Micronor pill vs Desogestrel pill

Need help choosing? Speak to a doctor
Micronor pill

Want to switch contraception?

Desogestrel pill

£From £0.20/day

Overview

Rated 3.0

6 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.6

336 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Micronor pill ingredients

Main hormones in Micronor pill

Androgenic progestogen


Desogestrel pill ingredients

Main hormones in Desogestrel pill

Less-Androgenic progestogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Period pain

Period pain

Try it now

Want to switch contraception?

Try it now

£From £0.20/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Micronor pill reviews

6 reviews

Used for 3 - 6 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  22nd Feb 23

  •  Still using

I am currently on Norethindrone and i do not recommend it. I have been eating healthy and trying to stay active. I have gained a total of 7lb in the last 3 months. It does not matter what diet i am on. I keep gaining weight. I also got mild headaches in the beginning. My breast are super tender and they feel larger. My appetite has increased a lot from being on this pill. I am planning on no longer taking this mini pill.

Read more

Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  21st Mar 21

  •  Stopped using

This medication improved my skin and stopped my periods and I didn’t get pregnant so it definitely went above and beyond it’s job. However, I’ve gained 15 pounds thus far and it seems like thats continuing to go up. I will likely stop taking it soon for that reason alone. Otherwise, it’s been the perfect experience of birth control.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Sep 19

  •  Stopped using

This has worked well for me for years, no side effects (I already had migraines) and it reduced and lightened my periods.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 6 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  22nd Feb 23

  •  Still using

I am currently on Norethindrone and i do not recommend it. I have been eating healthy and trying to stay active. I have gained a total of 7lb in the last 3 months. It does not matter what diet i am on. I keep gaining weight. I also got mild headaches in the beginning. My breast are super tender and they feel larger. My appetite has increased a lot from being on this pill. I am planning on no longer taking this mini pill.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  21st Mar 21

  •  Stopped using

This medication improved my skin and stopped my periods and I didn’t get pregnant so it definitely went above and beyond it’s job. However, I’ve gained 15 pounds thus far and it seems like thats continuing to go up. I will likely stop taking it soon for that reason alone. Otherwise, it’s been the perfect experience of birth control.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Sep 19

  •  Stopped using

This has worked well for me for years, no side effects (I already had migraines) and it reduced and lightened my periods.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments


Desogestrel pill reviews

336 reviews

Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

  •  Still using

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

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 8+ yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

  •  Still using

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.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

  •  Stopped using

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).


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

  •  Still using

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

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 8+ yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

  •  Still using

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.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

  •  Stopped using

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).


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 12 - 18 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

  •  Still using

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

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

  •  Still using

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.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

  •  Still using

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.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

  •  Still using

I’ve been on this pill for 7 weeks after having the Modena coil and then copper coil. For them removed fallen on pregnant so had to try something else. I was struggling as I suffer with hormonal acne so wanted to go on a combined pill but I could t as I suffer with migraines. So I but the bullet and give this a try. I can honestly say it’s helped with my anxiety and mood swings so much. I feel a lot calmer in myself too. My periods have stayed same so far maybe a bit lighter. My acne hasn’t improved or got worse really just same well I think so anyway. The first few weeks I was constantly bloated and constipated but I just take two husk tablets a night now and I’m back to goi g regular. Overall I’m finding this pill ok and I’m happy with the way it’s helped my mood swings.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 12 - 18 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

  •  Stopped using

Overall after trying many different pills, this was the best, I started to have very depressive weeks so I stopped as I was afraid of some suicidal thoughts.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1st Apr 24

  •  Stopped using

The only side effect I had on this pill was the irregular bleeding. It worked for the first 2 months and then I just bled for the next 4 months (until I stopped). I suffer from VERY painful periods and even when I wasn’t bleeding or it was really light I can recall having 3 huge pain episodes that would last a few days. The pill didn’t affect my mood, but the side effects did because I had to spend nearly all summer inside because of the anxiety and depression. Aswell because of the bleeding I lost interest in sex (again, not caused by the pill directly). Overall I’m disappointed this method didn’t work. If I didn’t have bleeding and unexpected cramps this would’ve been perfect.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 6 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  31st Mar 24

  •  Still using

Granted I suffer with anxiety and depression anyway but it was under control and I hadn’t had panic attacks in a year when I was off birth control. I started this in January and at first I felt great, I had more energy, little bit of bloating but that went and no changes really at all. By month 2 I noticed I was getting panic attacks again and felt very anxious in safe places/ around safe people where I have never experienced anxiety before. I am now on month 4 and it is worse than ever, I am irritable, angry, emotional, low body image, finding myself not wanting to do anything. I am coming off this pill now and trying another because I want to be myself again.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Micronor pill with other contraceptives

Order online

Order online now

Use our online prescription in under 5 mins

  • No GP appointment needed

  • Free standard delivery

Speak to a doctor

Not sure yet? Speak to a doctor

Schedule an appointment now

87% of women are happier with their contraceptive choice after speaking with one of The Lowdown's doctors

The Lowdown

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

Built by doctors and experts

Our tools are made by medical professionals for your peace of mind

Pharmacy services provided by Phlo Technologies Ltd. GPhC reg number: 9011171

When you click on some links on this site, we may get a small affiliate commission