Vasectomy vs Implant

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Vasectomy

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Implant

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Overview

Rated 3.8

8 reviews

Permanent

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

Permanent

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

646 reviews

Every 5 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Vasectomy ingredients

A vasectomy (male sterilisation) is a permanent surgical procedure to cut or seal the tubes that carry a man’s sperm. It prevents pregnancy by stopping sperm getting into a man’s semen which is then ejaculated during sexual intercourse.

Implant ingredients

Main hormones in Implant

progestogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

38% somewhat negative

75% no change

50% lost sex drive

88% no impact

100% no impact on skin

Cycle return

Not enough data to say

36% somewhat negative

49% irregular periods

48% lost sex drive

40% gained weight

54% no impact on skin

Cycle return

31% in 1 month

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

There are no benefits that are recognised in scientific research or guidelines for this contraceptive

Heavy periods

Ovulation pain

Period pain

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Real life reviews from people like you

Vasectomy reviews

8 reviews

Vasectomy  
Used for 8+ yr
58 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1st Jun 25

Vasectomy  

vasectomy is a good form of contraception. There is a lot of good information here: https://vasectomy.co.uk/vasectomy

Read more

Very positive mood

0 helpful

1 comments

Vasectomy  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5th Jul 24

Vasectomy  

As a woman the vasectomy is the best contraception I feel we have ever had. I have no pain, weight gain, mood swings, plastic packaging or costs. I highly recommend.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Vasectomy  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5th Sep 20

Vasectomy  

Sept 1998. Had a vasectomy. Easy and quick. Done in the hospital operating room on a Friday morning. Went home And took it easy. Took it easy at work Monday no problems. By Wednesday started feeling pain in testicles. Called doctors office. Doctors gone on holiday. Anyway from this point the pain only gets worse and all the doctors have to say is that they have never seen anyone in such pain. Within the first six months I had met with a variety of doctors and tried a wide variety of drugs, therapies and nerve blocks. Nothing worked for more than a few hours (nerve blocks did!). I had the vasectomy reversed June 1999 at my own cost of $2000. It was about three months before i felt better from that. Sadly only my left testicle had resolved. The right side still had the same pain. I had a semen test done. First ever in my life. I had sperm count of 125 million / ml. Surgeon thought that was great but still pain persisted in my right testicle. Followup turned into another vas reversal but just for the right side. This one I didn’t have to pay for because it was for chronic pain. Sadly it didn’t help. Now it’s 2020! I have endured this for 22 years. I wish I had never done it. That’s my absolute last word.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Vasectomy  
Used for 8+ yr
58 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1st Jun 25

Vasectomy  

vasectomy is a good form of contraception. There is a lot of good information here: https://vasectomy.co.uk/vasectomy


Very positive mood

0 helpful

1 comments

Vasectomy  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5th Jul 24

Vasectomy  

As a woman the vasectomy is the best contraception I feel we have ever had. I have no pain, weight gain, mood swings, plastic packaging or costs. I highly recommend.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Vasectomy  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  5th Sep 20

Vasectomy  

Sept 1998. Had a vasectomy. Easy and quick. Done in the hospital operating room on a Friday morning. Went home And took it easy. Took it easy at work Monday no problems. By Wednesday started feeling pain in testicles. Called doctors office. Doctors gone on holiday. Anyway from this point the pain only gets worse and all the doctors have to say is that they have never seen anyone in such pain. Within the first six months I had met with a variety of doctors and tried a wide variety of drugs, therapies and nerve blocks. Nothing worked for more than a few hours (nerve blocks did!). I had the vasectomy reversed June 1999 at my own cost of $2000. It was about three months before i felt better from that. Sadly only my left testicle had resolved. The right side still had the same pain. I had a semen test done. First ever in my life. I had sperm count of 125 million / ml. Surgeon thought that was great but still pain persisted in my right testicle. Followup turned into another vas reversal but just for the right side. This one I didn’t have to pay for because it was for chronic pain. Sadly it didn’t help. Now it’s 2020! I have endured this for 22 years. I wish I had never done it. That’s my absolute last word.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments


Implant reviews

646 reviews

Implant  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Nexplanon implant  

I have attempted trying the implant twice. Once when I was 18 and recently at 25 after having a baby. Whilst insertion is quick, easy and pain free with local anaesthetic, the effects of the implant on my mood have been detrimental. The hormone caused me on both occasions to develop severe anxiety and depression almost immediately after insertion, as someone who doesn't usually suffer with mental health issues. It's like having PMS but on an extreme scale. The implant on both occasions made my life miserable. I had to have both removed early and funnily enough a week or so after I did, I felt like 'me' again. The implant has a massive amount of hormone in that runs through your body daily. A hormonal coil works much better for me as it has almost 1/6th the hormone amount of an implant which is mostly contained within the uterus.


