Morning after pill vs Combined pill

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Morning after pill

£From £0.10/day

Combined pill

£From £0.16/day

Overview

Rated 3.4

31 reviews

Once after sex

Frequency

97 - 98%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

2611 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Morning after pill ingredients

Main hormones in Morning after pill

progestogen


Combined pill ingredients

Main hormones in Combined pill

progestogen

oestrogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

39% somewhat negative

29% no change

65% no impact

71% no impact

63% no impact on skin

Cycle return

67% in 1 month

31% somewhat negative

47% lighter periods

46% lost sex drive

48% no impact

44% improved skin

Cycle return

36% 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

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

Try it now

£From £0.10/day

Try it now

£From £0.16/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Morning after pill reviews

31 reviews

Morning after pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  9th May 25

Levonorgestrel pill  

I had some cramps here and there, nausea started around 4-5 hours after but no vomiting but I was quite dizzy and fatigued. I got my period 5 days earlier than predicted and I had a heavy flow for 4 days instead of my usual 2 but other than that worked alright.

Read more

Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Morning after pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  19th Apr 25

Levonelle One Step pill  

Complete loss of sex drive for over a week. Accompanied by low mood.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Morning after pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Feb 25

Levonorgestrel pill  

I am going through the most excruciating lower back pain ever, can’t get up


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Morning after pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  9th May 25

Levonorgestrel pill  

I had some cramps here and there, nausea started around 4-5 hours after but no vomiting but I was quite dizzy and fatigued. I got my period 5 days earlier than predicted and I had a heavy flow for 4 days instead of my usual 2 but other than that worked alright.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Morning after pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  19th Apr 25

Levonelle One Step pill  

Complete loss of sex drive for over a week. Accompanied by low mood.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Morning after pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Feb 25

Levonorgestrel pill  

I am going through the most excruciating lower back pain ever, can’t get up


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments


Combined pill reviews

2611 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Rigevidon  

Intended purpose is great- it’s stopped my debilitating periods and I can now carry on with my day when I first start my period, however I have experienced acid reflux and a lot of nausea specifically in the morning even after 8 months on this pill.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Eloine pill  

I had several fortnight long periods on this pill. My regular periods are horrific so I was initially willing to take any side effects the pill had, and even though my regular level of pain/vomiting/fainting went away, I barely had rests from bleeding, my mood swings and hormonal breakdowns were uncontrollable, I gained a lot of weight, and I still had nausea and cramping. After over 18 months the side effects still had not dialled down so I had to quit.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Microgynon 30 pill  

Nice to stop menstruation but in no way worth it for the awful psychological impacts. Mental breakdowns were indeed had.


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Rigevidon  

Intended purpose is great- it’s stopped my debilitating periods and I can now carry on with my day when I first start my period, however I have experienced acid reflux and a lot of nausea specifically in the morning even after 8 months on this pill.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Eloine pill  

I had several fortnight long periods on this pill. My regular periods are horrific so I was initially willing to take any side effects the pill had, and even though my regular level of pain/vomiting/fainting went away, I barely had rests from bleeding, my mood swings and hormonal breakdowns were uncontrollable, I gained a lot of weight, and I still had nausea and cramping. After over 18 months the side effects still had not dialled down so I had to quit.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Microgynon 30 pill  

Nice to stop menstruation but in no way worth it for the awful psychological impacts. Mental breakdowns were indeed had.


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

Dretine pill  

My boobs have got so much bigger but my skin it completely cleared my awful awful acne and I have the clearest skin now.


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Microlite pill  

Little to no very noticeable side effects, my anxiety definitely heightened but that was a personal predisposition. Overall very happy experience but swapping due to some low moods


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Yacella pill  

Been on this pill for years and it has treated me well. I have lighter periods and they are a lot less painful. I have suffered very badly with acne over the years and although my skin is not perfect, it has been the most stable on this pill. I don’t find any other side effects to my mood or body that I notice.


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Yasmin pill  

As soon as I started taking it, my first period whist on this pill came after a week and it was the most horrible period I’ve had in my entire life (it was a longer period then I ever had before (with really heavy cramps constantly) that was the first step in the negative journey. After that, I continued taking it and my acne got worse especially on my back. I had thought it would improve but was much worse event at month two. After two months of taking this pill, I’ve also gained weight which I noticed straight away but had put down to temporary water retention but seems to not budge and have had extreme weight fluctuations like never before and been feeling very off and not myself ever since taking it/depressed, also have lost all sex drive. I am at the point where it’s either stick it out for another month to see if symptoms ease up or stop and cut my losses. I’ve decided to stop.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Gedarel 20/150 pill  

This was prescribed to me to help regulate my periods; however did the complete opposite and have made them worse. I have no clue when my periods are going to begin or end now, as well as if the bleeding will be light spotting or extremely heavy. I have become incredibly sensitive to many things that would never have bothered me pre-pill, as well have been bed bound due to negative mood changes that I have no explanation for. I have been sad before, however, these feelings I could not explain or combat so I have decided to switch pill.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Ovranette pill  

My period was ok on it. My acne was very bad cystic nothing would get rid of it. Changed to Yasmin and I haven’t had cystic acne my skin is clearing. Hair thinned on top of my head too. This pill can cause high androgens which can cause bad hormonal acne and hair loss


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Rigevidon  

This sent me nearly insane with my moods. I had no other side effects other than it made me nearly suicidal. I know you could say maybe it wasn’t the pill but I was fine before taking it, happy in myself, then after I had a mental breakdown I stopped taking it and suddenly felt like myself again. I’ve heard a lot of people say it’s been awful for their mood and I’m surprised they haven’t banned it yet


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Morning after pill with other contraceptives

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