Does anyone just use condoms?

[AirRaidShelter]

I don't want a coil inserted because I'm a wimp and not keen on the pill as it took me along time to regain periods when i stopped it. Would you just use condoms? Or too risky?

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If you've found this page in search of condoms that have been tried and tested by fellow Mumsnet users, you might find our guide to the best condoms useful. Hope this helps! MNHQ

I hate the feel of them but I can’t use the pill and don’t want the coil fitted. We use the caya diaphragm (I got mine on the NHS as an icash clinic but you can buy the same thing on Amazon). It’s suits us and I think it’s great. Obviously you have to be very careful about using it correctly as the failure rate is slightly higher than condoms (96 as opposed to 98).

I’m currently taking the mini pill as it’s the only thing that helps my skin and periods. Have used condoms in the past, used shop own brands no problem. I’m pretty sure- they have to be to a certain standard to be sold, I wouldn’t worry about using the cheaper ones x

DH and I have been using them for over 20 years with no unplanned pregnancies.

As long as they’re used correctly they are 100% effective.

They are not 100% effective, no contraception is. Used correctly they are 98% effective. This means 2 in 100 women who have regular sex with condoms for a year will fall pregnant.

This is a lot lower than the around 80% of women who will fall pregnant in a year with no contraception.

Been using condoms for 19 year with no problems.

We do OP.
Have you thought about also using the method where you track your cycle and don’t have sex on fertile days... as well as using condoms when you do of course.

I would recommend condoms coupled with "natural family planning" I.e. tracking periods and not having sex during most fertile period. Just in case the condom breaks or leaks etc.

Condom user here, for almost 3 years now and for a year between DC1 and DC2

I get them free from family planning clinic or GP surgery (I thought everyone did!)

DH is trying to get his vasectomy complete (don't ask) so hopefully will stop using them soon. I hate the interruption of them, though I'm not keen on the 'ol man gravy bit or the bathroom dash but you can't have it all eh!

DH and I did successfully for about 10 months.
We knew we would be TTC and wanted to give my long term hormonal contraception time to disappear (GP said it could take 1 year to regain full fertility).

We have been together for 43 years and with the exception of 1 year, when I took the pill, we always used condoms. (Don’t need them now, I’m post menopause). The pill didn’t agree with me and I didn’t want to try anything invasive so DH was happy to stick with condoms.
We didn’t have any failures or problems and I only became pregnant when we chose.
However, I was obsessive about not getting pregnant, so always made sure they were used properly and removed immediately after use.

Also, combine the use of condoms with spermicide for extra reassurance.

StrawBlueRas

If you happen to be in a French hypermarket, they're really cheap (Durex). I'm with your other half on this one (although it turned out I was infertile so we were wasting our money anyway 🙄).

We always just use condoms, I refuse to use hormonal contraception as it turns me into a nutter and didn't want a coil or to have to poke a diaphram up myself.

They didn't fail us, and when we started TTC, I fell pregnant in 2 months.

However, do whatever you need to so that you feel protected.

Yep. Never used any other form of contraception - used Durex only for 17 years, no accidents. Only pregnant once within 3 months of trying. I hate how doctors try and push hormonal or invasive contraception.

Been using them for ten years, no pregnancies.

Yes. For last 17 years. Fairly regularly and no scares. Now once or twice in a month if dh hasn’t annoyed me 😆😆😆

I 'just' used condom's for 15 years with no unwanted pregnancies. If you're using them correctly the risk is very low. (If anything went wrong/breakage etc - I would have used morning after pill immediately as a backup).

No contraception is 100%.

We've used them on and off for six years with no issues. Had unprotected sex and fell pregnant. Went back on the pill after baby was born. Lasted four months and stopped taking it. Doesn't agree with me at all. So sticking with condoms. We are very careful with them.

Yep we just used condoms till TTC and never had a scare. Always bought the cheapo ones too 😏

Forgot to say we buy durex real feel as they are latex free. I think I'm sensitive to latex. Would I get those free in family planing clinic anyone know?

For all those who say avoid sex around your fertile period...this amazes me. Surely that's when a woman really really wants to have sex?!

We do, is fine for us but really it's what you are most comfortable with x

I agree @littlemisscynical !

Absolutely @littlemisscynical

Not any more as DH had a vasectomy, but we used them for five years or so. Never any issues.

Never avoided any particular time, have never had a pregnancy scare. Fell pregnant the first month not using them on purpose though.