Combination birth control pill vs Cap or diaphragm
Combination pill ingredients
Main hormones in Combination pill
estrogen
Cap or diaphragm ingredients
What Lowdown reviewers say
27% no impact on mood
33% lighter periods
37% no impact
42% no impact
39% improved skin
35% in 1 month
67% no impact on mood
100% no change
67% no impact
100% no impact
100% no impact on skin
Not enough data to say
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Combination birth control pill reviews
147 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 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
• 1 week 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
34 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 2 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
• 1 week 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
Cap or diaphragm reviews
3 reviews
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 17th Apr 25
I’ve been using the FemCap for years now and honestly, I’m so impressed. It’s non-hormonal, super discreet, and once you get the hang of insertion, it’s incredibly easy to use. Highly recommend it to anyone looking for a hormone-free option.
Top side effects not reported
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
36 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 7th Jan 25
I had to come off hormonal contraception due to health reasons so needed a barrier method. It was quite awkward to insert and always had to keep checking it in case it dislodged itself, was sometimes painful or uncomfortable, my partner could feel it. I was also using an approved spermicide with it but still became pregnant within a month of use.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 21st Sep 23
My very favorite thing about the Caya is that there really are no side effects. I am not putting anything into my body that is changing the way my body functions- I put it in, leave it in a while, and then I remove it. No hormones, nothing! I’ve been advised that while the Caya can be 80+% effective when used correctly, it’s best to use it with spermicide and condoms. It is tricky to insert the first few times but super easy to remove and I quickly got the hang of a quick and easy insertion! I did find it really difficult to find a pharmacy that sold the Caya (I guess they aren’t as popular now)- but all in all, it’s been fantastic so far! I love that my body gets to function as it normally would but that the Caya helps prevent pregnancy
Top side effects not reported
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 17th Apr 25
I’ve been using the FemCap for years now and honestly, I’m so impressed. It’s non-hormonal, super discreet, and once you get the hang of insertion, it’s incredibly easy to use. Highly recommend it to anyone looking for a hormone-free option.
Top side effects not reported
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
36 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 7th Jan 25
I had to come off hormonal contraception due to health reasons so needed a barrier method. It was quite awkward to insert and always had to keep checking it in case it dislodged itself, was sometimes painful or uncomfortable, my partner could feel it. I was also using an approved spermicide with it but still became pregnant within a month of use.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 21st Sep 23
My very favorite thing about the Caya is that there really are no side effects. I am not putting anything into my body that is changing the way my body functions- I put it in, leave it in a while, and then I remove it. No hormones, nothing! I’ve been advised that while the Caya can be 80+% effective when used correctly, it’s best to use it with spermicide and condoms. It is tricky to insert the first few times but super easy to remove and I quickly got the hang of a quick and easy insertion! I did find it really difficult to find a pharmacy that sold the Caya (I guess they aren’t as popular now)- but all in all, it’s been fantastic so far! I love that my body gets to function as it normally would but that the Caya helps prevent pregnancy
Top side effects not reported
2 helpful
0 comments
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