IUB Ballerine

Cap or diaphragm

Combined pill

Expert advice about your contraception 

Our doctors are here to help

Copper coil (IUD)

Female condom

Fertility awareness methods (FAM)

Gynefix

Expert advice about your contraception

Hormonal coil (IUS)

Implant

Injection

Male condom

Vasectomy

Morning after pill

Patch

Progestogen-only / Mini pill

Sterilisation (Female / tubal occlusion)

Vaginal ring

Withdrawal or pull out method

A very empowering contraceptive method that allows women to learn about their own bodies and to work around what's natural to avoid pregnancy.  Any symptoms that I have listed such as migraines occur during PMS.  I would highly recommend the Sensiplan method as it has a typical failure rate of just 2%, and a perfect use of 99.6%. 

Symptothermal method-review-id-f6c68bb8-dfd5-45d7-96cf-cc2e7eb2271d

Was on the combined pill but changed a couple of months ago to natural cycles. Mood generally better, sex drive much better, skin slightly worse, periods & cramps much the same (bad, but that’s just me and my womb) 

Natural Cycles App-review-id-56c3a176-95f0-4797-b885-cace1e37256f

It was the best decision I made. I feel so much better changing to this method

Natural Cycles App-review-id-b8527836-cef7-49e8-b02a-4143006992d9

I've been using Natural Cycles for years, both for preventing a pregnancy and for conceiving. I can't recommend this enough! It's a great birth control with no side effects, and you get to learn so much about your own body

Natural Cycles App-review-id-8001dd27-3d3b-47dd-a142-7afdb61709c7

I am so happy with the Natural Cycles app, which has not only enabled me to leave hormones behind but also taught me so much about my body.

Natural Cycles App-review-id-244326e2-6482-4675-bc31-e348d08ecb96

After 10 years on hormonal contraception it's been amazing to get my cycle back and be clear of hormones without worrying about pregnancy. The app is so informative and even as a nurse I have learned so much - I'm embarrassed to say I never knew that you could only get pregnant up to 5 days per cycle. I like the fact that I know my own cycle now (which I never have before) and the fact it's regular reassures me as I was worried that hormonal contraception could have been masking issues which I'd have not known of. I've recommended Natural Cycles to several people already! Can't imagine myself going back.

Natural Cycles App-review-id-82e01c0a-ff94-45f3-bb73-ef7b3ce2a361

I started with Natural Cycles because it was hormone-free, what I didn't know is that it would give me so much information about my body. I realized how little I knew about my body and I started to feel connected to it thanks to Natural Cycles. I have also used the app to help me plan a pregnancy and with all the data the app had already I was able to get pregnant on the first try and felt in control in the process.

Natural Cycles App-review-id-a36a3f4d-72d6-444c-8470-5a8cbdfe2f55

After being on various pills for over 6 years, battling with unpredictable weight gain/ loss and emotions all over the place, I decided to come off any form of contraception and instead use a cycle tracking app. I started with Flo which is free but still used condoms whether I was ‘fertile’ or ‘infertile’ as I didn’t yet trust the method and was still learning about cycles in general, never mind my own (stuff I didn’t get taught in school). Flo generally predicted my period but I still did worry as it would predict a certain day and my period would come days later and I was in turmoil with worry. 3 months ago I invested in Natural Cycles. It is SO effortless to use - if does require daily temp checking but I have easily added into my routine (take my temp as soon as my alarm goes off). So far it has predicted by period bang on every month, even when my cycle varies. additionally it has not only educated me about my own cycle, but it has given me so much more confidence in my own cycle and I feel a lot more relaxed when it comes to sex with my long term partner, as there are certain times of the month when contraception does not need used and it feels good! I hope that for now while I don’t yet want a baby, that this method continues to work for me and then when the time comes to want children, this method will also aid me in that journey! 

