Combination birth control pill vs Male condom Comparison & Alternatives

Want to switch birth control?

Want to switch birth control?

Overview

Rated 3.3

125 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 4.0

5 reviews

During or before sex

Frequency

87% - 98%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Combination pill ingredients

Main hormones in Combination pill

estrogen

Male condom ingredients

Male condoms are thin latex or polyurethane sheaths that are worn on the penis during sex.

What Lowdown reviewers say

Mood

29% no impact on mood

Bleeds

30% lighter periods

Sex drive

38% lost sex drive

Weight

44% no impact

Skin

40% improved skin

Cycle return

38% in 1 month

Mood

40% no impact on mood

Bleeds

40% spotting

Sex drive

80% no impact

Weight

100% no impact

Skin

60% no impact on skin

Cycle return

Not enough data to say

Benefits: What this birth control can help with

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

Protects against STDs

Non-hormonal

Try it now

Want to switch birth control?

Try it now

Want to switch birth control?

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Combination birth control pill reviews

125 reviews

Combination birth control pill

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr

44 years old

🇺🇸 US

• today

Vienva birth control pill

Irregular periods and it's got worse.

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr

50 years old

🇺🇸 US

• 2 weeks ago

Junel 21 1.5/30 birth control pill

weight gain. nausea. migraine

Used for 12 - 18 mo

28 years old

🇺🇸 US

• 1 month ago

Junel Fe 1.5/30 birth control pill

Made my chin area have uncontrollable hormonal acne. Breakthrough bleeding from intimacy and pretty bad PMS symptoms for days before.

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr

44 years old

🇺🇸 US

• today

Vienva birth control pill

Irregular periods and it's got worse.

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr

50 years old

🇺🇸 US

• 2 weeks ago

Junel 21 1.5/30 birth control pill

weight gain. nausea. migraine

Used for 12 - 18 mo

28 years old

🇺🇸 US

• 1 month ago

Junel Fe 1.5/30 birth control pill

Made my chin area have uncontrollable hormonal acne. Breakthrough bleeding from intimacy and pretty bad PMS symptoms for days before.

Used for 1 - 3 mo

21 years old

🇺🇸 US

• 14th Jul 25

Male condom

I don’t know what it is, but I’ve had an insane allergic reaction due to these condoms :( very sad

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr

Lowdown user

🇺🇸 US

• 20th Apr 25

Male condom

Used for 1 - 3 mo

26 years old

🇺🇸 US

• 1st Jan 25

Male condom

No changes

Used for 1 - 3 mo

21 years old

🇺🇸 US

• 14th Jul 25

Male condom

I don’t know what it is, but I’ve had an insane allergic reaction due to these condoms :( very sad

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr

Lowdown user

🇺🇸 US

• 20th Apr 25

Male condom

Used for 1 - 3 mo

26 years old

🇺🇸 US

• 1st Jan 25

Male condom

No changes

Used for 8+ yr

27 years old

🇺🇸 US

• 29th Dec 24

Male condom

Overall it's been great, but remembering a pill at a specific time is challenging for me

Used for 8+ yr

Lowdown user

🇺🇸 US

• 4th Sep 24

Male condom

Condoms did not change any part of my period for me, no side effects of using this form of contraceptive and it has been effective in avoiding pregnancy as well as STDs.

Birth control alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Combination birth control pill with other birth control

Compare the Male condom with other birth control

Combination birth control pill vs Male condom

Overview

Combination pill ingredients

Male condom ingredients

What Lowdown reviewers say

Benefits: What this birth control can help with

Check out our latest reviews

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr

44 years old

🇺🇸 US

• today

Read more

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr

50 years old

🇺🇸 US

• 2 weeks ago

Read more

Used for 12 - 18 mo

28 years old

🇺🇸 US

• 1 month ago

Read more

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr

44 years old

🇺🇸 US

• today

Read more

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr

50 years old

🇺🇸 US

• 2 weeks ago

Read more

Used for 12 - 18 mo

28 years old

🇺🇸 US

• 1 month ago

Read more

Used for 1 - 3 mo

21 years old

🇺🇸 US

• 14th Jul 25

Read more

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr

Lowdown user

🇺🇸 US

• 20th Apr 25

Read more

Used for 1 - 3 mo

26 years old

🇺🇸 US

• 1st Jan 25

Read more

Used for 1 - 3 mo

21 years old

🇺🇸 US

• 14th Jul 25

Read more

Used for 18 mo - 3 yr

Lowdown user

🇺🇸 US

• 20th Apr 25

Read more

Used for 1 - 3 mo

26 years old

🇺🇸 US

• 1st Jan 25

Read more

Used for 8+ yr

27 years old

🇺🇸 US

• 29th Dec 24

Read more

Used for 8+ yr

Lowdown user

🇺🇸 US

• 4th Sep 24

Read more

Birth control alternatives and comparisons