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

2737 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

37% 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

2737 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Zoely pill  

Zero libido and very painful to have sex when I tried. Stopped periods which was great for endometriosis but slowed my digestion so much the bloating and endo belly was uncomfortable all the time, caused pain in hips, lower abdomen and lower back. Had constant reflux unless I slept upright which wasn’t ideal.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
45 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Femodene ED pill  

It was very convenient and I was on it for 28 years. Im not sure if it mighf have been a causal factor in my low sex libido and recurring depressive episodes.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Rigevidon  

The pill made me most suicidal. Anxiety and depression were through the roof.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Zoely pill  

Zero libido and very painful to have sex when I tried. Stopped periods which was great for endometriosis but slowed my digestion so much the bloating and endo belly was uncomfortable all the time, caused pain in hips, lower abdomen and lower back. Had constant reflux unless I slept upright which wasn’t ideal.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
45 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Femodene ED pill  

It was very convenient and I was on it for 28 years. Im not sure if it mighf have been a causal factor in my low sex libido and recurring depressive episodes.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Rigevidon  

The pill made me most suicidal. Anxiety and depression were through the roof.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Drovelis pill  

I started the combined pill Drovelis late in my cycle. On day nine of taking the pink pill I got a breakthrough bleed. It's been 10 days and it only increased the last maybe 4 days. I am currently taking iron though and since I'm using it mostly to manage menhorragia im hoping the breakthrough bleeding will taper soon. In contrast my periods were terrible. Dragged over 12 days. Haemorragic. I never went to hospital for them in years but probably barely saved myself on time. I also had them every 26 days which was less than ideal so timed apart. Its worrying but I'm told to continue and see how it goes into the next pack or I'll have to consult with my GP and consider changing brand if my situation doesn't improve. My moods are terrible. I get crying spells and am a lot quieter than I used to be. I'm usually outgoing and very opinionated. Might review again next month. But since it's my first experience I thought id give it a shot


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 8+ yr
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Microgynon 30 ED pill  

The pill did what it was supposed to which is to stop pregnancy and knowing when my periods would be. I feel like my experience might be a little different to others as I started these pills when I was about 17 and only got off them when I was about 30. So I only know this type of contraception and also not really aware of my natural cycle/hormones until I got off them. I feel like being on them made me emotionless? When I got off them, I started crying a lot more at little things and realise I had a lot more emotional range. I experienced really bad hair loss when I got off them- clumps of hair was coming out when washing my hair. I am lucky I am asian so have thicker hair anyways so the hair loss made me have thinner hair but it’s not like I have none left. Right now I am doing more to get my hair to grow back and it is slowly growing as I have a lot of baby hairs which is a good sign. I also experienced adult acne when I got off the pill. I’ve had clear skin for as long as I can remember and when I got off the pill, I was experiencing really bad acne and still experience that now. Being clear of this pill for a few years now I am happier I feel like in general and my periods are regular as I track it using an app, periods aren’t as heavy as it used to be when I was on the pill and not as painful. Also can confirm fertility is back to normal as well. I am writing about my experience as I was on it a long time and I’m not sure whether as I’m getting older other factors would come into play in terms of my own experience


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Drovelis pill  

The thing that surprised me the most was how my internal clock changed (backwards with 4 to 5 hours), while usually I'm not even sleepy until 1am, now I'm easily falling asleep at 8-9pm and waking up at 6-7am when before I was still cranky at 11am. My PMDD is also almost gone, and my endometriosis pain is the easiest it's ever been, but the breast tenderness/pain extended from the luteal phase to all throughout the month. Another surprising thing was the improved natural lubrication (vaginal discharge), while before it was almost inexistent even when turned on, now it's much more consistent.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Rigevidon  

Started on this pill when I was 18, all was well at the start, my skin cleared up and my periods were much lighter/less painful. I then started to not feel like myself and be quite emotionally dull, I started getting headaches on the week off and being more fatigued than normal. Good for those who are looking to lighten periods or reduce PMS


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Yasmin pill  

I have found my experience with Yasmin ok. I like that my mood is much better than on other pills and I feel more like myself, but I have completely lost my sex drive and experienced other negative symptoms unfortunately


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Dretine pill  

This is the worst thing I’ve ever done and I’m not exaggerating. Constantly up and down with my emotions, although mostly down and uncontrollable crying a lot of the time. Had a huge panic attack 2 weeks in, had to call 111 as I thought I was having a heart attack. Made me binge endlessly and uncontrollably. Made my muscles ache and made me more susceptible to injuries, and as a regular gymgoer, it significantly affected my training and fitness and I couldn’t understand why, but the longer I was on it, the worse I felt. Decided to come off after 2 months. Would HIGHLY recommend avoiding this pill. It really? really did not agree with me.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Rigevidon  

It was ok the first couple months but I've started noticing more side effects the longer I've taken it. I get much more muscle aches, especially in my back. My gums bleed randomly during the first week of each cycle and are much more sensitive. My mood is fluctuating more too.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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