Progestogen-only / Mini pill vs Male condom
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Overview
Rated 2.7
1507 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 4.1
68 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
What Lowdown reviewers say
Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with
Period pain
Protects against STIs
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Real life reviews from people like you
Progestogen-only / Mini pill reviews
1507 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
I was taking Desogestrel for a year and was super happy with it no issues only a small three day period every few months everything seemed great. All of a sudden in the last month I have bled and bled even though I take my pill at the same time everyday. I was so upset and my mood went really low and I’m usually a very happy positively spirited person I have had no issues with mental health before. I believe it was because I was given a different brand of Desogestrel in my last 3 months it was called desorex (gold packaging) I have spoken to 3 girls at my work and they have all had the same problem absolutely fine until they started this brand of pill. The best advice I can give is stick to the brand you know and get on with! As the side effects and changes do differ so much even though they tell you Desogestrel tablets are all the same (they aren’t!!!) I have switched to slynd and my bleeding has completely gone, my mood is happy and normal and I feel healthy on it! I’m also glad to have a 4 day break to have a natural period as it gives me my cycle predictability back! It’s basically like a combined pill but no risk of blood clots which was my biggest worry! My skin is the same I just have small breakouts on my chin sometimes but that’s very normal to me, I don’t feel bloated and my weight has stayed the same. My boobs have definitely got bigger on this though could be temporary I’m not sure. Please try this pill if Desogestrel doesn’t work for you and you still want to be on a mini pill! Within 2 weeks it’s completely changed me making me happy and able to enjoy my sex life again without bleeding all the time! I will update this if anything changes :)
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Overall I was very happy with Cerelle. The only side effect I got is that on packs 3 and 4 I started bleeding every other week, but it is was a fairly light flow, and no clots (which I used to have when I wasn't on the pill). I was advised to switch to a combined pill regulate my bleeding, but I wish I didn't as Cerelle was pretty good to me.
Somewhat positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
I have been on the mini pill now for around 5 months, not for contraception (sure it’s a bonus) but as a move from taking Omeprazole and Mefenamic Acid to control horrific period pain, which stopped working. The first 2 weeks on this pill were great, no side effects, nothing… After I had such a horrorific period i almost stopped it all together. Bleeding & clotting heavily for almost 2 weeks combined with debilitating cramps. Since then I bleed DAILY, with 2-3week long periods. In my review my doctors pushed me to try another 3 months as “It’s should settle out” But I’m in agonising pain some days from when I wake up and for the last 2 months have had daily headaches with a few turning into full blown migraines, which I have been sent home from work for. I hadn’t had a migraine that bad in almost a year and my headaches, which i am prone to, have NEVER been this frequent, but again i was told to ‘monitor them’ and ‘keep track of them’ by my doctor… I’m genuinely at my wits end and i feel quite lied to as well, as one of the biggest reasons i was put onto the mini pill is my medical record with the combined pill, as well as being worried about weight gain and told oh that one happen, when it most certainly has. I genuinely wouldn’t recommend it to anyone and it makes me not want to try any others due to my horrible experience now and in the past.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
I was taking Desogestrel for a year and was super happy with it no issues only a small three day period every few months everything seemed great. All of a sudden in the last month I have bled and bled even though I take my pill at the same time everyday. I was so upset and my mood went really low and I’m usually a very happy positively spirited person I have had no issues with mental health before. I believe it was because I was given a different brand of Desogestrel in my last 3 months it was called desorex (gold packaging) I have spoken to 3 girls at my work and they have all had the same problem absolutely fine until they started this brand of pill. The best advice I can give is stick to the brand you know and get on with! As the side effects and changes do differ so much even though they tell you Desogestrel tablets are all the same (they aren’t!!!) I have switched to slynd and my bleeding has completely gone, my mood is happy and normal and I feel healthy on it! I’m also glad to have a 4 day break to have a natural period as it gives me my cycle predictability back! It’s basically like a combined pill but no risk of blood clots which was my biggest worry! My skin is the same I just have small breakouts on my chin sometimes but that’s very normal to me, I don’t feel bloated and my weight has stayed the same. My boobs have definitely got bigger on this though could be temporary I’m not sure. Please try this pill if Desogestrel doesn’t work for you and you still want to be on a mini pill! Within 2 weeks it’s completely changed me making me happy and able to enjoy my sex life again without bleeding all the time! I will update this if anything changes :)
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Overall I was very happy with Cerelle. The only side effect I got is that on packs 3 and 4 I started bleeding every other week, but it is was a fairly light flow, and no clots (which I used to have when I wasn't on the pill). I was advised to switch to a combined pill regulate my bleeding, but I wish I didn't as Cerelle was pretty good to me.
Somewhat positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
I have been on the mini pill now for around 5 months, not for contraception (sure it’s a bonus) but as a move from taking Omeprazole and Mefenamic Acid to control horrific period pain, which stopped working. The first 2 weeks on this pill were great, no side effects, nothing… After I had such a horrorific period i almost stopped it all together. Bleeding & clotting heavily for almost 2 weeks combined with debilitating cramps. Since then I bleed DAILY, with 2-3week long periods. In my review my doctors pushed me to try another 3 months as “It’s should settle out” But I’m in agonising pain some days from when I wake up and for the last 2 months have had daily headaches with a few turning into full blown migraines, which I have been sent home from work for. I hadn’t had a migraine that bad in almost a year and my headaches, which i am prone to, have NEVER been this frequent, but again i was told to ‘monitor them’ and ‘keep track of them’ by my doctor… I’m genuinely at my wits end and i feel quite lied to as well, as one of the biggest reasons i was put onto the mini pill is my medical record with the combined pill, as well as being worried about weight gain and told oh that one happen, when it most certainly has. I genuinely wouldn’t recommend it to anyone and it makes me not want to try any others due to my horrible experience now and in the past.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Male condom reviews
68 reviews
Used for 12 - 18 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 28th Jul 26
Breasts grow a lot. Lots of headaches. Little sex drive. Bleeding after intercourse. Very sore back. Weight gain
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 16th May 25
Somewhat positive mood
3 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 4th Nov 24
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
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 28th Jul 26
Breasts grow a lot. Lots of headaches. Little sex drive. Bleeding after intercourse. Very sore back. Weight gain
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 16th May 25
Somewhat positive mood
3 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 4th Nov 24
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
2 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 8th Mar 24
You would need a lot of lube as it is not naturally liberated.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 23rd Feb 24
I have no problem apart from feeling friction more quicker then using without a condom.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 21st Feb 24
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
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 13th Feb 24
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
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 12th Feb 24
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

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