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

2718 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

Try it now

£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

2718 reviews

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Yaz pill 🇺🇸  

I was very depressed on Yaz Pill, crying every morning and some days didn't want to get out of bed, I gained water weight for the first 6 - 8 months. I did have an increased sex drive on Yaz compared to my current pill.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Femodene pill  

I switched from Yaz Plus to Femodene to help regulate my moods as I was quite depressed on Yaz plus. Femodene helped control my depression a bit but I had mood swings more often. I never really gained any weight or water weight on femodene.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Yacella pill  

,,,


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Yaz pill 🇺🇸  

I was very depressed on Yaz Pill, crying every morning and some days didn't want to get out of bed, I gained water weight for the first 6 - 8 months. I did have an increased sex drive on Yaz compared to my current pill.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Femodene pill  

I switched from Yaz Plus to Femodene to help regulate my moods as I was quite depressed on Yaz plus. Femodene helped control my depression a bit but I had mood swings more often. I never really gained any weight or water weight on femodene.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Yacella pill  

,,,


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Levest pill  

switched from a minipill to a combined pill loved it as my periods stopped and i didnt gain any weight although i was taken off of it as i experiance migranes and wasn't supposed to be perscribed it i did notice i was more sensitive and emotional whilst on it


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6 days ago

Drovelis pill  

Experienced breast tenderness and growth. Reduced cramping. Reduced sided effects compared to alternative oral contraceptives


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Yasmin pill  

During my first month I’ve had severe breakthrough bleeding that was heavy and lasted for 3 weeks, during the 3 weeks I was very emotional and paranoid. After the breakthrough bleed I developed two large spots on my lip and cheek (I never had this issue nor acne). Over all the pill hasn’t done much for me so far other than making me very paranoid about the side effects.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Yasmin pill  

utis


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Rigevidon  

I actually find this to be pretty good, very few side effects, but the increased blood clot risk does concern me.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Eloine pill  

Started off well on this pill, good for PMS management. Had bleeding for weeks and breasts got bigger and were painful. Some of these effects subsided after a few weeks. On my 3rd pack i noticed i wasnt full after meals and was constantly feeling hungry and thinking about food. This continued through the fourth month. I have definitely gained weight and clothes not fitting properly, which is an unacceptable side effect for me personally.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Rigevidon  

It is a balancing act, but, overall, I am happy with the results. I take the pill back to back as my cramps were so bad that they were effecting my personal and work life terribly and I could no longer stand the pain. Unlike other pills I have tried before, this stops my periods. After 3 or 4 months I get heavy spotting and take a break for 7 days which sorts it out - the breaks are fine with only mild cramping and nothing like my periods before. It has saved my ability to work. I have had negative side effects - weight gain and mood. I have no history of depression, anxiety or struggling to process things until I started taking this pill but I now struggle with these things most days. Compared to the pain, for me, the impact on my mental health is a trade off I've accepted.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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