Cap or diaphragm vs Combined pill
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Overview
Rated 3.8
16 reviews
During or before sex
Frequency
84% - 94%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.8
2780 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Cap or diaphragm ingredients
Combined pill ingredients
Main hormones in Combined pill
progestogen
oestrogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with
There are no benefits that are recognised in scientific research or guidelines for this contraceptive
Acne or bad skin
Heavy periods
PMS and PMDD
PCOS symptoms
Period pain
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£From £0.16/day
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Cap or diaphragm reviews
16 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 13th Dec 25
I decided to invest in the Caya diaphragm since I was determined to find a non-hormonal method I could use that wouldn’t impact sex too much (I get irritation with condoms and the copper coil moved out of place pretty much immediately). I really wanted it to work but unfortunately it was way too uncomfortable during sex. It feels like there’s just way too much ‘stuff’ inside me. And I think it obstructs my natural wetness (I suspect that’s why some people mention a lot of discharge upon removal). My partner also said while he could definitely feel it, it wasn’t uncomfortable. I’d choose condoms over the diaphragm unfortunately. Hope this helps :)
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6th Apr 25
I’ve enjoyed using the cap around my fertile window but struggle to feel 100% confident I have inserted it correctly. When removing the cap I notice a lot of discharge but not after use, only when removing. Way better than the pill or condoms for me.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 13th May 24
Apart from the issue I'm currently dealing with (it getting stuck inside of me), I LOVE the diaphragm. I found out I wasn't never fitted (which is why it kept getting stuck upon removal), so my new, awesome doctor actually sized me. It's easier than popping in a tampon once you learn how to do it and then ya pop it out the morning after sex. No side effects, no hormones, no emotional hangover. It's very hard to find though. Pharmaceutical companies don't want women to buy one silicone object that lasts for the rest of your life, so finding the right size and actually getting it has been a challenge. My mom used it and only got pregnant to have me (her only child) and I've been using it for 5+ years with no issues.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 13th Dec 25
I decided to invest in the Caya diaphragm since I was determined to find a non-hormonal method I could use that wouldn’t impact sex too much (I get irritation with condoms and the copper coil moved out of place pretty much immediately). I really wanted it to work but unfortunately it was way too uncomfortable during sex. It feels like there’s just way too much ‘stuff’ inside me. And I think it obstructs my natural wetness (I suspect that’s why some people mention a lot of discharge upon removal). My partner also said while he could definitely feel it, it wasn’t uncomfortable. I’d choose condoms over the diaphragm unfortunately. Hope this helps :)
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6th Apr 25
I’ve enjoyed using the cap around my fertile window but struggle to feel 100% confident I have inserted it correctly. When removing the cap I notice a lot of discharge but not after use, only when removing. Way better than the pill or condoms for me.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 13th May 24
Apart from the issue I'm currently dealing with (it getting stuck inside of me), I LOVE the diaphragm. I found out I wasn't never fitted (which is why it kept getting stuck upon removal), so my new, awesome doctor actually sized me. It's easier than popping in a tampon once you learn how to do it and then ya pop it out the morning after sex. No side effects, no hormones, no emotional hangover. It's very hard to find though. Pharmaceutical companies don't want women to buy one silicone object that lasts for the rest of your life, so finding the right size and actually getting it has been a challenge. My mom used it and only got pregnant to have me (her only child) and I've been using it for 5+ years with no issues.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Combined pill reviews
2780 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
was put on this pill after getting lots of infections (thrush, utis, etc) on “Levest” because it is a lower dose 20/150. this has made me much more body conscious, think i gained weight within 2 weeks of being on this pill, i am extremely emotional and hormonal all the time and my sex drive is completely gone- why bother taking the pill as a form of birth control if i now don’t even feel like having sex!!! i do not reccomend
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Lost some weight, went up a cup size, felt the same as I did before going on BC. Struggled with recurring thrush and UTIs due to the strength of the pill and now no longer take.
Increased sex drive
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I enjoyed taking Eloine, I had a few side effects when starting but they eased apart from excessive sweating which is one of the reasons why I’ve stopped taking it. I would definitely recommend to someone looking for a combined pill that’s low oestrogen and anti-androgenic.
