Progestogen-only / Mini pill vs Male condom
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Overview
Rated 2.7
1519 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
1519 reviews
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
All in all the desogestrel pill is easy to remember to take and really simple. It helps to give myself some peace of mind and hasn't given me too many bad side effects. I had no change to my mental health at all but did have irregular periods. For example I bled for 7 days then stopped for two days then bled again but then the next time I had a 5 day no bleed and then continued again. The periods don't really come with cramps which is good I did have some pain in my upper stomach but not sure if this was due to the mini pill or not. The only thing is the day before my period when I try to sleep my stomach feels uncomfortable but it's a good indicator to tell me if it's going to start. At first I did feel an increase in hunger but that decreases over time. Overall I like this pill apart from the irregular periods and will continue to use this pill for a while
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I had always suffered with very minor anxiety, however once I went on this pill I was a wreck. It was like I became a whole different person, I was irritable, mean, and I was constantly upset. In the space of a month I went from a D to and E, and I gained weight like I never have before around my lower stomach. I had always been rather skinny around there, but even after 2 years of not taking it, I have never been able to return to how my body was beforehand. The first 2 and a half weeks were normal, but after that I bled consecutively for 9 weeks, with a few 16 days staggered in between where I only briefly spotted.
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
Cerazette has been great for me! Used to get very heavy and debilitatingly painful periods (though not diagnosed with anything), and now occasionally get a day or 2 of light bleeding with very very mild cramps. My mood is not effected by my cycle anymore and I feel much more stable and happy. Has also worked well as contraception, which is what I am taking it for!
Somewhat positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
All in all the desogestrel pill is easy to remember to take and really simple. It helps to give myself some peace of mind and hasn't given me too many bad side effects. I had no change to my mental health at all but did have irregular periods. For example I bled for 7 days then stopped for two days then bled again but then the next time I had a 5 day no bleed and then continued again. The periods don't really come with cramps which is good I did have some pain in my upper stomach but not sure if this was due to the mini pill or not. The only thing is the day before my period when I try to sleep my stomach feels uncomfortable but it's a good indicator to tell me if it's going to start. At first I did feel an increase in hunger but that decreases over time. Overall I like this pill apart from the irregular periods and will continue to use this pill for a while
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
17 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I had always suffered with very minor anxiety, however once I went on this pill I was a wreck. It was like I became a whole different person, I was irritable, mean, and I was constantly upset. In the space of a month I went from a D to and E, and I gained weight like I never have before around my lower stomach. I had always been rather skinny around there, but even after 2 years of not taking it, I have never been able to return to how my body was beforehand. The first 2 and a half weeks were normal, but after that I bled consecutively for 9 weeks, with a few 16 days staggered in between where I only briefly spotted.
Very negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
Cerazette has been great for me! Used to get very heavy and debilitatingly painful periods (though not diagnosed with anything), and now occasionally get a day or 2 of light bleeding with very very mild cramps. My mood is not effected by my cycle anymore and I feel much more stable and happy. Has also worked well as contraception, which is what I am taking it for!
Somewhat positive mood
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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