Female condom vs Patch

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!

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.

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.

After switching from the combined pill due to depression, I was interested in the patch as I could change it weekly instead of remembering to take a pill everyday. I started the patch and my periods became regular and my mood increased greatly, I do experience bad PMS but It is much better compared to when I was on the pill. I do get cramps sometimes between periods but nothing too bad. You can also use the patch to skip periods but I enjoy having a regular “cycle” and when I did use it to skip a period for a holiday I ended up spotting for a month! Overall the patch is great for me and I don’t plan on changing as it has helped my mental health so much.

I had near constant breakthrough bleeding the entire time

It’s convenient to only change once a week. I’ve found when I’ve been on holiday if you are in the water it does loosen and sometimes come off in the water which is not helpful. I have experienced a lot of breakthrough bleeding very randomly but it has helped with my skin. My sex drive has basically gone it’s that low which I have struggled with but my mood and endometriosis pain during periods has helped

New boobs, same me. Generally a good experience- my periods are less painful which is a plus and my breasts went up a cup size or two (a plus for the boyfriend apparently). I became more emotionally sensitive to start with but that quickly settled down. I'm still trying to discover the best place to stick the patch as it does become unstuck in areas that often crease but I haven't got pregnant yet so it must be doing its job. So far, upper arm is the best. I recommend to anyone not wanting to take a pill every day.

This has been the best contraception I've ever used. I have had no side effects and would recommend this to anyone who struggles with the pill or with typically reacts poorly to oestrogen.

After years of fighting with GPs about my period concerns and being put on and off different contraceptions that my body reacted horribly to, I decided to go private and do my research into what could be a possible solution. The girls at The Lowdown have been so helpful throughout the year and a bit that i’ve been with them. The website is so easy and efficient in helping you choose what’s best for your body, and if you have any further questions the girls are quick to respond through emails and whatsapp. I decided a little over a year ago that I’d make the change to go on the Evra patch. After years of different pills not working with my body or making things worse, I was desperate for a solution that was easy but was still in my control (a non intrusive method). The patch has been a life saver and within 3/4 months my periods were at the same time every month, shorter, lighter and less painful. I’m sure it won’t work for everyone but it works great for me, and i’d much rather pay for the product and the service The Lowdown provides, than spend one more minute arguing with my GP.

I have noticed I am feeling a lot hotter than normal and my vigina has become dry. I was becoming worried

I felt that my mood was impacted and my partner at the time noticed I had become a lot more irritable. I also experienced a lot of headaches which I usually rarely suffer from.

I’ve tried sooo many contraceptions and this is the first one I’ve tried with very minimal side effects. My moods have been very stable, I have less PMS symptoms, my weight hasn’t changed and my sex drive hasn’t changed. When I want to hide the patch I just apply it to my lower belly where my undies would sit so that aspect is not a problem either.

I’ve been on the patch for 8/9 months now and my experience is mixed. I love the convenience of a patch, and that stomach issues don’t affect the effectiveness like the pill. However, I have had the worst skin I’ve ever had with rosacea suddenly appearing after 3 months on patch use. I’ve never had bad skin before and suddenly have done after this with no other lifestyle changes. Recently I’ve had spotting in my 3rd week of using the patch, this never happened previously. I’ve also had a weight gain, and tender breasts.