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

2784 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 4.1

68 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

31% somewhat negative

47% lighter periods

46% lost sex drive

48% no impact

43% improved skin

Cycle return

36% don’t know impact

71% no impact on mood

85% no change

75% no impact

96% no impact

85% 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

2784 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Yasmin pill  

Very sore breast. Loss of sex drive. Breast enlargement. Weight gain.

Read more

Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Gedarel 20/150 pill  

this pill was very good the first time i was on it around 3 years ago and i didn't feel much change in myself apart from being able to control my PMDD symptoms which was a positive. i tried some other pills and then got settled back on this and have been for just over a year. i find that this time round my sex drive is very low & i have very little interest in sex or anything of the sort. i also dont feel 100% like myself, not necessarily depressed but just not like me. i feel almost numb and i am very insecure about myself and my body image. i do struggle with mental health issues outside of the pill but i feel like i have periovuously been on pills that dont make me feel this way & the low sex drive is having an all round impact on how i feel towards myself. i take this pill for 3 months and then have a break. i like that i can have control over my breaks and it has also made my periods 3-4 days instead of 6-8 days. i am currently looking to change my pill to soemthing different as i no longer think this is working for me. i do believe that trying pills is so important to find what works for you so please don't be afraid if you're wanting to try this pill.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Zoely pill  

The first weeks were fine, after that i got mood swings for 3 weeks. I either felt absolutely nothing, or was annoyed, angry or sad. When the moodswings stopped, i started getting headaches everyday. I'm now noticing hairloss too. I've almost been 3 months on this pill and have been terribly bloated everyday. I am getting off this pill.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Yasmin pill  

Very sore breast. Loss of sex drive. Breast enlargement. Weight gain.


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Gedarel 20/150 pill  

this pill was very good the first time i was on it around 3 years ago and i didn't feel much change in myself apart from being able to control my PMDD symptoms which was a positive. i tried some other pills and then got settled back on this and have been for just over a year. i find that this time round my sex drive is very low & i have very little interest in sex or anything of the sort. i also dont feel 100% like myself, not necessarily depressed but just not like me. i feel almost numb and i am very insecure about myself and my body image. i do struggle with mental health issues outside of the pill but i feel like i have periovuously been on pills that dont make me feel this way & the low sex drive is having an all round impact on how i feel towards myself. i take this pill for 3 months and then have a break. i like that i can have control over my breaks and it has also made my periods 3-4 days instead of 6-8 days. i am currently looking to change my pill to soemthing different as i no longer think this is working for me. i do believe that trying pills is so important to find what works for you so please don't be afraid if you're wanting to try this pill.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Zoely pill  

The first weeks were fine, after that i got mood swings for 3 weeks. I either felt absolutely nothing, or was annoyed, angry or sad. When the moodswings stopped, i started getting headaches everyday. I'm now noticing hairloss too. I've almost been 3 months on this pill and have been terribly bloated everyday. I am getting off this pill.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments


Male condom reviews

68 reviews

Male condom  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Male condom  

Breasts grow a lot. Lots of headaches. Little sex drive. Bleeding after intercourse. Very sore back. Weight gain


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  16th May 25

Hanx condom  

this is a test


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

1 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

2 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Male condom  

Breasts grow a lot. Lots of headaches. Little sex drive. Bleeding after intercourse. Very sore back. Weight gain


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  16th May 25

Hanx condom  

this is a test


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

1 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

2 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

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Combined pill with other contraceptives

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