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Nexplanon implant  

First year and a bit on the implant absolutely perfect. Minimal periods and literally zero side effects. However coming up to year 2 I started bleeding a lot on it. Almost every other week I was getting my period. My GP recommended I get a new one fitted and sadly from the beginning I’m still having frequent periods and ache. It’s a real shame as I really enjoyed having it at the start but I will be switching now.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Nexplanon implant  

The fitting was not as scary as I anticipated (helped by an amazing nurse!), and have had similar side effects to the progesterone-only pill, but without the stress of remembering to take it at the same time which is a nice break after years! 'Periods' come every few months generally for me, and are about twice the length of usual but less painful and none of the usual emotional disregulation leading up to it.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Nexplanon implant  

I have attempted trying the implant twice. Once when I was 18 and recently at 25 after having a baby. Whilst insertion is quick, easy and pain free with local anaesthetic, the effects of the implant on my mood have been detrimental. The hormone caused me on both occasions to develop severe anxiety and depression almost immediately after insertion, as someone who doesn't usually suffer with mental health issues. It's like having PMS but on an extreme scale. The implant on both occasions made my life miserable. I had to have both removed early and funnily enough a week or so after I did, I felt like 'me' again. The implant has a massive amount of hormone in that runs through your body daily. A hormonal coil works much better for me as it has almost 1/6th the hormone amount of an implant which is mostly contained within the uterus.


Very negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Nexplanon implant  

First year and a bit on the implant absolutely perfect. Minimal periods and literally zero side effects. However coming up to year 2 I started bleeding a lot on it. Almost every other week I was getting my period. My GP recommended I get a new one fitted and sadly from the beginning I’m still having frequent periods and ache. It’s a real shame as I really enjoyed having it at the start but I will be switching now.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Nexplanon implant  

The fitting was not as scary as I anticipated (helped by an amazing nurse!), and have had similar side effects to the progesterone-only pill, but without the stress of remembering to take it at the same time which is a nice break after years! 'Periods' come every few months generally for me, and are about twice the length of usual but less painful and none of the usual emotional disregulation leading up to it.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Aug 26

Nexplanon implant  

overall a good experience, used to have very bad acne that was significantly improved. only bad thing I can point out is that my period went to very regular to irregular with ocasional spotting


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 8+ yr
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  16th Aug 26

Nexplanon implant  

I liked the implant however it caused a lot of irregular bleeding and bloating. Once I came off it after 8 years I developed PMDD


Gained weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  21st Jul 26

Nexplanon implant  

I’ve had this implant twice now both times had side effects I couldn’t deal with first time I gained nearly 3 stone and this time I’m on the weight loss injection and it seems to be countering the weight gain but honestly I’m so emotional and insecure my partner is struggling to deal with my emotions and so am I


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  15th Jul 26

Nexplanon implant  

At first, my experience with the implant wasn't too bad as I was still 'wet' and moist, but over time my natural moisture has completely dwindled down to nearly nothing. This severe dryness is driving me absolutely insane because it honestly makes me feel like I have a post-menopausal vagina. Because of this, I am now changing back to the generic Desogestrel mini-pill, as I know from previous use that I at least had a normal, healthy white and milky discharge on that method. I am just stating my own personal experience here, and I still think that other people should definitely try the implant if they fancy a different form of birth control, because everyone's body reacts differently to the hormones. so yeah, thank u, next with the implant.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  14th Jul 26

Nexplanon implant  

Been on the implant for 6 years now, initially I was spotting for 6 months before it finally settled. Now much more lighter periods so I can cope better as previously really heavy and needed tranexamic acid to manage, mood is more level now also, very rarely get cramps which is a bonus, have gained a little weight and body hair, overall happy with it


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  8th Jul 26

Nexplanon implant  

I gain weight and got chronic fatigue. It was awful.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
42 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Jun 26

Nexplanon implant  

This i my first time, I discovered skin heat rash at the initial stage, presently loosing weight and loosing hair.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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