Natural family planning vs Combination birth control pill
Natural family planning ingredients
Combination pill ingredients
Main hormones in Combination pill
estrogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
28% no impact on mood
68% stopped periods
55% lost sex drive
47% gained weight
53% no impact on skin
39% don’t know impact
28% no impact on mood
32% lighter periods
37% no impact
42% no impact
38% improved skin
35% in 1 month
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Natural family planning reviews
5 reviews
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 28th Mar 25
Very positive mood
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 28th Dec 23
Overall, I felt that this was a safer option. I only switched to the mini pill in an effort to get a handle on my PCOS pelvic pain.
Top side effects not reported
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 25th Jul 23
I was previously on the contraceptive pill, and as soon as i came off it i was immediately more in tune with my body, could feel the sex drive boost around ovulation etc and lost the weight the pill had put on me.
Very positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 28th Mar 25
Very positive mood
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 28th Dec 23
Overall, I felt that this was a safer option. I only switched to the mini pill in an effort to get a handle on my PCOS pelvic pain.
Top side effects not reported
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 25th Jul 23
I was previously on the contraceptive pill, and as soon as i came off it i was immediately more in tune with my body, could feel the sex drive boost around ovulation etc and lost the weight the pill had put on me.
Very positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Combination birth control pill reviews
149 reviews
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
• today
Feel miserable and made depression worse, consistently crying all the time over stupid things, waking up is evil
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 day ago
I've been taking Aviane for years, to help regulate my periods. Before Aviane, they were irregular (it could be a month and a half before The Dot.) and could last 5-7 days, and my mental health was terrible the week before. (PMDD) I have terrible memory at times, but I know for a fact that Aviane has regulated my periods and has shortened them! They're now only 3 days long, if that tells you anything! I can't remember much about my first few months taking the pills, but overall, it's been helpful!
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 5 days ago
I’ve been on birth control for over 10 yrs by far the worst pill ever. Created an account just to put this review. Please just don’t do it, HORRIBLE.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
• today
Feel miserable and made depression worse, consistently crying all the time over stupid things, waking up is evil
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1 day ago
I've been taking Aviane for years, to help regulate my periods. Before Aviane, they were irregular (it could be a month and a half before The Dot.) and could last 5-7 days, and my mental health was terrible the week before. (PMDD) I have terrible memory at times, but I know for a fact that Aviane has regulated my periods and has shortened them! They're now only 3 days long, if that tells you anything! I can't remember much about my first few months taking the pills, but overall, it's been helpful!
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 5 days ago
I’ve been on birth control for over 10 yrs by far the worst pill ever. Created an account just to put this review. Please just don’t do it, HORRIBLE.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
39 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 weeks ago
I really liked this birth control for a year. But now I don’t know what happened. My periods used to be very light like nothing at all. But recently I started getting cramps before my 3 month placebo week and I took my placebo week and have been bleeding very heavily for over 7 days into my active pills
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 16th Jun 26
Take in the morning, gets nauseous and loses appetite around dinner time everyday
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
40 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 30th May 26
I'm on this pill post-hysterectomy to manage cysts/tumors recurring on my remaining ovary as an alternative to additional surgeries. The nausea has been brutal and I've recently started having major tooth sensitivity. My doctor, whom I trust, told me to give it 3 months for my body to adjust to Nikki. I would have stopped taking it already due to the nausea and dizziness but I'm really trying to avoid another surgery, so I'm sticking with it for now. Maybe I can update after the 3 month mark.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
14 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 30th Apr 26
I started taking this pill for painful period cramps and it has worked wonders! My period is more regular as well and shorter and less painful. My skin cleared up really well the only problem i have is the migraines and my blood sugar. The migraines are very painful but only last a few minutes luckily and since started taking the pill my blood sugar sky rockets or falls rather quickly.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 14th Apr 26
I really enjoy taking this brand. It still feels like I am me at the end of the day and I’m in control of my emotions and not hindered by excessive hormones.
Very positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
48 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 14th Apr 26
Omg the lower back pain and the leg pain was unreal. I thought something was very very wrong with me but when I stopped taking this is went away.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
49 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 1st Apr 26
I went on this pill for pre-menopause symptoms that were driving me crazy (hot flashes, really bad sleep disruptions). It worked really well, but there was one side effect that I couldn't handle. I couldn't wear my contacts anymore, and my eyes were always really dry and itchy. When I tried to wear my contacts, they would get a film on them after only and hour or two of wearing, which would make it seem like I was looking through a mist, and lights had halos around them, which made night driving totally unsafe. If it wasn't for that I'd still be taking them. I really liked how much lighter and shorter my period was while I was on it, because my normal period was really heavy and and crampy and lengthy.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
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