Female condom vs Combined pill

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Female condom

Add your Female condom review

Combined pill

£From £0.16/day

Overview

Rated 3.5

4 reviews

During or before sex

Frequency

79% - 95%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

2690 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Female condom ingredients

Female condoms (sometimes referred to as a Femidom) are soft thin pouches that are made of a thin
strong plastic called polyurethane
a substance called nitrile
or latex.

Combined pill ingredients

Main hormones in Combined pill

progestogen

oestrogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

100% no impact on mood

100% no change

100% no impact

100% no impact

100% no impact on skin

Cycle return

100% don’t know impact

31% somewhat negative

47% lighter periods

46% lost sex drive

48% no impact

43% improved skin

Cycle return

36% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Protects against STIs

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

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Add your Female condom review

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£From £0.16/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Female condom reviews

4 reviews

Female condom  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  8th Feb 24

Female condom  

Same as the male condom, has no side effects and will protect from STIs and pregnancy! The only thing its a little fiddly to get on and if you don't react well to latex then not ideal!

Read more

Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Female condom  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  19th Jan 22

Female condom  

These condoms prevent me from getting UTIs, I can't have sex without them! I think it's because the part of the condom that sticks out covers my urethra and prevents bacteria from spreading. They're a little hard to use at first, and some brands are better than others, but I highly recommend them to everyone.


Top side effects not reported

3 helpful

0 comments

Female condom  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Apr 21

Female condom  

Tried it a couple times with different partners. Mixed reactions. I practiced inserting prior to anything, so it was easy, especially after a couple of tries. Sex felt no different for me and one of the partners. One didn't like the appearance and the other the feel. One thing I love is that it doesn't have that nasty latex smell! You can also use any lube. Overall, I think it is a great option for many people, but (like everything) you should try it a few times for yourself. Also great if you run into situations where the guy is resisting wearing a condom himself.


Top side effects not reported

2 helpful

0 comments

Female condom  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  8th Feb 24

Female condom  

Same as the male condom, has no side effects and will protect from STIs and pregnancy! The only thing its a little fiddly to get on and if you don't react well to latex then not ideal!


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Female condom  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  19th Jan 22

Female condom  

These condoms prevent me from getting UTIs, I can't have sex without them! I think it's because the part of the condom that sticks out covers my urethra and prevents bacteria from spreading. They're a little hard to use at first, and some brands are better than others, but I highly recommend them to everyone.


Top side effects not reported

3 helpful

0 comments

Female condom  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Apr 21

Female condom  

Tried it a couple times with different partners. Mixed reactions. I practiced inserting prior to anything, so it was easy, especially after a couple of tries. Sex felt no different for me and one of the partners. One didn't like the appearance and the other the feel. One thing I love is that it doesn't have that nasty latex smell! You can also use any lube. Overall, I think it is a great option for many people, but (like everything) you should try it a few times for yourself. Also great if you run into situations where the guy is resisting wearing a condom himself.


Top side effects not reported

2 helpful

0 comments


Combined pill reviews

2690 reviews

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

Levest pill  

This is the first pill I’ve been on and after being so scared to start it, I’ve generally had quite a good experience. The first few weeks were quite rough, really bad headache, moodiness and nausea but this went away with time. I used to find I’d have a bit of nausea when starting the pill after the 7 day break but I shorted this to 4 days and had helped immensely! My periods are so regular and really light with way less cramping, my periods only last about 3/4 days now when they used to be over a week. I haven’t had any weight gain or changes to my libido. Overall it’s been quite good to me, my only issue is I’ve definitely become a lot moodier - still nothing crazy but not quite like how I used to be. I also can’t tell if my anxiety has worsened or if that’s just coincidental. I’m thinking of trying a different pill to see if my mood improves but nervous incase I get other side effects that I haven’t on this! My only other complaint is hair loss, I didn’t even know this was linked until I read this page and saw one of the hormones might cause this. Didn’t have any issues at the start but in the last few months I’ve been noticing a lot more hair coming out in the shower and am now wondering if this is linked.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Millinette 20/75 pill  

I went on this pill because I have endometriosis and lasting impact from a pelvic infection. It has been good for the pain levels but it has made me feel erratic , over emotional and irritable. I have been bleeding half the month, from spotting to heavier bleeds with bloodclots - thinking this is because the estrogen is low? I have had vaginal dryness, loss of lebido and also thrush... which I have never experienced before. I wouldn't say this pill has agreed with me!