Very positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
was put on this pill after getting lots of infections (thrush, utis, etc) on “Levest” because it is a lower dose 20/150. this has made me much more body conscious, think i gained weight within 2 weeks of being on this pill, i am extremely emotional and hormonal all the time and my sex drive is completely gone- why bother taking the pill as a form of birth control if i now don’t even feel like having sex!!! i do not reccomend
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Lost some weight, went up a cup size, felt the same as I did before going on BC. Struggled with recurring thrush and UTIs due to the strength of the pill and now no longer take.
Increased sex drive
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I enjoyed taking Eloine, I had a few side effects when starting but they eased apart from excessive sweating which is one of the reasons why I’ve stopped taking it. I would definitely recommend to someone looking for a combined pill that’s low oestrogen and anti-androgenic.
Very positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
41 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I was put on this by a private menopause clinic to help my migraines WITHOUT aura which got really awful after 2 years off the pill. It initially made me feel in a great mood, although from the first night I had body aches all over, my joints cracked constantly and I got wicked acid reflux everytime I took it, I had to taken 4 antacids a night. Then I started getting migraine with aura almost everyday, was seeing visuals all the time, felt nauseous and my mood I would describe as hyper, my sleep went out the window. I had night sweats constantly, my skin went dry as a bone and was flaking off, and my hair loss was bad. The clinic told me to remain on it after I complained at 6 weeks. I went to my gp who told me to cease immediately, due to stroke risk with the aura, which I did. Following coming off I felt like a I had a flu, and my mood tanked. Was absolutely horrendous for 3 weeks, before my body and brain recovered. Eventually have gone back on POP which is not perfect, but is not the hell of Zoely!
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
been on femodette for nearly a decade to control my endometriosis and it’s been fantastic. i used to take it with breaks and had minimal cramps from the endo. i now take back to back and have only had one instance for breakthrough bleeding. it’s been so long that i can’t say for sure the impact on mood, weight etc.
Gained weight
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Improved pain endomyosis symptoms at the expense of mood. Still had issues with breakthrough bleeding but periods were better.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
overall this pill is pretty great. on the website there is a lot of negative reviews and i have not shared many. i began this pill in year 10 to clear my acne. i didn’t have terrible acne but i was pretty self conscious about it especially when most of my friends didn’t get acne like mine and i covered it up with concealer and foundation which isn’t good for my skin. my experience with my doctor was extremely positive, he told me that i could either continue a stronger acne cream (which didnt work for me and only dried my skin) begin the pill or take accutane. unlike many of my other friends who were forced to take the pill or some kind of contraceptive, i chose to take the pill and he even let me research which one i would take and we then discussed together which would be suitable for me. in the first couple of months, i stopped breaking out when i had periods and my acne began clearing up very quickly which boosted my confidence a lot. in month three, i began to have stomach cramps when i wasnt on my period so i told my doctor and he said i should try taking it at night and after food which seemed to help. i also began skipping my periods which obviously stopped cramping on and before periods. he also told me it could just be my body reacting the the changes so im not saying this is the solution for everyone. about halfway through year 11, i no longer had any visible pimple and it was mainly just my skin texture that needed improving, but i felt much more confident especially as i moved to a new school in year 11 and was surrounded by new people and a new environment. my skin was so good that by the end of year 11, we went on a school trip to heron island and i didn’t cover my acne at all. while my main issues were fixed, i experienced much more discharge, not in amount but every day i had discharge which made me feel a bit unhygienic down there but i didnt want to stop or switch the pill as it had improved my skin so much. now i have been on it for almost three years i find that this issue has been improved which is a plus for me but it was uncomfortable around the halfway mark where it peaked. i do reccomend this pill besides the low reviews, but i do think that the first couple of months i experienced changes (the cramping) that only reduced by letting my body get used to the medication. this is just my experience and not medical advice :)) thanks yazmin :b
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I was on this pill for my periods as they were very irregular and acne and in the beginning it worked very well but after a few months I had intense break through bleeding and I was basically on my period for months. My acne cleared then got worse, I gained alot of weight and I started having horrible migraines
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
Had it for almost a year now, I’ve been on the pill (around 5 different ones) since I was 13 due to heavy non stop bleeding. This one had the fewest noticeable side effects that didn’t make me want to change, apart from the sex drive. I don’t know if it’s because my hormones have been tampered with since I started puberty but I’m 18 now and this low libido, sex drive and vaginal dryness is not ideal. It’s a bit of a hindrance.
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
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