Adverse effect	More likely	Less likely
Acne	Progestin-only methods^2,3	Combined oral contraceptives, Nuvaring (ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel vaginal ring)⁴
Amenorrhea	Mirena (levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system),^5,6 Implanon (single-rod etonogestrel implantable device),^2,7 Depo-Provera (long-acting injectable depot medroxyprogesterone acetate),⁸ continuous-cycle combined oral contraceptives,^5,9 Nuvaring (continuous use)	Combined oral contraceptives, progestin-only pills⁹
Breakthrough bleeding	Low-dose combined oral contraceptives,^9,10 extended-cycle regimens^9,11 (especially those containing levonorgestrel¹²), progestin-only pills,^9,10 Implanon^2,7	Higher-dose combined oral contraceptives,⁹ Mirena,⁶ extended-cycle regimens with norethindrone,¹² Ortho Evra (norelgestromin/ethinyl estradiol contraceptive patch),⁴ Nuvaring⁴
Breast tenderness	Ortho Evra⁴	Combined oral contraceptives with 20 mcg of ethinyl estradiol or less,⁵ combined oral contraceptives after ¹⁸ months of use,⁸ Nuvaring⁴
Decreased libido	Very low-dose combined oral contraceptives (15 mcg of estrogen per day)¹³	—
Depressed mood	Depo-Provera (possibly)¹⁴; hormonal contraceptives generally have no effect^9,12,15	Nuvaring (possibly)⁴; hormonal contraceptives generally have no effect^9,12,15
Headache (general)	All hormonal methods, especially in women older than 35 years^9,16	—
Headache (menses-associated)	—	Extended-cycle combined oral contraceptives^17,18
Heavy menses	Depo-Provera,⁸ Implanon^2,7	Combined hormonal contraceptives (oral, Ortho Evra, Nuvaring); low-dose combined oral contraceptives⁹; Mirena^5,6
Hirsutism	Progestin-only methods^3,8	Combined oral contraceptives
Increased vaginal discharge	Nuvaring⁴	All other methods
Irregular menses	Implanon,^2,5,7 Depo-Provera,^1,8 emergency contraceptive regimens	Ortho Evra
Nausea	Emergency contraceptive regimens with combined oral contraceptives,¹⁹ Ortho Evra⁴	Nuvaring⁴; no differences among combined oral contraceptives⁹
Oily skin	Progestin-only methods³	Combined oral contraceptives
Weight gain	Depo-Provera^8,20	Combined hormonal contraceptives (oral, Ortho Evra, Nuvaring); Mirena; progestin-only pills^{9,11,13,21,22}