Male condom vs Implant

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Male condom

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Implant

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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

607 reviews

Every 3 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

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.

Implant ingredients

Main hormones in Implant

progestogen

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

37% somewhat negative

49% irregular periods

50% lost sex drive

40% gained weight

56% no impact on skin

Cycle return

32% in 1 month

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Protects against STIs

Heavy periods

Ovulation pain

Period pain

Try it now

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Try it now

Add your Implant review

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

0 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

0 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


Implant reviews

607 reviews

Implant  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Nexplanon implant  

Some infrequent cramping and bleeding but in general a good experience. Despite a lot of fear and generally being very bad with needles, a very good fitting experience (thank you to the nurse for introducing me to glucose shots that reduced the delayed faint for me!), and very convenient to not have to think about it for a few years. Feeling for it has not been as bad as it sounded, and while you cannot avoid side effects as easily - unlike a pill or patch you can't just stop taking it or take a break - they have not been worse than a usual cycle, and happen less frequently so overall, happy!


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Nexplanon implant  

Great, less to worry about. But the cramps are brutal as well as the mood swings.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Nexplanon implant  

Random bleeding throughout which was frustrating. Partner felt like I seemed happier in general once I came off. Suffered anxiety attacks after coming off the implant (may or may not be related currently unsure)


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Nexplanon implant  

Some infrequent cramping and bleeding but in general a good experience. Despite a lot of fear and generally being very bad with needles, a very good fitting experience (thank you to the nurse for introducing me to glucose shots that reduced the delayed faint for me!), and very convenient to not have to think about it for a few years. Feeling for it has not been as bad as it sounded, and while you cannot avoid side effects as easily - unlike a pill or patch you can't just stop taking it or take a break - they have not been worse than a usual cycle, and happen less frequently so overall, happy!


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Nexplanon implant  

Great, less to worry about. But the cramps are brutal as well as the mood swings.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4 days ago

Nexplanon implant  

Random bleeding throughout which was frustrating. Partner felt like I seemed happier in general once I came off. Suffered anxiety attacks after coming off the implant (may or may not be related currently unsure)


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 8+ yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Nexplanon implant  

Great for if you are looking for contraception that you can forget about and prevent periods however it caused lasting weight gain and awful mood such as unreasonable anger which was almost misdiagnosed as a personality disorder until I came off the contraception.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Nexplanon implant  

I had 3 implants back to back and really rated them. I felt they personally kept me in a very even emotional space as I didn’t have hormonal cycle mood fluctuations and didn’t experience any persistent low mood on it. My period stopped when I had the implant (which I loved) and had no side effects, which was great as after coming off the implant to conceive found when on no hormones I got terrible headaches and acne around my period which I had forgotten about! On reflection I probably did have slightly worse skin on the implant but not significantly. Around the 2 year mark each time it ‘ran out’ and suddenly there didn’t seem to be enough hormone to stop my periods and had persistent breakthrough bleeding which prompted me to get them changed early each time which resolved the issue. I have since been told you can take ibruprofen for a few days to counter this but have no experience of this. The reason it gets 4 stars not 5 is I really struggled to get it taken out as many health care practitioners are trained in insertion and many less is removal. When I wanted to start a family I was told there would be a 3 month wait for removal which was absolutely unacceptable to me and I ended up getting a family member who is a Dr to cut it out at home as I was so desperate. This lack of bodily autonomy I found very distressing and has put me off getting one again incase there’s a delay removing it, however it was late 2021 so may have been in part due to Covid so have to take that into account


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th May 25

Nexplanon implant  

I’ve had the implant for 2 years and it’s great that I haven’t had a pregnancy scare. However, my periods are so irregular it’s a joke. I keep track of my periods on an app called Flo and my cycle seems really abnormal. One month I’d be spotting for a week then my period would be over, the next month I’d either miss the whole month or I’d be bleeding on and off for 12 days or more, stop and be on again a week or 2 later, it’s never the same week every month. I can’t keep up with how irregular it is so I’m thinking to change contraception.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  7th May 25

Nexplanon implant  

I found the procedure fine. Changed from the pill so I didn’t have to take medication daily which was convenient. I did get acne on this contraception which did get severe so had to change.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  28th Apr 25

Nexplanon implant  

Loved that it was bullet proof and low maintenance + Long lasting. Didn't like the irregular bleeding in the last year so changed to the pill early for more flexibility and control


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 8+ yr
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  27th Apr 25

Nexplanon implant  

Have been using the implant for years. Went to clinic to get replacement, would be my fourth, and practice didn't put implant in. Only discovered months later. Scary process all round, getting 10+ appointments to locate it! Only to be told it wasn't inserted in the first place.


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Apr 25

Nexplanon implant  

my periods stopped but i noticed when i wanted to have sex i wasn’t able to get wet easily. i also developed acne for the first time after i stopped due to the sudden loss of hormones. overall it worked and i enjoyed no periods and no other symptoms outside of sex.


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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