Male condom vs Injection

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Male condom

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Injection

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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 2.9

311 reviews

Every 2-3 months

Frequency

94% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

Short term

Effect on fertility

Male condom ingredients

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

Injection ingredients

Main hormones in Injection

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

31% somewhat negative

70% stopped periods

57% lost sex drive

48% gained weight

47% no impact on skin

Cycle return

43% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Protects against STIs

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Period pain

Try it now

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Try it now

Add your Injection 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

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


Injection reviews

311 reviews

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Depo-Provera injection  

First 3 weeks were fine, I spent first 3 days filled with rage and nausea and a few headaches but fine. First expected period rolled around at 3 weeks in and didn't stop, like at all (day 77 as I write this). About 6 weeks in my mood crashed. As someone who has previously had mental health problems, I was incredibly apprehensive about going on any kind of hormonal birth control because I was scared of side effects. But in order to get my tubes tied, my doctors wanted to see me try this first and everyone reassured me that I was just being paranoid and it wouldn't be as bad as I imagined. Unfortunately it was worse than I imagined. I spent 4 weeks getting progressively more suicidal until I finally went to the doctors (which was its own story) but had to take three Valium a day in order to function and go to work. At the time of writing, I'm 2 weeks out of the 12-week expected window, still bleeding and still suffering mentally but less so and more manageably. This experience has put me off trying any other form of birth control. I had done this to try and reduce PMS symptoms and wish I never had. I was also recommended the mirena coil but didn't like the idea of having to have it inserted or removed if things went wrong/justify myself to a doctor


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Depo-Provera injection  

I went on the depo injection due to the mini pill making my IBS constipation symptoms worse and the doctor saying this would be better. For first 6 months, no side effects. It did level out my moods and constipation, but it gave me vaginal dryness and a loss of sex drive after 9 months of being on it.


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5th May 26

Depo-Provera injection  

I got with a new partner a few years back and gave this ago as I wanted something I didn’t need to remember to take. I gained weight fast, I had mood changes, my skin broke out badly, my periods were heavier than before. I only ever had one injection then stopped as I no longer needed it and I didn’t like how it made me feel. Unfortunately I had a rare side effect where it stopped my periods/ovulation all together for 12 months I was referred to gynaecology at 6 months and luckily after all the scans everything was normal and by month 12 my cycle returned without needing to be medically induced. This is not a horror story but important that you could react the same or if you are reacting the same please get referred to gynaecology and hopefully your periods will return 🤍


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  today

Depo-Provera injection  

First 3 weeks were fine, I spent first 3 days filled with rage and nausea and a few headaches but fine. First expected period rolled around at 3 weeks in and didn't stop, like at all (day 77 as I write this). About 6 weeks in my mood crashed. As someone who has previously had mental health problems, I was incredibly apprehensive about going on any kind of hormonal birth control because I was scared of side effects. But in order to get my tubes tied, my doctors wanted to see me try this first and everyone reassured me that I was just being paranoid and it wouldn't be as bad as I imagined. Unfortunately it was worse than I imagined. I spent 4 weeks getting progressively more suicidal until I finally went to the doctors (which was its own story) but had to take three Valium a day in order to function and go to work. At the time of writing, I'm 2 weeks out of the 12-week expected window, still bleeding and still suffering mentally but less so and more manageably. This experience has put me off trying any other form of birth control. I had done this to try and reduce PMS symptoms and wish I never had. I was also recommended the mirena coil but didn't like the idea of having to have it inserted or removed if things went wrong/justify myself to a doctor


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Depo-Provera injection  

I went on the depo injection due to the mini pill making my IBS constipation symptoms worse and the doctor saying this would be better. For first 6 months, no side effects. It did level out my moods and constipation, but it gave me vaginal dryness and a loss of sex drive after 9 months of being on it.


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5th May 26

Depo-Provera injection  

I got with a new partner a few years back and gave this ago as I wanted something I didn’t need to remember to take. I gained weight fast, I had mood changes, my skin broke out badly, my periods were heavier than before. I only ever had one injection then stopped as I no longer needed it and I didn’t like how it made me feel. Unfortunately I had a rare side effect where it stopped my periods/ovulation all together for 12 months I was referred to gynaecology at 6 months and luckily after all the scans everything was normal and by month 12 my cycle returned without needing to be medically induced. This is not a horror story but important that you could react the same or if you are reacting the same please get referred to gynaecology and hopefully your periods will return 🤍


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
46 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  28th Apr 26

Sayana Press injection  

Having used both Depot and Sanaya Press, these are the best method of contraception. No side effect and a huge positive: no periods.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Apr 26

Depo-Provera injection  

This has made my sex life a living hell .I get scared to have sex with my partner since I associate the vaginal dryness with this Depo shot ,the sex is always pain towards the end as there’s not enough lubrication


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  14th Feb 26

Noristerat injection  

This was bad experience my stretch marks even increased and low libido is the worst


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Feb 26

Sayana Press injection  

I would have rated this 5 stars last year. I used to be on the depo jab that had to be done at the doctors but I work 12 hour shifts meaning it was a struggle to attended every 12 weeks. So I was over the moon when I found out about sayana press that I could do myself. I usually do the injection around 11 weeks but the last 3 times I get to 10 weeks and get crippling period pain that completely debilitates me. Even after I’ve done the injection this will continue for about a week afterwards. I’ve never experienced child birth but the pain is horrendous. It will wake me up in the middle of the night, happen at work and is just completely random spouts of unbearable pain until at whatever point doesn’t happen again until I am next at the 10 week mark. I’ve recently learned that it’s a lower strength to Depo-Provera and maybe that’s why however I’m confused as to why it’s only started happening. My gp surgery is useless and it the whole process of going back to having the higher strength at the surgery is going to take some time but being able to do it at home is not worth this horrendous ordeal. I would not recommend switching


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

1 comments

Injection  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Jan 26

Sayana Press injection  

Great if you’re looking to prevent pregnancy with less admin. Having the year’s supply ant home and not needing to see a doctor every few months was handy. Stopped my periods aside from some very minimal spotting and my skin was great - I barely had any spots over the years I was on it. I did feel like I was quite numb emotions wise. I didn’t experience mood swings but it was alarming that I often didn’t really feel anything! My libido was extremely low too.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1st Dec 25

Noristerat injection  

I experience mood swings, low libido, aura migraine, my face got darker than usual and I stopped seeing my period.


Very negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  18th Nov 25

Noristerat injection  

I had a very bad experience using this contraceptive. Bad moods, bad skin, bad body image, depression, sweating, low libido. Just bad.


Very positive mood

3 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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