Female condom vs Progestogen-only / Mini pill
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Overview
Rated 3.5
4 reviews
During or before sex
Frequency
79% - 95%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.7
1503 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Female condom ingredients
Progestogen-only / Mini pill ingredients
Main hormones in Progestogen-only / Mini pill
progestogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with
Protects against STIs
Period pain
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£From £0.22/day
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Female condom reviews
4 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 8th Feb 24
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
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 19th Jan 22
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 26th Apr 21
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 8th Feb 24
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
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 19th Jan 22
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 26th Apr 21
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
Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews
1503 reviews
Used for 12 - 18 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
I was on this mini pill for just over a year after switching from the combined pill. It slowly affected my mood to the point where my mood was constantly flat and I didn’t feel excited about anything. My libido was also very low. I felt a massive difference after stopping. Positives were I didn’t have periods often (every 6-8 weeks) and not much period pain. The 12 hour window to take the pill was also helpful when I sometimes forgot, as some other mini pills have shorter windows.
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
I’ve had no serious side effects and the ones I’ve had are very minimal and don’t affect me
Worse skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
i have definitely noticed good and bad side effects just after a month of taking this mini pill, one of the good ones is i have lost weight without changing my diet or physical exercise, as well as an increased sex drive and enlarged breasts! (a positive for a smaller chest sized girlie like me) however i have also experienced negatives such as very drastic mood swings that change rapidly, as well as uncomfortable vaginal dryness and more bloating than usual. i am also spotting quite frequently but not heavy whatsoever, i only have to use a tampon a day to prevent the blood from ruining my nice underwear
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
I was on this mini pill for just over a year after switching from the combined pill. It slowly affected my mood to the point where my mood was constantly flat and I didn’t feel excited about anything. My libido was also very low. I felt a massive difference after stopping. Positives were I didn’t have periods often (every 6-8 weeks) and not much period pain. The 12 hour window to take the pill was also helpful when I sometimes forgot, as some other mini pills have shorter windows.
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 4 days ago
I’ve had no serious side effects and the ones I’ve had are very minimal and don’t affect me
Worse skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 5 days ago
i have definitely noticed good and bad side effects just after a month of taking this mini pill, one of the good ones is i have lost weight without changing my diet or physical exercise, as well as an increased sex drive and enlarged breasts! (a positive for a smaller chest sized girlie like me) however i have also experienced negatives such as very drastic mood swings that change rapidly, as well as uncomfortable vaginal dryness and more bloating than usual. i am also spotting quite frequently but not heavy whatsoever, i only have to use a tampon a day to prevent the blood from ruining my nice underwear
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 6 days ago
I have been on this contraception since I was 17 and I am now 35. The contraception has done what it said it would do and provided me with a very low risk of pregnancy. During that time I had no scares or worries that i was pregnant. Whilst being on this pill I have had no bleeding for over 5 years. Prior to that the bleeding was very minimal and infrequent. I have suffered with hornmonal (neck and jaw) acne throughout the whole time I have been on this pill. I have had frequent lower back ache and stomach cramps. I have suffered with normal to severe anxiety which has fluctuated throughout the years.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 week ago
I started taking desogestrel for Endometriosis symptoms, I was having a lot of fatigue and thought I would try altering my hormones. I saw on the packet that the pill contained lactose but after a google search I was fairly confident that it was a low enough level to not affect me too much (I have had quite a lot of gut symptoms due to Endo and eliminated a few foods, lactose was one of them). After being on the pill for 3 months I was sure that the lactose has been causing some significant side effects, including less control over my bowels. Through an e-consult, I requested a version of the pill that didn't contain lactose. It turns out that there is not one single oral contraceptive pill that does not contain lactose! This is unbelievable to me and I believe there should be more awareness of this.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
47 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I think this is the best mini-pill I have taken so far as it has very little side effects for me personally speaking. Made my periods a lot lighter, almost non existent which is great for my endometriosis. Mood wise it didn't have much of an effect either, other mini pills made me sad or depressed. Its frustrating its not free on the NHS in the UK but you can buy it over the counter after you have consulted with a pharmacist. Worth a try if other mini-pills didnt agree with you.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
36 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Expect to bleed for up to 2 months while you shed your uterine lining (TMI, but you asked!) but if you stick it out, it will transform your life. My lower belly is flat, my skin improved massively, my moods are stable and my brainfog is gone too (though this could be blue light sensitivity/food intolerance-related). Try this if your experiencing massive spikes in estrogen levels around your ovulation, dangerous mood swings, or can’t take estrogen for whatever reason. Lifesaver!
Very positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
1 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
It's stopped my period completely which is great, not that i had bad periods to begin with but it was definitely convenient. i've become quite irritable since being on cerazette and just overall heightened negative emotions. in the first couple months i had lots of nausea but that went away pretty quickly. overall it's been an alright experience, not bad but not amazing
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
This is my second time using Cerelle and I’m about a month into it. The first time, about a year ago, I decided to stop using it because I was constantly bleeding. However this time round my periods seem to have stopped all together.
Worse skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
Had to stop after a month - constant headaches that turned into migraines every few days. Near constant bleeding for two weeks, cystitis and some swelling. I’m very sensitive to hormones and felt that even if I could get through the settling in phase this one wouldn’t work for me.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Women's health, reviewed.
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