- Breast enlargement (43%)
- Vaginal dryness (38%)
- Lower back pain (36%)
- Sweating more than usual (32%)
- Nausea or vomiting (24%)
- Body hair increase (21%)
- Thrush (17%)
- Cystitis (15%)
- Body hair getting darker (13%)
- High blood pressure (12%)
- Headaches (12%)
- Migraines (7%)
- Pelvic infection (7%)
- Discomfort wearing contact lenses (6%)
- Dizziness (5%)
- Hair loss (5%)
- Migraine with aura (4%)
- A latex allergy (4%)
Reviews
2.6
340 reviews
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Community reviews
Used for 12 - 18 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
I had to switch from the combined pill to the mini pill following a bought of migraines with aura. At first, it was great - I didn’t get periods, I felt good, I wasn’t worried about strokes etc. However, after around 6 months of my body getting used to it, my periods came back, extremely irregular (I.e. 3 periods in one month), my mood and mental health had significantly declined, and my skin is absolutely terrible.
Top side effects not reported
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Used for 3 - 6 mo
36 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
Switched to this after not liking the combined pill side effects. After a few months of using it and having very irregular periods I noticed my skin and hair became very oily, needing to be washed daily. My hair also became thinner. I decided to stop this pill and look for an alternative.
Top side effects not reported
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Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Constant spotting throughout use. Skin had a few spots but generally felt less smooth, larger pores and oilier. Noticeable decrease in sex drive. More apathetic mood.
Top side effects not reported
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Used for 3 - 5 yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
This contraception has been great for me. I went on to stop my periods as I suffer badly with cramps and it did stop them. I haven’t noticed many physically side effects but I do feel my sex drive has been badly hit! I also think I am a little less joyous on this pill, nothing is wet yourself funny to me anymore!
Top side effects not reported
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Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I have found desogestrel good over the last few months compared to my experiences with the combined pill however it has definitely affected my mood. I feel more negative than I would usually and less motivated to start/do things. I am hoping that this will level out as I am on it a bit longer. I have noticed that there is a difference even between the brands of desogestrel, when I switch my mood changes and it takes a couple of weeks to stablise again.
Top side effects not reported
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Used for 8+ yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
This is an easy and quick contraception method which I have found really beneficial to me personally. My periods have now essentially stopped, with very irregular periods now being the norm with my last period being over a year ago. Because of that, when I get a period it is only a few days at a time, whereas before they would sometimes last over 2 weeks. Menstrual pain such as cramps, lower back pain etc are also a lot more controlled. I still get these every month or two but they don't last for long and the pain has decreased massively although I do get breast tenderness more than I used to pre-pill. The downsides though do include acne which has had periods of improving/getting worse and weight gain. Overall though, I like the ease of this (mine is the 12 hour mini pill) compared to other options out there.
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Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
After a really rough time on combined pills (Rigevidon & Loestrin 30, both of which gave me horrific mood swings / changes to sex drive) I went on progesterone only pill Desogestrel/cereals and was on it for about 3 years. I had a great time on it it evened my moods out (I suffer from bad PMS) and it stopped my periods which was great. I came off it because after 6 years on the pill by age 22 I wanted to see if I was any different off it and wanted to go hormone free. However, I also came off it because after the Covid vaccines and during my 3rd year of uni my periods came back even though nothing about my pill had changed and I was having 2 week long periods every 2 weeks for about 6 months ☹️ went to the doctor and had ultrasounds / checks etc and everything was normal so the doctor said it might just be stress / my cycle settling into itself in my 20s post-initial puberty stage. That period of time was super frustrating and I blamed the pill for a lot of things. But when I came off it it all went back to normal ASAP and I have a very regular, trackable cycle now that I really appreciate especially as I look deeper into PMS/PMDD/anxiety and my cycle. I now use (male) condoms with my partner of 3 years and we both really like them. I’m very pro condoms particularly as a lot of women/girls are anti just from knowing boys don’t like them (I know I was). I actually way prefer it now and think they don’t have a big impact on either of us at all so totally recommend them if you are looking for a non-hormonal, non-invasive method of contraception (however I do acknowledge that being in a long term relationship may make this an easier conversation than it can sometimes otherwise be).
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Used for 12 - 18 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
My periods were only irregular/spotting for the first 4ish months while my body was adjusting to the hormones, after that my periods became regular again and lighter than before too. I also believe this mini pill has not effected my mood, breasts or weight.
Top side effects not reported
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Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I experienced some negative side effects when I first went on the pill (mood swings, headaches), both this time around and previously, but they dissipated/softened after a few months. My migraines have increased in frequency over the last 12 months, but I have been a migraine suffered since puberty.
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Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
Just started my third pack, originally I was on the combined pill (4+ years) but experienced some migraines so the GP switched me to desogestrel. The first week of taking I had a regular heavy period for 8 days ish and then was okay for about 2 weeks, then the breakthrough bleeding started and has been on and off for 4 weeks now, a mixture of red / brown spotting which is not ideal as I can't be intimate with my partner as its very off-putting. I'm due to meet with my GP over the next few weeks to discuss but I know they will just say this is bleeding is normal for the first few months of taking. I did notice some spots around my chin and mouth area about a month in, they have since gone. I'm losing weight purely because of my good diet and workouts but tis good to know I can lose weight on this pill. Unsure if I want to continue taking these.
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