The Lowdown, a Vira Health company

Male condom vs Birth control implant

Male condom

Want to switch birth control?

Birth control implant

Want to switch birth control?

Overview

Rated 4.1

7 reviews

During or before sex

Frequency

87% - 98%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.2

85 reviews

Every 5 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Male condom ingredients

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

Birth control implant ingredients

Main hormones in Birth control implant

What Lowdown reviewers say

Mood

29% no impact on mood

Bleeds

29% irregular periods

Sex drive

71% no impact

Weight

86% no impact

Skin

71% no impact on skin

Cycle return

Not enough data to 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

Benefits: What this birth control can help with

Protects against STDs

Non-hormonal

Period pain

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

Male condom reviews

7 reviews

Male condom  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
25 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 days ago

Male condom  

None

Read more

Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
25 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  9th Sep 26

Male condom  

I have been on the pill for over a year; I don’t really have periods, but other than that I don’t have side effects.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
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


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
25 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 days ago

Male condom  

None


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
25 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  9th Sep 26

Male condom  

I have been on the pill for over a year; I don’t really have periods, but other than that I don’t have side effects.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
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


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments


Birth control implant reviews

85 reviews

Birth control implant  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 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

Birth control implant  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 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

Birth control implant  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  15th Jul 26

Nexplanon implant  

I always had heavy and irregular periods before starting Nexplanon (except for when I was on the pill). In my first three years, I had moderate flow irregular bleeding and took the pill to help regulate (did not work). I then got Nexplanon reinserted after 3 years, at which point I lost my period altogether for almost 2 years, and now only have light (but irregular) spotting. I believe my mood is more consistent without a regular cycle. It is possible that my sex drive went down, but I was not sexually active before starting, so it might not have decreased. I did not gain weight like I did on the pill, and I do not feel as puffy from water retention. I found the insertion to be very easy. Removal was more uncomfortable because of how they pry it out, but it was not bad. I like the piece of mind of having it always in and being able to touch it to check.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control implant  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  30th Jun 26

Nexplanon implant  

Overall very satisfied with it as a way of avoiding periods. In the beginning there was a lot of spotting, and then period right after, then spotting again, but once that was over it's all good. I have not had a period in 3 months, but when I do get one, they last for at least a week (my normal period is 4 days). But as a contraceptive it is kind of useless, as I have 0% sex drive. None existent. To the point where sex is a chore, which is not healthy for any relationship. Acne is also quite alot worse, despite using retinol and salsylic acid, I get a lot of blackheads and big yellow pimples. Probably going to get it removed soon, because of the two negatives.


Worse skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control implant  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3rd May 26

Nexplanon implant  

H


Very positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control implant  
Used for 8+ yr
28 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  23rd Feb 26

Nexplanon implant  

Well I would like to speak to somebody what does it mean when I been on birth control when It ended my five years but keep forgetting about it I'm about 4 or 5 years over an still haven't taken it out please can y'all contact me an let me know if that really bad actually it might even be more than 5 years over mabe like 6 or 7 or 8 years over what isn't good or side affects or is it messing up my insides I need to know theses things please?


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control implant  
Used for 8+ yr
47 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  15th Feb 26

Nexplanon implant  

I have had the implant inserted 3 times. First 2 times barely had a period here and there. Always had one for a little longer right after it was placed. But the last time over a year ago it was fine until the last 4 months. I have had a period about every 2 weeks. Starts stops, starts stops. Not sure why but super annoying. Better than the pill and having a pregnancy. My kids are grown. My period has always been 28 days like clockwork. Wish I could not have the sporadic spotting but what do we do??🤪.


Gained weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control implant  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
41 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  27th Jan 26

Nexplanon implant  

Gain a ton on weight and lost all sex drive.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control implant  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
18 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  23rd Jan 26

Nexplanon implant  

I’ve been on this for 2.5 years, my periods average 17-28 days, heavy flow, and cramps that leave me throwing up and laying on the ground. My vaginal dryness was horrible, I feel so bad for my partner because we have to stop for more lube.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

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