The Lowdown, a Vira Health company

Birth control implant vs Natural family planning

Birth control implant

Want to switch birth control?

Natural family planning

Want to switch birth control?

Overview

Rated 3.2

85 reviews

Every 5 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.9

5 reviews

Daily

Frequency

77% - 98%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Birth control implant ingredients

Main hormones in Birth control implant

Natural family planning ingredients

Fertility awareness methods is an umbrella term for a method of birth control that works by being able to identify when in the menstrual cycle you are fertile through a range of factors.

What Lowdown reviewers say

Mood

27% no impact on mood

Bleeds

52% spotting

Sex drive

37% lost sex drive

Weight

46% gained weight

Skin

31% worse skin

Cycle return

46% in 1 month

Mood

28% no impact on mood

Bleeds

69% stopped periods

Sex drive

56% lost sex drive

Weight

47% gained weight

Skin

54% no impact on skin

Cycle return

39% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this birth control can help with

Period pain

There are no benefits that are recognised in scientific research or guidelines for this birth control

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

Birth control implant reviews

85 reviews

Birth control implant  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  4 days ago

Nexplanon implant  

I love it, as far as preventing me from conceiving its doing its job, but I think it depleted my sex drive a lot... Like A LOT. Anybody else having any similar issues? It's so bad my fiance has taken notice. Any advice on what to do? Im super scared of getting pregnant again and don't want to take it out... (He would prefer it out)

Read more

Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  4 days ago

Nexplanon implant  

I was very irritable, aloof, and generally unhappy on this birth control. It also worsened my menstrual cramps.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control implant  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Nexplanon implant  

5 starts for preventing pregnancy but the vaginal dryness and libido loss was my breaking point .


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control implant  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  4 days ago

Nexplanon implant  

I love it, as far as preventing me from conceiving its doing its job, but I think it depleted my sex drive a lot... Like A LOT. Anybody else having any similar issues? It's so bad my fiance has taken notice. Any advice on what to do? Im super scared of getting pregnant again and don't want to take it out... (He would prefer it out)


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  4 days ago

Nexplanon implant  

I was very irritable, aloof, and generally unhappy on this birth control. It also worsened my menstrual cramps.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control implant  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Nexplanon implant  

5 starts for preventing pregnancy but the vaginal dryness and libido loss was my breaking point .


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments


Natural family planning reviews

5 reviews

Natural family planning  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  28th Mar 25

Breastfeeding (Lactational Amenorrhoea Method or LAM)  

So Great


Very positive mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Natural family planning  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  28th Dec 23

Natural Cycles App  

Overall, I felt that this was a safer option. I only switched to the mini pill in an effort to get a handle on my PCOS pelvic pain.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Natural family planning  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  25th Jul 23

Natural Cycles App  

I was previously on the contraceptive pill, and as soon as i came off it i was immediately more in tune with my body, could feel the sex drive boost around ovulation etc and lost the weight the pill had put on me.


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Natural family planning  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  28th Mar 25

Breastfeeding (Lactational Amenorrhoea Method or LAM)  

So Great


Very positive mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Natural family planning  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  28th Dec 23

Natural Cycles App  

Overall, I felt that this was a safer option. I only switched to the mini pill in an effort to get a handle on my PCOS pelvic pain.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Natural family planning  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  25th Jul 23

Natural Cycles App  

I was previously on the contraceptive pill, and as soon as i came off it i was immediately more in tune with my body, could feel the sex drive boost around ovulation etc and lost the weight the pill had put on me.


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Natural family planning  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  21st Jul 23

Natural Cycles App  

I feel like I've gotten to know my body! I really like the partner view so my husband knows when I'm fertile and won't try to initiate sex. After a terrible experience with hormonal birth control, this makes me feel in control and it has taught me so much!


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Natural family planning  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  19th Jul 23

Symptothermal method  

Never been this in tune with my body before! It is wonderful to see how my hormonal cycle affects different areas in my life and be able to live in alignment with this! It's great to know I'm not having to put up with any side effects on birth control and that my partner and I can share the responsibility. I also love knowing when to expect my period. Highly recommend!


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Birth control implant with other birth control

Don’t keep it on the DL.Put it on the LD.

Slide into our DMs

hello@thelowdown.com

Sitemap

©The Lowdown 2026