Combined pill vs Male condom
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Combined pill ingredients
Main hormones in Combined pill
progestogen
oestrogen
Male condom ingredients
What Lowdown reviewers say
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Combined pill reviews
2477 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
36 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
My GP started me on this pill to help with perimenopausal symptoms (mainly insomnia and brain fog but to a lesser extent mood swings). For these, this pill has been a game changer and after only a couple of months, I feel like myself again. The only negative is that I've noticed a quite marked weight change and have gained around 3kg, most of which I think is water weight as I have gone puffy all over my body despite being an active person who spends a lot of time in the gym and has an active job. So I'm hoping this settles down after a couple more months, if it doesn't I think I'll try switching to another pill.
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
Pros: PMDD completely gone Didn't bleed for 3 months as didn't have a break and no spotting at all Felt happier in general Stabilised my moods Increased cup size-- went from a C to a DD in 2 months Cons: Breast tenderness and pain was horrific for the first 8 weeks Increased weight significantly in 3 months Completely lost sex drive and found sex disgusting Heart palpitations Constipation Constant hunger Heart burn that lasted for around 2 weeks on second pack If I could have stayed on this pill forever, I would have. Yes, there were side effects but they were nothing compared to the horrific time I go through every month of my cycle anyway. The only reason I stopped is because I have a condition called POTS, and it turns out oestrogen makes it worse! I was running packs back to back and I was so happy being able to have a stable mood and feel less depressed. But in the end the heart palpitations that were exascerbated by my condition were enough to make it worse. I did have weight gain on this pill as well, and having stopped 3 days ago, I've dropped almost half the weight I put on already, so I was definitely retaining a lot. All in all, yes there are side effects, but I'm more sad about having to stop it than I was about them in the first place.
Very positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
43 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 week ago
I used to be on this for years before having my two children and so I went back on but I’ve decided to come back off and try the copper coil instead of hormonal contraception. I remember when I came off I felt like I’d come back to life, as though I’d sort of been numbed when I was on it. I’d been on various types of hormonal contraception for over 20 years so I don’t think I’d noticed it happening to me over time until I came off. But having now had a few years off contraception altogether going back on I can really feel it this time. I had been losing my baby weight but that stopped when I started the pill again, I suspect it’s bloating and water rather than actual body fat. My sex drive has plummeted to basically nothing and I just don’t feel like me.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
36 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
My GP started me on this pill to help with perimenopausal symptoms (mainly insomnia and brain fog but to a lesser extent mood swings). For these, this pill has been a game changer and after only a couple of months, I feel like myself again. The only negative is that I've noticed a quite marked weight change and have gained around 3kg, most of which I think is water weight as I have gone puffy all over my body despite being an active person who spends a lot of time in the gym and has an active job. So I'm hoping this settles down after a couple more months, if it doesn't I think I'll try switching to another pill.
Very positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
Pros: PMDD completely gone Didn't bleed for 3 months as didn't have a break and no spotting at all Felt happier in general Stabilised my moods Increased cup size-- went from a C to a DD in 2 months Cons: Breast tenderness and pain was horrific for the first 8 weeks Increased weight significantly in 3 months Completely lost sex drive and found sex disgusting Heart palpitations Constipation Constant hunger Heart burn that lasted for around 2 weeks on second pack If I could have stayed on this pill forever, I would have. Yes, there were side effects but they were nothing compared to the horrific time I go through every month of my cycle anyway. The only reason I stopped is because I have a condition called POTS, and it turns out oestrogen makes it worse! I was running packs back to back and I was so happy being able to have a stable mood and feel less depressed. But in the end the heart palpitations that were exascerbated by my condition were enough to make it worse. I did have weight gain on this pill as well, and having stopped 3 days ago, I've dropped almost half the weight I put on already, so I was definitely retaining a lot. All in all, yes there are side effects, but I'm more sad about having to stop it than I was about them in the first place.
Very positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
43 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 week ago
I used to be on this for years before having my two children and so I went back on but I’ve decided to come back off and try the copper coil instead of hormonal contraception. I remember when I came off I felt like I’d come back to life, as though I’d sort of been numbed when I was on it. I’d been on various types of hormonal contraception for over 20 years so I don’t think I’d noticed it happening to me over time until I came off. But having now had a few years off contraception altogether going back on I can really feel it this time. I had been losing my baby weight but that stopped when I started the pill again, I suspect it’s bloating and water rather than actual body fat. My sex drive has plummeted to basically nothing and I just don’t feel like me.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Male condom reviews
65 reviews
Used for 3 - 6 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 8th Mar 24
You would need a lot of lube as it is not naturally liberated.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 8th Mar 24
You would need a lot of lube as it is not naturally liberated.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
45 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 23rd Feb 24
I have no problem apart from feeling friction more quicker then using without a condom.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 21st Feb 24
I am happy using the male condom as it does not effect my hormones nor cause massive physical issues.
Somewhat positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 13th Feb 24
I like to use them because they don’t affect you / if you have had bad experiences with hormonal birth control in the past
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 12th Feb 24
My partner uses a male condom which comes with no symptoms as it is not harmonal. However, I struggle with intense ovulation symptoms that ranges from lower abdominal cramps to spotting in mucus. This started 3 years ago (age 25) and first occurred periodically but for the past year it has been almost every month. The mucosal spotting is not heavy and does not require pads. However, it use to last only 1-2 days but now it extends 3-4 days.
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 8th Feb 24
For me using condoms worked great and I had virtually no complaints during the years I used them.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
58 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 8th Feb 24
Simple but effective. It was the main form of contraception we learnt about at school and the one that was easily available, I switched between this and the coil until I had my babies. Some men may not want to wear one but then they are not people you should be sleeping with!
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 8th Feb 24
For me nothing compares. No side effects and it is the only form of protection that prevents pregnancy and STI's 10/10 recommended.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
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