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Rigevidon  

I’ve tried a few pills in my time now, to be honest I think they’re all as bad as each other. I was put on this one after accidentally getting pregnant as I stopped using hormonal contraceptives due to the side effects. I found Rigevidon to be virtually useless at controlling my hormones- maybe I’m a very hormonal person or something but this did virtually nothing. I was as spotty as I was when I was a teen, my chin hair growth was horrific and my hair was SO greasy. I just don’t know why but this genuinely seemed to not even touch the sides. Also the back pain was bad.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Levest pill  

This is the first pill I’ve been on and after being so scared to start it, I’ve generally had quite a good experience. The first few weeks were quite rough, really bad headache, moodiness and nausea but this went away with time. I used to find I’d have a bit of nausea when starting the pill after the 7 day break but I shorted this to 4 days and had helped immensely! My periods are so regular and really light with way less cramping, my periods only last about 3/4 days now when they used to be over a week. I haven’t had any weight gain or changes to my libido. Overall it’s been quite good to me, my only issue is I’ve definitely become a lot moodier - still nothing crazy but not quite like how I used to be. I also can’t tell if my anxiety has worsened or if that’s just coincidental. I’m thinking of trying a different pill to see if my mood improves but nervous incase I get other side effects that I haven’t on this! My only other complaint is hair loss, I didn’t even know this was linked until I read this page and saw one of the hormones might cause this. Didn’t have any issues at the start but in the last few months I’ve been noticing a lot more hair coming out in the shower and am now wondering if this is linked.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Millinette 20/75 pill  

I went on this pill because I have endometriosis and lasting impact from a pelvic infection. It has been good for the pain levels but it has made me feel erratic , over emotional and irritable. I have been bleeding half the month, from spotting to heavier bleeds with bloodclots - thinking this is because the estrogen is low? I have had vaginal dryness, loss of lebido and also thrush... which I have never experienced before. I wouldn't say this pill has agreed with me!


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Rigevidon  

I’ve tried a few pills in my time now, to be honest I think they’re all as bad as each other. I was put on this one after accidentally getting pregnant as I stopped using hormonal contraceptives due to the side effects. I found Rigevidon to be virtually useless at controlling my hormones- maybe I’m a very hormonal person or something but this did virtually nothing. I was as spotty as I was when I was a teen, my chin hair growth was horrific and my hair was SO greasy. I just don’t know why but this genuinely seemed to not even touch the sides. Also the back pain was bad.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 days ago

Yasmin pill  

This is an update as I have now been taking Yasmin for over 10 months. I changed to this pill specifically because another pill gave me terrible acne that did not go away after stopping it and trying an old pill I had been on, nor when I came off hormonal birth control all together to test if that would fix things. I know a lot of people wonder how long it will take for Yasmin to totally clear up acne and for me it was between 5-6 months. I remember I had one terrible, cystic spot for a birthday gathering I was attending in July this year (hence this being seared in my mind lol) and after that my skin cleared up, practically nothing since. Truly the only downside has been the quite considerable hit it’s taken on my libido — my husband is not the most pleased about that aspect but saw how down I was with the bad skin so appreciates that this was the right decision, haha. Unfortunately I moved back to Scotland late summer and Yasmin is not provided here, so I will be changing to another pill. Now begins the test to see if my clear skin remains after I finish this final pack and go back on an old reliable pill I was on from years before that had no side-effects. 🤞🏻


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Qlaira pill  

I have been prescribed Qlaira for heavy periods and excessive bleeding. I might have endometriosis but they didn't prove it yet. Qlaira stopped my excessive bleeding the very next day after taking the first pill. I also didn't notice any major side effects beside a little soreness in my breasts. My skin is crystal clear. I suffer from PMDD very bad and have bad pains in my abdomen during ovulation. It fixed all of these issues in the first month and I'm happy. My vaginal lubrication improved as well. Mood swings improved significantly.


Very positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

Yasmin pill  

Love this pill, I've been on it for nearly 10 years now and have noticed few changes and side effects. If anything, my skin is more clear and my periods are light (3-4 days instead of my usual 6-7). I feel more emotional than baseline but it does not bother my day-to-day activities.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Combined pill  

Overall its fine, slowed down my metabolism and made me pretty dry but that's all


Gained weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Dretine pill  

This has by far been the best pill for me I love how confident and comfortable I feel


Very positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Microlite pill  

Thrush constantly. Horrible.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Yasmin pill  

My worst side effects have been the mood swings, I am crying a lot more for no reason than I ever did before, it definitely has made me more emotional. My period has gone from being 3 to 4 days to being 1.5 / 2. My breasts become really sore and hard before and after my period. I don’t feel as sexually active as before and I experience dryness more regularly than normal. My skin is completely clear with the pill. Everything bad is / has been fairly manageable, not ideal but haven’t had any pregnancy scares.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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