To ask if you just use condoms, do you feel safe?

[Isitsafe32]

As in, do you find them trustworthy enough?

After 15+ years non stop on various hormonal contraceptions I am fed up. Currently have implant and i pretty much bleed more than I don’t, skin is worse than ever, libido low, I’m sure it’s affected my mood. I can’t take the combined pill anymore as have migraines with aura. I don’t want the mini pill again as I’m fed up of progestogen as it’s that that causes the random/endless bleeding. Definitely not willing to go through the ordeal of a copper coil.

So that just leaves condoms. I really want to free my body of these fake hormones I’ve pumped into my body for so long. I have no idea what my actual cycle would be like or what my body would be like ‘naturally’ as I was a teenager when I last was fake hormone free!

However it would be very inconvenient to get pregnant right now - not horrific if I’m being realistic but inconvenient. Don’t want to explain any more than that really.

Does anyone use just condoms and has found them fine in the longish term? I am considering using condoms plus an app so I could potentially ‘avoid’ the most fertile times. Would this be very reckless or has anyone done the same??

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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

Yes, as long as they’re used correctly I feel very safe

I used them exclusively from the age of 18 till now (mid-40s). One planned pregnancy. I think I took the MAP maybe three times.

@itsanamechangeone all my friends who have had them put in have either had awful insertions or terrible pains/periods afterwards and I would be worried about having to always feel it’s in the right place etc. I know they are very reliable but I really don’t fancy it - especially pre DC. Maybe after a baby I will feel different!

I’ve only been using condoms for the last couple of years, same reason as you, the hormones just made me not feel like me if you see what I mean. I’ve never had any problems with them.

We've used condoms since the birth of our one year old ds and I plan to go back on the pill once done breastfeeding. We feel safe. I don't track my ovulation but tend to avoid sex around that time just to be on the extra safe side. Works for us for now.

@Babybel90 yes that’s exactly how I feel - good to know, thank you! Does your DP/DH/BF mind?

Just to add another perspective here, me and my partner have been together for 14 years and used them for the first 6 years. I then spent the next 6.5 years on the pill with various issues and decided to come off. We then spent a year using them again until we started ttc. I've definitely always felt safe, but second time round we struggled having not used them for so long, found them to be a mood killer and not as enjoyable. There was no resistance from my partner in using them but I think our sex life suffered and neither of us were particularly happy with them.

Yes! We’ve used them exclusively for 19 years with no mishaps (1 child planned, 1 child a happy surprise but we weren’t using contraception).

Condoms with sperm killing lube?

Is it called spermicide?

I’m terrible at temper to take the mini pill, had migraine with aura and too full of anxiety to have anything I can’t immediately stop like the injection, implant or coil. So we used a mixture of pull out method which obviously is stupid but we were in talks about starting a family so it wouldn’t have been a big deal, and condoms. It was only when we really started trying I got pregnant, still took 7 months.

@musttrryharder - thanks - the mood killer/lack of spontaneity doesn’t really bother me too much as due to an issue I have with UTIs I have a right routine every time we want to have sex anyway!!! Not ideal but probably wouldn’t be too different to now. I know a lot of men hate the feel though.

We’ve used condoms on and off for years. Prior to pregnancy for about 5 years with no pregnancy scares then we got pregnant first cycle when we stopped using them to try for a baby.

Tried the pill after pregnancy but have now gone back to using condoms after about 6 months on the pill as just prefer using them to hormones!

@Isitsafe32 he actually prefers it, he definitely doesn’t want any more kids so he’s happy to be in charge of contraception and he feels safer because he knows there’s next to no change of pregnancy if he can see it has t split whereas polls can be forgotten or taken at the wrong time etc.

@Isitsafe32 I've never actually used a spermicide but I can remember getting told about it in PSE while putting condoms on bananas
I dont think that they are as widely used as they once were with more women using hormonal contraceptives, but they are definitely still available and might give you more reassurance.

I conceived my last two babies using condoms. One split, I don't know what happened with the other!

We've been using them for 15 years with no problems to report at all. After our first child I could t stand to go back on the pill so that was that.

Yes split and got map with in 12 hours. (your meant to be able to take it with in 42)

@81 these are the sort of stories that scare me!!

@june2007 yikes!!!

Not in relationship now but had two /three split.
On the pill so wasn't a disaster but I would have been panicked if I had not had been.
There's always going to be a chance of it damaging somehow so it's simply a case of weighing up which is more important to you: coming off the pill to avoid the hormones, or a small chance of pregnancy.
There's no right/wrong answer.

I've been using condoms since since I stopped taking the pill around 20 years ago, only time I got pregnant was intentional. Only ever had one split, it was a cheaper boots own brand one, took the MAP and was fine. I've never avoided fertile times either.

You could always avoid fertile times for extra security if you wanted. With proper use I think they're supposed to be something like 98-99% effective aren't they?

I'd go for the non hormonal coil. Condoms make sex feel fucking awful if your DH is well endowed.

Dh and I have used condoms(durex) for 15 year except when ttc or I was pregnant. During that time one has split (I took map which was fine). No other issues. I actually prefer with condoms as less mess and () I quite enjoy the ribbed ones. Dh marginally prefers without but only because he doesn't like stopping to grab a condom, he is not that bothered though.

I couldn't tolerate the pill so we have used condoms for 14 years now. Only had to use the MAP once when a condom split and that was an out of date old one. We also go without condoms on days I know I'm not fertile (first few days before and after period). 2 pregnancies both planned.
OH finds some brands and styles better than others, durex + can't remember other ones names. He always checks when we are finished that it didnt split.

In 15 years one unplanned pregnancy we chose to continue and one “oh bollocks I need the morning after pill” moment.

15 years since I was on the pill I just didn’t want to take the hormones any more. No scares. Conceived first time 3 times when we decided to ttc.