Natural Cycles App-review-id-e068d6ed-9c8d-49ff-b710-dd04454b62a6

There are several methods under the symptothermal umbrella term, and efficacy rates are based on learning with an instructor. I learnt with an instructor from fertility UK, this was very affordable for a lifetime of cycle knowledge and a year of chart support. The method involves me taking my temperature upon waking and observing my cervical fluid throughout the day, recording this information on a chart which I use to work out my fertile and infertile days. This method is easy to use once you have learnt. The number of infertile days is very dependant on the individual users cycle, but I typically get ten days where I can go unprotected once I have confirmed ovulation and also four days at the beginning of my cycle available to use. The rest of my cycle would be considered my potentially fertile/fertile days, where barrier methods (reducing the efficacy to that of the barrier) or abstinence/non penis in vagina sex would be necessary. A consideration is that the altered sexual behaviour would have to have the sexual partners cooperation too, as they would also have to be willing to use a condom or have alternative sex on the fertile days. I personally have found this method very empowering, having real-time data of what my body is doing and fertility status, working with my cycle phases instead of fighting against them. Learning about my body and reproductive health in ways that are not talked about in society and it is knowledge that should no be hidden from menstruators.   

Symptothermal method-review-id-6adb8f83-78ce-4a4a-b8d7-37e7fac0084e

Honestly after being on the pill for 3 years (various types) I am never going back. Natural cycles app takes an algorithm of your temperature as soon as you wake up and it’s completely natural. I have never had any problems with this and I love not having to take a pill as it is completely natural. My whole friendship group have been using natural cycles and it works amazingly for us all.

Natural Cycles App-review-id-44308cdd-b5da-4252-8f8b-59044adbe1ee

I definitely felt an increase in my sex drive after getting the Implant removed (how annoying!). My periods became regular and SO MUCH SHORTER only 2-3 months after having it removed. My periods used to last 7-10 days (and then you'd sometimes get spotting after that!) now they last 2-3 days which gives me more opportunities to have sex without my body killing the mood. I also feel so much more present in my mind, brain fog etc has subsided.

Apart from getting it changed every 3 years this contraception is totally management free and painless to receive. I benefitted from using the implant between the age of 16 until I was 27 (so was on my 4th implant when I had it removed and not replaced). The consistent downside of this contraception for me was the spotting between periods/the irregular periods - sometimes you would only get a week break between spotting and periods! Often my periods would last 5-10 days. I found that the Implant worked best with my cycle in the first 12-24 months after incision because my periods were predictable (though not 4 weekly, more like 8-12 weekly) with no spotting inbetween; however once you neared the final few months before needing it changed periods seemed all over the place. (I must say, though, that I have a few friends who had no periods and total hassle free contraception - I think it's luck of the draw.)

I ended up getting it removed early last year because I found I was starting to get serious brain fog coupled with a very low sex drive and feeling constantly down for no justifiable reason. I almost started to feel absent from any emotion and quite robotic. I must stress, however, I think this is more a result of 11 years of continuous hormonal contraception and not something I felt was an after effect of the Impant specifically. I can honestly say I felt no immediate side effects when getting the Implant in and the pros outweighed the cons in my mind. I've seen research to suggest it is beneficial to take breaks from hormonal contraception which is what I'm doing now. I would still revert back to using the Implant when needed as I got to a stage where I could predict which cycles would result in spotting and which wouldn't. The breaks between periods felt a huge plus for me.

Nexplanon implant-review-id-7fc12552-e3a9-4aba-90e9-43efd6828adf

Within a few months I returned to my normal self and to be honest I'll never quite know how much of it was down to the implant, but like a lot of women I almost feel traumatised by my experience with hormonal contraception. We need better alternatives :(

Insertion was fine, completely painless. First few months seemed fine too, and my periods stopped which to me was a bonus. But then I started having really bad mood swings, feeling really sensitive, crying for no reason, constant feelings of hopelessness, I was so depressed I ended up on anti-depressants. There was a lot going on for me at the time so it only occurred to me after several months and reading some other women's experiences online one night that it was potentially down to the implant. I made a appointment the next day to have it removed and it was slightly more painful than having it put in, but it was so worth it I felt so relieved!!

