Contraception Reviews

Male condom vs Mini pill

Male condom

Want to switch birth control?

Mini pill

Want to switch birth control?

Overview

Rated 4.3

3 reviews

During or before sex

Frequency

87% - 98%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.5

22 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 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.

Mini pill ingredients

Main hormones in Mini pill

progestin

What Lowdown reviewers say

Mood

67% no impact on mood

Bleeds

67% no change

Sex drive

67% no impact

Weight

100% no impact

Skin

67% no impact on skin

Cycle return

Not enough data to say

Mood

23% very positive

Bleeds

36% stopped periods

Sex drive

41% no impact

Weight

55% no impact

Skin

46% no impact on skin

Cycle return

50% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this birth control can help with

Protects against STDs

Non-hormonal

Period pain

Heavy menstrual bleeding

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Want to switch birth control?

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Male condom reviews

3 reviews

Male condom  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Male condom  

No changes

Read more

Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 8+ yr
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Male condom  

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


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
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.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

Male condom  

No changes


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 8+ yr
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Male condom  

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


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
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.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments


Mini pill reviews

22 reviews

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Slynd birth control pill  

N/A


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
33 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Slynd birth control pill  

My experience thus far has been great with minor concerns for acne.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  19th Nov 24

Norethindrone 0.35 birth control pill  

started taking it about a week and a half ago. i missed a day on sunday, so i took two on monday. today is tuesday and im having terrible cramps. other than that, emotionally its better than the combination pill.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Slynd birth control pill  

N/A


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
33 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Slynd birth control pill  

My experience thus far has been great with minor concerns for acne.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  19th Nov 24

Norethindrone 0.35 birth control pill  

started taking it about a week and a half ago. i missed a day on sunday, so i took two on monday. today is tuesday and im having terrible cramps. other than that, emotionally its better than the combination pill.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  2nd Nov 24

Norethindrone 0.35 birth control pill  

This pill improved my sex drive which had been very reduced by the combination pill. It allowed me to put on more muscle too! The weight gain was mostly muscle, which I was so happy about. It was just hard to take the same exact time everyday.


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  31st Oct 24

Slynd birth control pill  

Much better than other mini pills


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  26th Sep 24

Slynd birth control pill  

10/10 highly recommend. Stopped my periods which increased my quality of life!


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  30th Aug 24

Mini pill  

I just feel as if Norinthdrone isn’t agreeing with me but this is my second time being prescribed this particular birthcontrol for my Endo since it’s progestin only and I’m trying to make it work to be healthy and no get pregnant but it’s really taking a toll on me and my new marriage…I don’t know if I should stay and deal with the side effects and Endo or get off of it and deal with Endo pain and maybe a pregnancy.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  3rd Aug 24

Mini pill  

I’m on Desorex and I’ve had no changes to my body at all or no life threatening things (e.g. blood clots). I feel the same and i’d definitely recommend if you’ve spoken to your GP or sexual health clinic about family history!


Very positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  18th Jul 24

Slynd birth control pill  

I was on this pill for about 4-5 months. I’m just going to try to sum this up the best way I can; No change with boobs, no change with weight, acne cleared up, no change with hair growth or loss. Dizziness, several headaches a week. Fatigue, low mood and feeling numb. First 3 months was constant spotting and bleeding with about a week to week and half of nothing in between. Then I stopped taking placebos and zero bleeding or spotting for two months. Also around this time I experienced a huge drop in libido, barely able to get turned on and unable to get wet. The few times I tried to have sex I kept getting a perineal tear in the same spot and this was with a significant amount of lube. Finally found a doctor who told me this was because of my birth control. It impacted my hormones and changed my hormones down there to the point I was unable to have sex. My lips also looked like a prune and were wrinkly. I’ve been off the pill for over a week and my lips are pink, full and plush, and I was able to get wet when kissing my husband which had not happened in months. I feel like I’m coming alive again. Personally done with hormones, we are doing nfp and condoms. I don’t want to scare anyone but this was my experience if you happen to go through the same it may be this pill causing the tearing issue and other sexual function issues (which is listed as a side affect)


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  25th Jun 24

Norethindrone 0.35 birth control pill  

I like it, helps me a lot with my cramps


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Birth control alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Male condom with other birth control

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