Combined pill vs Male condom

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Combined pill

£From £0.16/day

Male condom

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Overview

Rated 2.8

2549 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 4.1

66 reviews

During or before sex

Frequency

82% - 98%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Combined pill ingredients

Main hormones in Combined pill

progestogen

oestrogen

Male condom ingredients

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

What Lowdown reviewers say

32% somewhat negative

48% lighter periods

46% lost sex drive

48% no impact

44% improved skin

Cycle return

36% don’t know impact

73% no impact on mood

88% no change

77% no impact

99% no impact

88% no impact on skin

Cycle return

50% in 1 month

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

Protects against STIs

Try it now

£From £0.16/day

Try it now

Add your male condom review

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Combined pill reviews

2549 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
44 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Zoely pill  

I was put on zoely to treat symptoms of perimenopause. It actually made my symptoms worse. I took it for 1 month and found I had more frequent night sweats and hot flashes, my mood felt unstable and erratic, insomnia was worse also. I constantly had spotting every day for the month and then no period. My exhaustion was even worse than it had been before starting it. I've stopped it now and feel better already after 6 days.

Read more

Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Rigevidon  

As a women with PCOS this pill has been great to help control acne & unwanted facial/body hair. However since taking the pill I have noticed far more vaginal discomfort e.g. thrush. Overall with this in mind I would still choose to take this pill and the positives for me outweigh the negatives


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Rigevidon  

I have felt great on rigevidon, I was prescribed it for irregular and extra periods. This has fixed this and can now control when I do and don’t bleed. I did experience a decidual cast (uterine lining passes in one piece) when I went two months without taking a break. But as long as I have kept having a break monthly and not run packs back to back (like I was told I could) it has been fine and solved my issue.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
44 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Zoely pill  

I was put on zoely to treat symptoms of perimenopause. It actually made my symptoms worse. I took it for 1 month and found I had more frequent night sweats and hot flashes, my mood felt unstable and erratic, insomnia was worse also. I constantly had spotting every day for the month and then no period. My exhaustion was even worse than it had been before starting it. I've stopped it now and feel better already after 6 days.


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Rigevidon  

As a women with PCOS this pill has been great to help control acne & unwanted facial/body hair. However since taking the pill I have noticed far more vaginal discomfort e.g. thrush. Overall with this in mind I would still choose to take this pill and the positives for me outweigh the negatives


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Rigevidon  

I have felt great on rigevidon, I was prescribed it for irregular and extra periods. This has fixed this and can now control when I do and don’t bleed. I did experience a decidual cast (uterine lining passes in one piece) when I went two months without taking a break. But as long as I have kept having a break monthly and not run packs back to back (like I was told I could) it has been fine and solved my issue.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments


Male condom reviews

66 reviews

Male condom  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4th Nov 24

Skyn condom  

me and my partner have always had problems with using condoms from durex, but now trying skyns condoms, i will never go back. They don’t have that weird smell and me nor my partner could even feel as if it was there! 100% recommend


Very positive mood

2 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  15th May 24

Skyn condom  

I was recommended dretine and I've not looked back.


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  12th Mar 24

Durex condom  

Potentially safe


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4th Nov 24

Skyn condom  

me and my partner have always had problems with using condoms from durex, but now trying skyns condoms, i will never go back. They don’t have that weird smell and me nor my partner could even feel as if it was there! 100% recommend


Very positive mood

2 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  15th May 24

Skyn condom  

I was recommended dretine and I've not looked back.


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  12th Mar 24

Durex condom  

Potentially safe


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  8th Mar 24

Pasante condom  

You would need a lot of lube as it is not naturally liberated.


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  23rd Feb 24

Pasante condom  

I have no problem apart from feeling friction more quicker then using without a condom.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  21st Feb 24

Mates condom  

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

Male condom  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  13th Feb 24

Durex condom  

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

Male condom  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  12th Feb 24

Durex condom  

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

Male condom  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  8th Feb 24

Durex condom  

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

Male condom  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  8th Feb 24

Durex condom  

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

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Combined pill with other contraceptives

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