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

2745 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

2745 reviews

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

Yasmin pill  

My overall experience on Yasmin has been awful from the very first day I started taking it, made me lose my personality within one week, my sex drive is usually medium-high but it’s decreased and I’ve lost my appetite along with other side effects which weren’t pleasant. I would not recommend Yasmin if you have a history of mental health like myself too!!


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Rigevidon  

When I first started taking Regividon I had a good experience, minimal side effects and had no changes to my skin, sex drive or weight. However, 3 months into taking Regividon my moods changed, I was snappy and frustrated even over little things 24/7 which affected my relationship so I came off it and went onto a different pill.


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Levest pill  

pros - clear skin, less oily, went up a cup size, lighter periods and option to skip them entirely cons - after a few years it just got rid of my sparkle. I’ve noticed whenever i stopped using it i was more outgoing, more horny, enjoyed sex more. One of the main reasons was just how dry it was down there making sex feel like a chore.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Yasmin pill  

My overall experience on Yasmin has been awful from the very first day I started taking it, made me lose my personality within one week, my sex drive is usually medium-high but it’s decreased and I’ve lost my appetite along with other side effects which weren’t pleasant. I would not recommend Yasmin if you have a history of mental health like myself too!!


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Rigevidon  

When I first started taking Regividon I had a good experience, minimal side effects and had no changes to my skin, sex drive or weight. However, 3 months into taking Regividon my moods changed, I was snappy and frustrated even over little things 24/7 which affected my relationship so I came off it and went onto a different pill.


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Levest pill  

pros - clear skin, less oily, went up a cup size, lighter periods and option to skip them entirely cons - after a few years it just got rid of my sparkle. I’ve noticed whenever i stopped using it i was more outgoing, more horny, enjoyed sex more. One of the main reasons was just how dry it was down there making sex feel like a chore.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Drovelis pill  

It's good, it stopped ovulation and didn't have an effect on my body except mental health. The first month was also a challenge, I bled every day (small amount but it was so annoying). Gave me really bad mood swings. It also made my periods somewhat irregular. When i would take placebo pills, even though theres 4 of them for 4 days of period, it would always be longer and never the same amount of days.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Rigevidon  

Worked well as a contraceptive. I didn’t get pregnant. However I noticed extreme mood swings/anxiety. I had a series of panic attacks whilst on this pill relating to things that normally wouldn’t have pushed me to a panic attack and the weight gain from this pill. The weight gain wasn’t too extreme but it was noticeable in a way that I didn’t like (very bloated, pregnant looking).


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Yasmin pill  

I was tri-cycling this pill and passed a a decidual cast after the first 6 weeks with no bleeding ( was not painful to pass). My periods were lighter when breaking between 3 packs. I did get some breakthrough bleeding during my second tri-cycle. I had really tender breasts in the first few months with some breast enlargement but that passed and no other issues.


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Dretine pill  

I was switched from taking the Yasmin pill to Dretine. I was told they had the exact same hormones. I have polycystic ovaries and Yasmin had been working perfectly for me. The first few months on Dretine were hell. I became severely depressed. Crying every day, anxious and mood swings. This lasted 2-3 months. This did get better. But it shouldn’t be the case that you have to go through this when taking the pill. I’ve taken the pill in different ways to help control pain and breakthrough bleeding but nothing something seems to stop the breakthrough bleeding. It’s always dark brown and clots. I also experienced a major increase in my blood pressure. My skin has been clear and pain levels are low.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Drovelis pill  

I didn't start it on day 1 of my period. So this month I got my period anyway. I went to my GP (who prescribed it to me) and we determined it's my period due to timing, consistency etc. Good to note however that since I took it to control menhorragia. 10 days into taking it, my cycle lengthened to a week (minus spotting) and it's a lot less heavy than I know it. I'm hoping to feel better next month and thinking to skip the placebo entirely but I was told it can lengthen the spotting/breakthrough bleeds. There doesn't seem to be a right or wrong. Just trial and error then adjust. Note : Don't take it mid cycle. Take it as they tell you day 1 of your period. I did this because of severe reasons at the time and was also very sick. I hoped it would prevent the usual mess. In a way I succeeded somehow, just not the way I'd have liked. But then I'm too hard on myself too.


Lost weight

0 helpful

0 comments

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

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
  •  3 weeks 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

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Female condom with other contraceptives

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