Patch vs Combined pill

Need help choosing? Speak to a doctor
Patch

£From £0.32/day

Combined pill

£From £0.16/day

Overview

Rated 3.5

114 reviews

Weekly

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

2610 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Patch ingredients

Main hormones in Patch

progestogen

oestrogen


Combined pill ingredients

Main hormones in Combined pill

progestogen

oestrogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

36% no impact on mood

35% lighter periods

49% no impact

50% no impact

44% no impact on skin

Cycle return

37% don’t know impact

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

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

Try it now

£From £0.32/day

Try it now

£From £0.16/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Patch reviews

114 reviews

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

Evra patch  

I found this much more convenient than a pill as it only has to be thought about each week. The patch cover seemed to often slip leaving the adhesive to get dirty through the week however, and I was told to stop using them after a short time as they brought back migranes that I had not experienced in years.

Read more

Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Evra patch  

I really liked the patch with my moods, periods, only having to remember once a week to change it, etc, but it gave me a rash. I went to my doctor and was hoping they’d be able to say the rash isn’t a big deal or offer me a patch for more sensitive skin but there isn’t any other patch so sadly I had to come off it and go on the pill


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Evra patch  

I think the patch works fine for me, it doesn’t fall off and has never peeled away. I’ve had a couple of headaches since starting a month ago but don’t know if they’re related, I don’t usually get any headaches so it’s likely. Pretty sure it’s decreased my sex drive.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Evra patch  

I found this much more convenient than a pill as it only has to be thought about each week. The patch cover seemed to often slip leaving the adhesive to get dirty through the week however, and I was told to stop using them after a short time as they brought back migranes that I had not experienced in years.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Evra patch  

I really liked the patch with my moods, periods, only having to remember once a week to change it, etc, but it gave me a rash. I went to my doctor and was hoping they’d be able to say the rash isn’t a big deal or offer me a patch for more sensitive skin but there isn’t any other patch so sadly I had to come off it and go on the pill


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Evra patch  

I think the patch works fine for me, it doesn’t fall off and has never peeled away. I’ve had a couple of headaches since starting a month ago but don’t know if they’re related, I don’t usually get any headaches so it’s likely. Pretty sure it’s decreased my sex drive.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments


Combined pill reviews

2610 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 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
  •  3 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
  •  5 days 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 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 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
  •  3 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
  •  5 days 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
  •  1 week 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
  •  2 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

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

Combined pill  

I’ve never had Thrush before and went on this pill 2 months ago and got it within the first 20 days of using it. I’ve also felt nauseas everyday since maybe the first week into it. Will symptoms subside? I really hope so. I havent bled but I was on the depo injection for the last year so its normal for it to take a while to bleed again.


Gained weight

0 helpful

1 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Patch with other contraceptives

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