Progestogen-only / Mini pill vs Female condom

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Progestogen-only / Mini pill

£From £0.22/day

Female condom

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Overview

Rated 2.7

1510 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.5

4 reviews

During or before sex

Frequency

79% - 95%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Progestogen-only / Mini pill ingredients

Main hormones in Progestogen-only / Mini pill

progestogen

Female condom ingredients

Female condoms (sometimes referred to as a Femidom) are soft thin pouches that are made of a thin
strong plastic called polyurethane
a substance called nitrile
or latex.

What Lowdown reviewers say

31% somewhat negative

44% stopped periods

49% lost sex drive

44% no impact

46% no impact on skin

Cycle return

40% don’t know impact

100% no impact on mood

100% no change

100% no impact

100% no impact

100% no impact on skin

Cycle return

100% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Period pain

Protects against STIs

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£From £0.22/day

Try it now

Add your Female condom review

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews

1510 reviews

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Cerelle pill  

Would have been ok apart from the bile acid diarrhoea anytime I ate anything with fat in it! Thought I was lactose intolerant, stopped pill and suddenly I could eat dairy again! Weird, went on it again after having my son and the diarrhoea suddenly came back doctors said it couldn’t be the pill but I’m not on it now and after 3 weeks no more diarrhoea. Bit of an odd coincidence if it’s not the pill

Read more

Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Slynd pill  

Vaginal atrophy, painful sex, painful urination, extreme constipation, right sided abdominal pain that felt like being stabbed (caused by constipation), dizziness from low blood pressure, fainting, extreme anxiety, chest pain, high cortisol, insomnia, depression, crying a lot, depression, dry skin, thirst,


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  

Vaginal atrophy, vulvar pain, painful sex zero libido, constipation so bad I went to a&e, caused horrible right sided abdominal pain, very dry skin, extreme anxiety, chest pain, insomnia, depression, low blood pressure, dizziness and fainting, over all sucked, took a few months before side effects hit


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Cerelle pill  

Would have been ok apart from the bile acid diarrhoea anytime I ate anything with fat in it! Thought I was lactose intolerant, stopped pill and suddenly I could eat dairy again! Weird, went on it again after having my son and the diarrhoea suddenly came back doctors said it couldn’t be the pill but I’m not on it now and after 3 weeks no more diarrhoea. Bit of an odd coincidence if it’s not the pill


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Slynd pill  

Vaginal atrophy, painful sex, painful urination, extreme constipation, right sided abdominal pain that felt like being stabbed (caused by constipation), dizziness from low blood pressure, fainting, extreme anxiety, chest pain, high cortisol, insomnia, depression, crying a lot, depression, dry skin, thirst,


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  

Vaginal atrophy, vulvar pain, painful sex zero libido, constipation so bad I went to a&e, caused horrible right sided abdominal pain, very dry skin, extreme anxiety, chest pain, insomnia, depression, low blood pressure, dizziness and fainting, over all sucked, took a few months before side effects hit


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments


Female condom reviews

4 reviews

Female condom  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  8th Feb 24

Female condom  

Same as the male condom, has no side effects and will protect from STIs and pregnancy! The only thing its a little fiddly to get on and if you don't react well to latex then not ideal!


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Female condom  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  19th Jan 22

Female condom  

These condoms prevent me from getting UTIs, I can't have sex without them! I think it's because the part of the condom that sticks out covers my urethra and prevents bacteria from spreading. They're a little hard to use at first, and some brands are better than others, but I highly recommend them to everyone.


Top side effects not reported

3 helpful

0 comments

Female condom  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Apr 21

Female condom  

Tried it a couple times with different partners. Mixed reactions. I practiced inserting prior to anything, so it was easy, especially after a couple of tries. Sex felt no different for me and one of the partners. One didn't like the appearance and the other the feel. One thing I love is that it doesn't have that nasty latex smell! You can also use any lube. Overall, I think it is a great option for many people, but (like everything) you should try it a few times for yourself. Also great if you run into situations where the guy is resisting wearing a condom himself.


Top side effects not reported

2 helpful

0 comments

Female condom  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  8th Feb 24

Female condom  

Same as the male condom, has no side effects and will protect from STIs and pregnancy! The only thing its a little fiddly to get on and if you don't react well to latex then not ideal!


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Female condom  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  19th Jan 22

Female condom  

These condoms prevent me from getting UTIs, I can't have sex without them! I think it's because the part of the condom that sticks out covers my urethra and prevents bacteria from spreading. They're a little hard to use at first, and some brands are better than others, but I highly recommend them to everyone.


Top side effects not reported

3 helpful

0 comments

Female condom  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Apr 21

Female condom  

Tried it a couple times with different partners. Mixed reactions. I practiced inserting prior to anything, so it was easy, especially after a couple of tries. Sex felt no different for me and one of the partners. One didn't like the appearance and the other the feel. One thing I love is that it doesn't have that nasty latex smell! You can also use any lube. Overall, I think it is a great option for many people, but (like everything) you should try it a few times for yourself. Also great if you run into situations where the guy is resisting wearing a condom himself.


Top side effects not reported

2 helpful

0 comments

Female condom  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  12th May 20

Female condom  

Used it once - it came off inside me within 5 minutes and I didn't realise so ended up having completely unprotected sex and having to get a STI test.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

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The Lowdown, a Vira Health company

Women's health, reviewed.

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