Patch vs Implant

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Patch

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Implant

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Overview

Rated 3.4

131 reviews

Weekly

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

635 reviews

Every 5 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Patch ingredients

Main hormones in Patch

progestogen

oestrogen


Implant ingredients

Main hormones in Implant

progestogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

36% no impact on mood

34% lighter periods

49% no impact

49% no impact

51% no impact on skin

Cycle return

39% don’t know impact

37% somewhat negative

49% irregular periods

49% lost sex drive

40% gained weight

55% no impact on skin

Cycle return

31% in 1 month

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

Heavy periods

Ovulation pain

Period pain

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Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Patch reviews

131 reviews

Patch  
Used for 8+ yr
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Evra patch  

I loved being on the patch. It was so convenient. My periods were still really heavy but I could push them to once every two months before breakthrough bleeding would cause me to take the patch off and have a period. I’d have pain on the first day but nothing ever as bad as I used to have before. I was solely on the patch to help with irregular/painful periods. I switched bc I wanted a more subtle birth control.

Read more

Increased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Evra patch  

I’ve not noticed many side effects other than weight gain / breast growth. Periods are extremely regular almost down to the hour of the day i’ll get it, lasts three days total and before birth control i would have had very bad cramps i’ve noticed they’ve minimised significantly. Now ive only some cramps on day two which is easily solved by Ibepopfen


Gained weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  20th Apr 26

Evra patch  

I’ve been on the patch for around 6 months, it’s causing periods every 2 weeks even though I’m using it correctly. The only positive is it’s easy to use and hasn’t caused weight gain.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 8+ yr
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

Evra patch  

I loved being on the patch. It was so convenient. My periods were still really heavy but I could push them to once every two months before breakthrough bleeding would cause me to take the patch off and have a period. I’d have pain on the first day but nothing ever as bad as I used to have before. I was solely on the patch to help with irregular/painful periods. I switched bc I wanted a more subtle birth control.


Increased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Evra patch  

I’ve not noticed many side effects other than weight gain / breast growth. Periods are extremely regular almost down to the hour of the day i’ll get it, lasts three days total and before birth control i would have had very bad cramps i’ve noticed they’ve minimised significantly. Now ive only some cramps on day two which is easily solved by Ibepopfen


Gained weight

0 helpful

0 comments

Patch  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  20th Apr 26

Evra patch  

I’ve been on the patch for around 6 months, it’s causing periods every 2 weeks even though I’m using it correctly. The only positive is it’s easy to use and hasn’t caused weight gain.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments


Implant reviews

635 reviews

Implant  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Nexplanon implant  

It cause me to have my period for 145 days straight starting two weeks after getting it. The first month was honestly horrible with severe cramping and lower back pain while passing relatively big clots. It also made my mental health decline significantly during this time but after the five month mark I am feeling great and not pregnant!


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Nexplanon implant  

I was on it for coming up to 8 years overall obviously great to not get pregnant and I was on contraception before where I had an accident so it was really easy and really quick to not have to think about this. It did really impact my moods and I eventually ended up having PMDD because of the severe mood swings. I would also bleed twice a month instead of just a once And it caused a really bad loss of libido and federal dryness. But these are all things that would probably happen if I was pregnant anyway.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Nexplanon implant  

My mood was completely changed on this contraception about 2 weeks in. I started getting really angry at everything/everyone very fast, I had a short temper, I felt sad all the time and like everyone was against me. Overall I felt I was going crazy and could not control my emotions at all. Also I had a constant heavy period for 3 months


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 day ago

Nexplanon implant  

It cause me to have my period for 145 days straight starting two weeks after getting it. The first month was honestly horrible with severe cramping and lower back pain while passing relatively big clots. It also made my mental health decline significantly during this time but after the five month mark I am feeling great and not pregnant!


