Male condom vs Combined pill

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Male condom

Add your male condom review

Combined pill

£From £0.16/day

Overview

Rated 4.1

67 reviews

During or before sex

Frequency

82% - 98%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

2643 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Male condom ingredients

Male condoms are thin latex or polyurethane sheaths that are worn on the penis during sexual intercourse.

Combined pill ingredients

Main hormones in Combined pill

progestogen

oestrogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

72% no impact on mood

87% no change

76% no impact

97% no impact

85% no impact on skin

Cycle return

50% in 1 month

31% somewhat negative

47% lighter periods

46% lost sex drive

48% no impact

43% improved skin

Cycle return

36% 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

Try it now

Add your male condom review

Try it now

£From £0.16/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Male condom reviews

67 reviews

Male condom  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  16th May 25

Hanx condom  

this is a test

Read more

Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4th Nov 24

Skyn condom  

me and my partner have always had problems with using condoms from durex, but now trying skyns condoms, i will never go back. They don’t have that weird smell and me nor my partner could even feel as if it was there! 100% recommend


Very positive mood

2 more effects

2 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  15th May 24

Skyn condom  

I was recommended dretine and I've not looked back.


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  16th May 25

Hanx condom  

this is a test


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4th Nov 24

Skyn condom  

me and my partner have always had problems with using condoms from durex, but now trying skyns condoms, i will never go back. They don’t have that weird smell and me nor my partner could even feel as if it was there! 100% recommend


Very positive mood

2 more effects

2 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  15th May 24

Skyn condom  

I was recommended dretine and I've not looked back.


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments


Combined pill reviews

2643 reviews

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

Lizinna pill  

My skin has got worse with this pill and I will be changing, however my mood has been a lot better.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Lucette pill  

Overall a good pill and much better than countless others I’ve tried in the past. Migraines are worst for me I’ve been experiencing them more than ever whilst being on this pill.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

Eloine pill  

Eloine completely cleared up the acne I had for 6 years! I would definitely reccomend it, although I will say that when I first started using it I had very intense mood swings but I think that’s normal due to the hormone change.


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Lizinna pill  

My skin has got worse with this pill and I will be changing, however my mood has been a lot better.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Lucette pill  

Overall a good pill and much better than countless others I’ve tried in the past. Migraines are worst for me I’ve been experiencing them more than ever whilst being on this pill.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Combined pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 week ago

Eloine pill  

Eloine completely cleared up the acne I had for 6 years! I would definitely reccomend it, although I will say that when I first started using it I had very intense mood swings but I think that’s normal due to the hormone change.


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Gedarel 30/150 pill  

Lost my sex drive, every birth control I’ve been on has this effect on me. The biggest change I noticed is I was so hungry on this, I was bingeing yet before I took it I had great self control and was working out. It makes me feel like I’ve got early pregnancy symptoms which isn’t good for when you worry about it. I get nausea a lot and cravings, I don’t know for sure if it’s this pill but it started about 4 weeks after I started on the pill and I’ve never had anything like this before except for when I was pregnant


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Yasmin pill  

From the ages of 15-20 I took Yasmin for my acne and I remember it was wonderful for my skin, hair and lightening of periods. My moods were a bit erratic and I was always teary, but I could contribute some of that to puberty/developmental years. Fast forward 13 or so years and I’ve restarted the pill, and decided on Yasmin. The first two weeks on Yasmin have been absolute hell. The main and so far only issue has been nausea which has been extreme. I’ve taken the pill in the morning with food, then in the evening with food. No matter what, I wake up feeling extremely sick and I have to take anti-nausea tablets (dramamine) to get me through the day. Considering I’ve not been on hormonal oral contraceptives in years, I’m trying to ride out the first month and see if it gets better, but for now I’m seriously nauseous with tender boobs and a teary mood, and considering quitting. It’s a shame as I feel the skin benefits and lighter periods historically were worth it.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Yasmin pill  

From the ages of 15-20 I took Yasmin for my acne and I remember it was wonderful for my skin, hair and lightening of periods. My moods were a bit erratic and I was always teary, but I could contribute some of that to puberty/developmental years. Fast forward 13 or so years and I’ve restarted the pill, and decided on Yasmin. The first two weeks on Yasmin have been absolute hell. The main and so far only issue has been nausea which has been extreme. I’ve taken the pill in the morning with food, then in the evening with food. No matter what, I wake up feeling extremely sick and I have to take anti-nausea tablets (dramamine) to get me through the day. Considering I’ve not been on oral contraceptives in years, I’m trying to ride out the first month and see if it gets better, but for now I’m seriously unwell and considering quitting. Shame as I feel the skin benefits and lighted periods generally are well worth it.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Yasmin pill  

other than my boobs getting bigger i experienced significant mood swings and emotions that didn't feel like me at all. in addition to this i noticed now after being off yasmin my sex drive is THROUGH THE ROOF. i felt as if yasmin took away my sex drive and made me into an angry emotional crazy lady. sadly im going to miss my d cups; it was hard to stop yasmin because of that but mentally im so much better. after reading the reviews from other people, im glad to see that i am not crazy about yasmin decreasing my libido.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Maexeni pill  

Loved Maexeni annoyingly however it’s pretty impossible to get in the UK due to medication shortages. Great sex drive, boobs got bigger and didn’t make me depressed like my first pill - what’s not love ahaha (minimal weight gain but may have also been due to uni lifestyle)


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Levest pill  

I got switched from Maexeni to Levest due to medication shortages. Despite levest having few negative side effects, it’s caused vaginal dryness especially during sex. My sex drive has also disappeared and it is now very painful to have, which is obviously very frustrating (and embarrassing when hooking up with people), not something I had ever experienced before January this year. I’ve noticed this seems to be a very common side effect so beware. Safe to say I will be switching back to Maexeni asap!!!!


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Yasmin pill  

Overall okay, main side effect affecting me is the loss of libido and vaginally dryness as someone in a long-term relationship.


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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