Male condom vs Combined pill
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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
2617 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Male condom ingredients
Combined pill ingredients
Main hormones in Combined pill
progestogen
oestrogen
What Lowdown reviewers say
Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with
Protects against STIs
Acne or bad skin
Heavy periods
PMS and PMDD
PCOS symptoms
Period pain
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£From £0.16/day
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Male condom reviews
67 reviews
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 16th May 25
Somewhat positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 4th Nov 24
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
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 16th May 25
Somewhat positive mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 4th Nov 24
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
Combined pill reviews
2617 reviews
Used for 6 - 12 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Since taking this pill it has regulated my period , I take it 21 days then have a 7 day break , i stop on a Saturday then I come on , on the Thursday and I finish on the Wednesday. It’s like that every month , but when I do stop taking them I get cramps and a bellyache and also runny stools , but soon as I start them again the pains subside and my stools become harder . I am finding a little more discharge than usual but I’ve heard that’s normal because of the hormonal changes . But overall I’d definitely recommend to anyone who fits the criteria 🙂
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
Lucette has worked well for me for managing period cramps and acne. However since starting it I've had an increase in back pain, a flare up of eczema that I've never had before, and I can't have caffeine without having a bad reaction. My sex drive has also decreased a lot.
Improved skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
This contraception changed my personality. It made me very angry, easily frustrated and issues that should be small seemed huge in my mind. Since changing contraception to the Yasmin pill, I honestly feel like a different person. I am quite upset that most of my twenties were spent in this state of constant anger. I thought it was just my personality but since changing pill I can now see that it was the contraception. I also got severe withdrawal headaches when I took the 7 day break.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
Since taking this pill it has regulated my period , I take it 21 days then have a 7 day break , i stop on a Saturday then I come on , on the Thursday and I finish on the Wednesday. It’s like that every month , but when I do stop taking them I get cramps and a bellyache and also runny stools , but soon as I start them again the pains subside and my stools become harder . I am finding a little more discharge than usual but I’ve heard that’s normal because of the hormonal changes . But overall I’d definitely recommend to anyone who fits the criteria 🙂
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
Lucette has worked well for me for managing period cramps and acne. However since starting it I've had an increase in back pain, a flare up of eczema that I've never had before, and I can't have caffeine without having a bad reaction. My sex drive has also decreased a lot.
Improved skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
This contraception changed my personality. It made me very angry, easily frustrated and issues that should be small seemed huge in my mind. Since changing contraception to the Yasmin pill, I honestly feel like a different person. I am quite upset that most of my twenties were spent in this state of constant anger. I thought it was just my personality but since changing pill I can now see that it was the contraception. I also got severe withdrawal headaches when I took the 7 day break.
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
i have PCOS this pill was amazing for the first 3 1/2 years, it made me lose 10 pounds in two weeks from me changing nothing to my active levels and diet, my skin cleared up, i had lighter and regular periods, had a high sex drive until i started having very irregular periods in the last 6 months. including periods happening every other week and spotting between it even when taking it correctly so i decided to change contraception but this may be because of my PCOS
Improved skin
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
For the first 2 years it was great. Then it got progressively worse, it severely affected my mental health and physical qualities of life too. Periods are so unpredictable by both pain and flow. As a contraceptive however, it works very well.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Intended purpose is great- it’s stopped my debilitating periods and I can now carry on with my day when I first start my period, however I have experienced acid reflux and a lot of nausea specifically in the morning even after 8 months on this pill.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
I had several fortnight long periods on this pill. My regular periods are horrific so I was initially willing to take any side effects the pill had, and even though my regular level of pain/vomiting/fainting went away, I barely had rests from bleeding, my mood swings and hormonal breakdowns were uncontrollable, I gained a lot of weight, and I still had nausea and cramping. After over 18 months the side effects still had not dialled down so I had to quit.
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
Nice to stop menstruation but in no way worth it for the awful psychological impacts. Mental breakdowns were indeed had.
Very negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
My boobs have got so much bigger but my skin it completely cleared my awful awful acne and I have the clearest skin now.
Improved skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments

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