Contraception Reviews

Birth control implant vs Natural family planning

Birth control implant

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Natural family planning

Want to switch birth control?

Overview

Rated 3.2

69 reviews

Every 3 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

28% no impact on mood

Bleeds

55% spotting

Sex drive

32% lost sex drive

Weight

46% gained weight

Skin

32% no impact on skin

Cycle return

46% in 1 month

Mood

28% no impact on mood

Bleeds

69% stopped periods

Sex drive

56% lost sex drive

Weight

48% gained weight

Skin

55% no impact on skin

Cycle return

38% 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

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Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Birth control implant reviews

69 reviews

Birth control implant  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 week ago

Nexplanon implant  

It did its job effectively but the side effects were awful and only got worse with time. I have excessive hair growth on my chin, lip, chest, and stomach which I have to shave daily/every other day. Never had this issue before. I also gained 30lbs over the 4 years I was on it. I will say, my cycle went back to normal very quickly after removal (removed a little under 3 weeks ago and im currently ovulating) so very good news given that we're trying to concieve. I would have just stuck with the pill though if I had known how bad it would be and that I'd have a lapse in health insurance during my time having it so getting it removed at an affordable rate was not an option.

Read more

Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Birth control implant  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Nexplanon implant  

I give it three starts because it was effective as far as me not getting pregnant but I couldn’t deal with the spotting and I bled almost every day, granted I didn’t keep it that long but it was miserable to bleed every day since insertion and it was the ultimate reason for it being removed.


Gained weight

1 helpful

0 comments

Birth control implant  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Nexplanon implant  

My birth control has helped me by making my periods really light but then im bleeding for 7 days straight. Its help with some physical changes, but also hurt some important ones like weight. Other than that, I love this so far. But I shall report back in a few months with an update -Sunstruck


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

2 helpful

0 comments

Birth control implant  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 week ago

Nexplanon implant  

It did its job effectively but the side effects were awful and only got worse with time. I have excessive hair growth on my chin, lip, chest, and stomach which I have to shave daily/every other day. Never had this issue before. I also gained 30lbs over the 4 years I was on it. I will say, my cycle went back to normal very quickly after removal (removed a little under 3 weeks ago and im currently ovulating) so very good news given that we're trying to concieve. I would have just stuck with the pill though if I had known how bad it would be and that I'd have a lapse in health insurance during my time having it so getting it removed at an affordable rate was not an option.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Birth control implant  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Nexplanon implant  

I give it three starts because it was effective as far as me not getting pregnant but I couldn’t deal with the spotting and I bled almost every day, granted I didn’t keep it that long but it was miserable to bleed every day since insertion and it was the ultimate reason for it being removed.


Gained weight

1 helpful

0 comments

Birth control implant  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Nexplanon implant  

My birth control has helped me by making my periods really light but then im bleeding for 7 days straight. Its help with some physical changes, but also hurt some important ones like weight. Other than that, I love this so far. But I shall report back in a few months with an update -Sunstruck


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

2 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

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