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

I got pregnant through a condom once. Nothing happened to it either, we were using it properly, it didn't split or leak, I had no indication at the time that it had failed.

Years and years of condom use with no failures here.

As an aside, am a bit to see people on this thread referring to withdrawal as a 'method'

I've used condoms for the last year or so and never had any problems, nor in younger life when I used them.

When younger, if I happened to end up having sex without them or anything else, I took the MAP a couple of times and never had any problems with that either.

I don't think you need to bother about avoiding your fertile period or anything.

Have fun!

I used just condoms for 10+ years with no issues. I can't have combined pill for same reason as you, and none of the progesterone only contraceptives agreed with me. I have heard too many stories of pregnancy with the coil, including a friend of mine, so I wouldn't trust that.
I'd imagine condoms plus fertility monitoring and abstaining during fertile time would be pretty effective. You could use spermicide too as extra protection...

I recently bought 144 condoms for less than £20 on britishcondoms.co.uk they have loads of popular brands available to buy in bulk

I know it's old school but I have a new type of diaphragm you don't have to be measured for, called Caya. It's perfect for us as my chance of conceiving is low anyway and I can't cope with hormonal contraceptives. Maybe look into this to use with condoms?

We always did the same, condoms and avoiding sex on my fertile days (4 per month). Never had so much as a scare and literally got pregnant the first time we tried.

I highly recommend the book Taking Control of Your Fertility, it will help you to feel much more confident about this kind of thing

you have more options than hormones, coil or condoms.

Try the Caya diaphragm. It's easy to use, and feels like more natural sex than with a condom. You can either buy it on Amazon or ask your local sexual health clinic to fit and supply one.

1 split in 23 years of shagging. Operator error, acrylic nails.

Thanks MN!! This has given me confidence to give it a go

We've used a combo of them and an app (very cautious use of the app, only don't use condoms about 1/4 of the time) for 8 years (except when TTC DC2 which happened on the first go!). No problems at all. Buy them in bulk online (Crown brand).

Me and my husband have used condoms for over 10 years. Got pregnant once....when we stopped using them to try for a baby 😊.

They make me feel much safer than the pill for protecting against pregnancy! Husband always checks the condom after too just in case!