Progestogen-only / Mini pill vs Male condom

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Progestogen-only / Mini pill

£From £0.22/day

Male condom

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Overview

Rated 2.7

1360 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 4.1

66 reviews

During or before sex

Frequency

82% - 98%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Progestogen-only / Mini pill ingredients

Main hormones in Progestogen-only / Mini pill

progestogen

Male condom ingredients

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

What Lowdown reviewers say

32% somewhat negative

44% stopped periods

50% lost sex drive

44% no impact

45% no impact on skin

Cycle return

38% don’t know impact

73% no impact on mood

88% no change

77% no impact

99% no impact

88% no impact on skin

Cycle return

50% in 1 month

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Period pain

Protects against STIs

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£From £0.22/day

Try it now

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Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews

1360 reviews

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Zelleta pill  

Since taking the zelleta pull my mood has gotten a lot worse. I catch myself crying over little things I would have never cried about before. I used to take the cerelle pill which worked well for me but now I get irritated easily and lasch out at my boyfriend a lot.

Read more

Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Noriday pill  

Never have had a pregnancy scare (touch wood). I’ve been on Noriday for at least 5 years now and affect trying 2 different BC’s and another mini-pill, this is by far the best off.


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Noriday pill  

I’ve been on this pill for about 4 years now and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. Periods come and go when they please (at least 2/3 times a month) and can last for weeks on end. I tried to change to Desogestrel after a trip to the doctors but that made me throw up for 5 days straight. I’m limited to what pills I can take due to family history so I’m stuck with this until I can find an alternative, only plus side is is haven’t fell pregnant once whilst on it.


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Zelleta pill  

Since taking the zelleta pull my mood has gotten a lot worse. I catch myself crying over little things I would have never cried about before. I used to take the cerelle pill which worked well for me but now I get irritated easily and lasch out at my boyfriend a lot.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Noriday pill  

Never have had a pregnancy scare (touch wood). I’ve been on Noriday for at least 5 years now and affect trying 2 different BC’s and another mini-pill, this is by far the best off.


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Noriday pill  

I’ve been on this pill for about 4 years now and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. Periods come and go when they please (at least 2/3 times a month) and can last for weeks on end. I tried to change to Desogestrel after a trip to the doctors but that made me throw up for 5 days straight. I’m limited to what pills I can take due to family history so I’m stuck with this until I can find an alternative, only plus side is is haven’t fell pregnant once whilst on it.


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments


Male condom reviews

66 reviews

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

1 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 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  12th Mar 24

Durex condom  

Potentially safe


Somewhat positive mood

0 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

1 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 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  12th Mar 24

Durex condom  

Potentially safe


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  8th Mar 24

Pasante condom  

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


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  23rd Feb 24

Pasante condom  

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


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  21st Feb 24

Mates condom  

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


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  13th Feb 24

Durex condom  

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


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  12th Feb 24

Durex condom  

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.


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  8th Feb 24

Durex condom  

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


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Male condom  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  8th Feb 24

Durex condom  

Simple but effective. It was the main form of contraception we learnt about at school and the one that was easily available, I switched between this and the coil until I had my babies. Some men may not want to wear one but then they are not people you should be sleeping with!


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Progestogen-only / Mini pill with other contraceptives

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