Female condom vs Implant

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Female condom

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Implant

Add your Implant review

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

646 reviews

Every 5 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

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.

Implant ingredients

Main hormones in Implant

progestogen

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

36% somewhat negative

49% irregular periods

48% lost sex drive

40% gained weight

54% no impact on skin

Cycle return

31% in 1 month

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Protects against STIs

Heavy periods

Ovulation pain

Period pain

Try it now

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Try it now

Add your Implant review

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


Implant reviews

646 reviews

Implant  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Nexplanon implant  

I have attempted trying the implant twice. Once when I was 18 and recently at 25 after having a baby. Whilst insertion is quick, easy and pain free with local anaesthetic, the effects of the implant on my mood have been detrimental. The hormone caused me on both occasions to develop severe anxiety and depression almost immediately after insertion, as someone who doesn't usually suffer with mental health issues. It's like having PMS but on an extreme scale. The implant on both occasions made my life miserable. I had to have both removed early and funnily enough a week or so after I did, I felt like 'me' again. The implant has a massive amount of hormone in that runs through your body daily. A hormonal coil works much better for me as it has almost 1/6th the hormone amount of an implant which is mostly contained within the uterus.


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Nexplanon implant  

First year and a bit on the implant absolutely perfect. Minimal periods and literally zero side effects. However coming up to year 2 I started bleeding a lot on it. Almost every other week I was getting my period. My GP recommended I get a new one fitted and sadly from the beginning I’m still having frequent periods and ache. It’s a real shame as I really enjoyed having it at the start but I will be switching now.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Nexplanon implant  

The fitting was not as scary as I anticipated (helped by an amazing nurse!), and have had similar side effects to the progesterone-only pill, but without the stress of remembering to take it at the same time which is a nice break after years! 'Periods' come every few months generally for me, and are about twice the length of usual but less painful and none of the usual emotional disregulation leading up to it.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5 days ago

Nexplanon implant  

I have attempted trying the implant twice. Once when I was 18 and recently at 25 after having a baby. Whilst insertion is quick, easy and pain free with local anaesthetic, the effects of the implant on my mood have been detrimental. The hormone caused me on both occasions to develop severe anxiety and depression almost immediately after insertion, as someone who doesn't usually suffer with mental health issues. It's like having PMS but on an extreme scale. The implant on both occasions made my life miserable. I had to have both removed early and funnily enough a week or so after I did, I felt like 'me' again. The implant has a massive amount of hormone in that runs through your body daily. A hormonal coil works much better for me as it has almost 1/6th the hormone amount of an implant which is mostly contained within the uterus.


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Nexplanon implant  

First year and a bit on the implant absolutely perfect. Minimal periods and literally zero side effects. However coming up to year 2 I started bleeding a lot on it. Almost every other week I was getting my period. My GP recommended I get a new one fitted and sadly from the beginning I’m still having frequent periods and ache. It’s a real shame as I really enjoyed having it at the start but I will be switching now.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Nexplanon implant  

The fitting was not as scary as I anticipated (helped by an amazing nurse!), and have had similar side effects to the progesterone-only pill, but without the stress of remembering to take it at the same time which is a nice break after years! 'Periods' come every few months generally for me, and are about twice the length of usual but less painful and none of the usual emotional disregulation leading up to it.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Aug 26

Nexplanon implant  

overall a good experience, used to have very bad acne that was significantly improved. only bad thing I can point out is that my period went to very regular to irregular with ocasional spotting


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 8+ yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  16th Aug 26

Nexplanon implant  

I liked the implant however it caused a lot of irregular bleeding and bloating. Once I came off it after 8 years I developed PMDD


Gained weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  21st Jul 26

Nexplanon implant  

I’ve had this implant twice now both times had side effects I couldn’t deal with first time I gained nearly 3 stone and this time I’m on the weight loss injection and it seems to be countering the weight gain but honestly I’m so emotional and insecure my partner is struggling to deal with my emotions and so am I


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  15th Jul 26

Nexplanon implant  

At first, my experience with the implant wasn't too bad as I was still 'wet' and moist, but over time my natural moisture has completely dwindled down to nearly nothing. This severe dryness is driving me absolutely insane because it honestly makes me feel like I have a post-menopausal vagina. Because of this, I am now changing back to the generic Desogestrel mini-pill, as I know from previous use that I at least had a normal, healthy white and milky discharge on that method. I am just stating my own personal experience here, and I still think that other people should definitely try the implant if they fancy a different form of birth control, because everyone's body reacts differently to the hormones. so yeah, thank u, next with the implant.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  14th Jul 26

Nexplanon implant  

Been on the implant for 6 years now, initially I was spotting for 6 months before it finally settled. Now much more lighter periods so I can cope better as previously really heavy and needed tranexamic acid to manage, mood is more level now also, very rarely get cramps which is a bonus, have gained a little weight and body hair, overall happy with it


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  8th Jul 26

Nexplanon implant  

I gain weight and got chronic fatigue. It was awful.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
42 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Jun 26

Nexplanon implant  

This i my first time, I discovered skin heat rash at the initial stage, presently loosing weight and loosing hair.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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