Patch vs Male condom

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

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.

I initially really liked this contraception - Evra patch - I used it before we planned for our daughter with no issues with side effects, and because I liked it so much, it was the contraception of choice after I gave birth. However, post pregnancy the patch was not good. I was on the patch for almost a year post baby before switching to the implant, and the reason I was on it for a year was simply because I really wanted this contraception to work for me despite not liking the side effects. I love the premise behind the patch. It is so simple to use and I liked that it was on the skin and you applied it yourself, as opposed to something inside your body that you have to book an appointment for a procedure to get it fitted, such as the implant, for example. The reason I changed to the implant from the patch was because I really struggled with irritation at the patch site. I don't know if it was a reaction to the hormones or the glue used to adhere the patch to the skin - possibly the latter - but the irritation was horrendous. The patch would be incredibly itchy and it was unbearable. It would leave me with burn-like marks that would still be there three weeks later, despite rotating the patch site every single week. I used to have to resist the urge to scratch the patch off. Many times I did scratch it off and with it, took a layer of skin off due to irritation. I'd be left with exposed, damaged skin at the site patch which would then scab over as the skin healed. I am usually quite a steady mood person and the patch really affected my mood which was hard. I'd get very down and anxious a couple of days after my patch change day and that would last a day or two. It was similar to the feeling you get before your period, then your period arrives and you're thinking, "Okay so that explains why I was feeling that way - it was my period!" But instead of getting that down/anxious feeling once a month, I'd get it every single week. It was draining not just for me, but also for my partner too. When I placed an order for the patch, I'd get a prescription for 3 months worth of patches but because of the irritation I explained above, I was actually scratching the patch off before my patch change day which reduced my stock of patches earlier than planned. This meant I was putting in more prescription requests than the suggested amount. Scratching the patch off obviously put me at risk of falling pregnant, which didn't happen to me, and even though, I immediately replaced the patch I'd scratched off, it did make me question the effectiveness of the patch. When I spoke to the doctor about scratching the patch off before the change day she couldn't really explain whether that would reduce the effectiveness of the patch or not because I'd replaced it immediately. I am so disappointed that this contraception has not worked for me, but it was really affecting my skin and my mood. The way it affected my skin was intense itching all over my body. It was so bad that I'd scratch until my skin bled. That started about 8 or 9 months into using the patch and I put up with it until I got to 12 months, so for the last 3-4 months of using the patch, I was going stir crazy with the itchiness and skin irritation all over my legs, my feet and my arms. It was debilitating and it was something totally new in my life - I have never had any skin issues before. I initially thought it was my washing powder (I'd not changed the brand) or low iron as I'd developed low iron after I gave birth, but since stopping the patch and changing to the implant, within a month of having the implant, my skin is well on its way to going back to normal - everything is healing. All I can say is, this is my experience of using the EVRA patch. I hope this helps someone reading this but do your research before you decide if it is the right contraception for you. Just because I had all the side effects listed above does not necessarily mean that you will. I didn't have most of these on my first stint of using the patch. I only really had low mood but no skin irritation. It was only after pregnancy and birth that I noticed the side effects second time around.

this is a test

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

I was recommended dretine and I've not looked back.

Potentially safe

You would need a lot of lube as it is not naturally liberated.

I have no problem apart from feeling friction more quicker then using without a condom.

I am happy using the male condom as it does not effect my hormones nor cause massive physical issues.

I like to use them because they don’t affect you / if you have had bad experiences with hormonal birth control in the past

My partner uses a male condom which comes with no symptoms as it is not harmonal. However, I struggle with intense ovulation symptoms that ranges from lower abdominal cramps to spotting in mucus. This started 3 years ago (age 25) and first occurred periodically but for the past year it has been almost every month. The mucosal spotting is not heavy and does not require pads. However, it use to last only 1-2 days but now it extends 3-4 days.

For me using condoms worked great and I had virtually no complaints during the years I used them.