Nexplanon implant-review-id-29e8f8c3-26d1-465a-8a1f-0cd5bcea2234

In theory the implant is great but it has really effected my periods which became heavy, irregular and more frequent. I now have at least 2 periods every month!

Nexplanon implant-review-id-e7c17526-bea1-4161-9e38-1a6000b8136b

Have found that the implant doesn't agree with me at all and I'm having it removed in a couple of days.

Nexplanon implant-review-id-816e4f7b-a297-4115-8ac1-62401dc55596

After I stopped this my emotions went back to normal and I had a normal period. I then stopped having periods altogether on the progestogen only pill.

I would not have a period for 3 months then would bleed for 3 weeks straight. I would have pregnancy symptoms every now and again (breast tenderness, nausea, plus no bleeding) and would take tests that were always negative. I experienced depression and low mood, and mood swings more than anything. I grew darker body hair on my belly and my skin was poor with lots of acne that I couldn't get rid of traditionally. This was mostly noticeable when I had it removed and switched to the progestogen only pill after 3 years, and I felt better.

Nexplanon implant-review-id-f933d845-3c2f-403b-b474-5c85566335fd

I have tried a number of combined and mini-pills before and had terrible side effects. i switched to implant ~4 years ago, so i'm now on my 2nd implant (each last 3 years). procedure is fine, give a general anesthetic and it's quite quick. I like that it's easy to use and nothing to think about for a few years. Periods completely stopped (but they did on pill as well), breasts super tender after my first one, couldn't stand them being touched. Also get a lot of night sweats that seems to coincide with the time i've been on implant.

Nexplanon implant-review-id-01bb019f-a199-4722-8825-bfdeacf4a64c

I had my first implant 18-21 whilst at University I didn't notice any weight gain, abnormal mood swings and my periods stopped which I liked. I took a year off any hormonal contraception and used condoms then went to get a new implant just over a year ago. Unfortunately this time round has been a negative experience, I have experienced horrible mood swings, feeling really low for no apparent reason, irregular periods sometimes lasting 2 weeks coming off for a week and starting again. In line with my low moods this time round I have experienced times with a loss of sex drive.

Nexplanon implant-review-id-9c6a05c4-b15e-49e5-b628-2079089c1a97

My first one was fine (no side effects), my second one I have a whole list of side effects, so even if you think it's fine be aware your body reacts differently each time you get a new one

Nexplanon implant-review-id-c8963353-2171-4867-8c16-a93942f919b5

In the beginning it was really good, stopped my periods and was great to have something in and forget about it. However, what started as a breakthrough bleed ended up being 6 months on my period. My mood was also impacted I was always either crying or angry. One of the worst ones I ever tried 

Nexplanon implant-review-id-044936da-7049-4a3a-893b-da2fd7958baa

My emotions went back to normal & it felt like a fog had been lifted! 

I didn’t realise how anxious, moody & a huge pain in the a** I was being until I stopped taking it!

The one thing I wish the doctors had told me more about was the process of having it taken it. They say they just “pop” it out but my experience was far from a “pop”... 

The GP said the implant ‘fused’ to the skin around it & embedded itself in my arm. When I quizzed her about it, she said it was “quite common”; regardless of the fact she ‘forgot’ to tell me this when she put it in. 

I now have a 2cm scar on the inside of my left arm*. 

If it had worked for me then I wouldn’t have minded it being gouged out but it didn’t work for me at all & now I have another scar on my arm I wasn’t expecting. 

Morale of the story, always ask questions to your doctor before going ahead with it!

*this doesn’t happen to everyone

Fertility awareness methods (FAM) vs Implant

Need help choosing? Speak to a doctor

Overview

Fertility awareness methods (FAM) ingredients

Implant ingredients

What Lowdown reviewers say

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Checkout our latest reviews

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Order online now

Not sure yet? Speak to a doctor