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Nexplanon implant  

I was on it for coming up to 8 years overall obviously great to not get pregnant and I was on contraception before where I had an accident so it was really easy and really quick to not have to think about this. It did really impact my moods and I eventually ended up having PMDD because of the severe mood swings. I would also bleed twice a month instead of just a once And it caused a really bad loss of libido and federal dryness. But these are all things that would probably happen if I was pregnant anyway.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Nexplanon implant  

My mood was completely changed on this contraception about 2 weeks in. I started getting really angry at everything/everyone very fast, I had a short temper, I felt sad all the time and like everyone was against me. Overall I felt I was going crazy and could not control my emotions at all. Also I had a constant heavy period for 3 months


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  16th Apr 26

Nexplanon implant  

Used for 5 years so far. No complaints really. I didnt feel much change to myself till recently. This has been mood swings and irritability but ive been on it 5 years and this only just started. Never fell pregnant. Little to no periods. Would recommend


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2nd Apr 26

Nexplanon implant  

I originally had the implant inserted in May 2025, but I had a difficult experience with heavy bleeding. I had it removed and switched back to the mini-pill, which has always worked well for me. I decided to try the implant again and had it re-inserted around August 18, 2025. Here is the updated timeline of my experience: Initial Recovery (August 2025) • Wound Care: I removed the bandage and plaster early to let the area breathe. I applied a new plaster on the second day, eventually removing it once I was sure the insertion site had finished bleeding. • Healing: There was some minor bruising around the site, but nothing too bad. • Early Symptoms: I noticed some clear, yellowish vaginal discharge shortly after insertion, but no spotting or bleeding during this initial stage. Follow-up Symptoms (A few months later) After I had the implant in for a few months, I began experiencing some changes: • Spotting: I had spotting/light bleeding for a few days. • Discharge: This was followed by a period of reddish and brown discharge that lasted for a few weeks. Current Status Aside from that specific window of spotting and colored discharge a few months in, I have had no other issues. It has been working well since then, and I’m hopeful it stays this way!


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

2 comments

Implant  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2nd Apr 26

Nexplanon implant  

(I had it inserted roughly around August 18th 205, and couldn’t remember how long ago it was when filling this out) , I took the bandage and plaster off to let the area breathe. (Added new plaster on the second day then removed it once I was sure that the bleeding stopped/would stop. Noticed some bruising, but nothing too bad. A bit of clear, yellowish vaginal discharge No other issues besides having a bit of reddish and brown discharge for a few weeks after a few months of having it put in, I did try having it a while ago before August of 2025, say May 2025, had horrible bleeding and such, but then had it taken out and went on mini pill which has always worked ok for me, then decided to go back on the implant and have had it since then and no other problems, so let’s hope it stays this way.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

3 comments

Implant  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1st Apr 26

Nexplanon implant  

Nexplanon has changed my life by taking away my PMS/PMDD mental health symptoms. I have a lot of trust in the evidence that it works effectively to prevent pregnancy. I found both the original insertion and the replacement to be non painful procedures. The replacement took a bit longer because it was fiddly for them to get the rod out. This was not painful but slightly uncomfortable but the nurses were so friendly that it was okay. It completely randomises my periods. I still get a slight breast tenderness before my periods which helps me to know when it is coming. It feels like my PMS is quiet and slow where as before it was fast and brutal. Recently after my new insertion I’ve had a bit of dizziness here and there, but I am still working out why… it could be due to my diet. Generally I prefer my experience on Nexplanon to what my natural experience was like and would continue to use it even if I stopped being sexually active.


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4th Mar 26

Nexplanon implant  

Stopped my periods for the first 4 years then they became heavier - lasting up to 3 weeks


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
14 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  18th Jan 26

Nexplanon implant  

It's my first time on birth control and I get way angrier then I used to but all I'm seeing from my body is positive things


Improved skin

2 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Implant  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  10th Jan 26

Nexplanon implant  

Was previously on the progesterone only pill but did not want to have to remember it daily. Have had no issues with Nexplanon and had it changed recently after having the first for three years.


Very positive mood

1 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Patch with other contraceptives

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