Reviews

Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews

2.7

1223 reviews

The progestogen-only pill, aka progesterone only pill, POP or 'mini pill', is one of the most frequently reviewed methods at The Lowdown. Funnily enough, it only contains one hormone progestogen in it, unlike the combined pill which also contains oestrogen. It's very commonly used and considered very safe for most women.

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Progestogen-only / Mini pill

Progestogen-only / Mini pill benefits

Some of the benefits that are recognised in scientific research or guidelines for this contraceptive

Period pain

Progestogen-only / Mini pill ingredients

Main hormones in Progestogen-only / Mini pill

progestogen

Progestogen-only / Mini pill alternatives

Contraceptives that work in similar ways, or brands that have close or exactly the same hormonal ingredients


Progestogen-only / Mini pill FAQs

No FAQs at this moment

Reviews

2.7

1223 reviews

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Community reviews

Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

  •  Still using

I switched to Cerelle from Hana a few months ago. This pill has been a big improvement for me. My sex drive is back, and everything seems to function normally down there again! I feel more myself than I had before, my moods are generally better. I haven't had a period since I started which is amazing for me as I've always suffered with PMDD and very heavy, painful bleeding. There are a couple of downsides, I have had more headaches and migraines which I've always been prone to. Hoping they will settle with more time. I've also noticed sometimes painful, quite major bloating. At times I look pregnant (I'm definitely not!). I have managed to solve this by adding a supplement to my routine so it's not too much of a concern

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Used for 12 - 18 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

  •  Stopped using

Hana was my first experience of taking a contraceptive at the age of 33. It was generally a positive experience. It really reduced the PMDD symptoms I was experiencing and made the week before my period more manageable. My period was lighter and less painful overall. There were some negatives,my sex drive completely disappeared and I experienced vaginal dryness. My periods were less regular and sometimes I would have two back to back with just a few days in between. Because they were so light it wasn't a huge problem. The biggest issue was I realised that in balancing out my hormonal mood swings it felt like it had gone too far and I was overall emotionally flat. I realised that I wasn't really myself, it was subtle and it took me a while to realise.


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Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

  •  Still using

Completely stopped periods. Noticed mental health effects and loss of libido quite severely after starting using this pill.


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Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

  •  Stopped using

After being informed by my doctor that I could no longer use the combination pill, I felt pressured (and ill informed ) to move onto the mini pill. My sex drive was non existent and I it affected my mood dramatically. It was almost as bad as the implant side effects I had years before.


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

  •  Stopped using

I've been on Noriday for 3 months now and it's been a more positive experience than Cerazette, but I am ultimately stopping because I want to have a sex drive again and I won't be sexually active for some months. This pill did balance out my moods a lot, I experienced less headaches, my periods were lighter and less painful but I did experience spotting as soon as it was my ovulation week through to my periods which I continued to get. I also experienced hair loss, my hair tends to shed any but it was noticeably more and even came out in a clump one time. In the future I'll be using condoms whilst I contemplate a copper IUD as I think hormonal methods just aren't for me.


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

  •  Stopped using

I only lasted 8 weeks on Cerazette due to the constant bleeding and complete loss of sex drive. I had heavier period-like bleeds every 2 weeks and still continued to spot in between. I had headaches 3-4x a week, constipation, more acne than usual, and it was starting to make me depressed. I took a month off before switching to Noriday, which I'm also stopping for loss of sex drive and spotting.


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Used for 12 - 18 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

  •  Still using

I have a love and hate relationship with this pill. On the positives i didn’t really get any physical side effects apart from my period stopping which was a bonus. However this pill makes me so much more emotional and anxious than before so thinking of taking a break to see if my mood improves.


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Used for 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

  •  Stopped using

After I had my first child I was given the option of taking the mini pill while I was breastfeeding. Unfortunately for me I suffered with symptoms of vaginal dryness , erratic mood changes which led into post natal depression and experienced light spotting. I really didn’t like how the pill was making me feel and I just wanted to try a natural method whilst I continue to breastfeed. Which is why I started to use condoms and Family planning methods.


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Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

  •  Stopped using

For me personally this contraceptive method didn’t suit me. The side effects became too much that I didn’t want to take the pill anymore.


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

  •  Still using

In the beginning, I thought I got lucky with this pill as although my periods were regular and light before, made them come every two months. I'm not sure whether it's circumstantial or the pill but after about 6 months I started to feel very depressed and couldn't shift this feeling of emptiness. I also lost my sex drive completely and became unbothered about everything and everyone. I wish more non-hormonal birth control was available other than the coil. I'm starting a different kind of progesterone-only pill today so hopefully it goes better than this did.


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