To JUST use condoms?

[Whoistoknow]

How many of you rely solely on condoms and have been fine (as in no unplanned pregnancies?)

Realising that pretty much every hormonal contraception disagrees with me and I’m fed up of it. I really want to give my body a break and just use condoms, particularly as we are likely to want to start a family in the next few years (not right now though!)

GP was horrified at the thought of me getting my implant removed and not taking the pill or anything instead. Felt like a naughty teenager!!!

Interested to know whether this is an ‘unwise’ thing to do if we don’t want a baby right now or probably ok? The side effects are bad with every pill or contraption I have had so I almost think I’ll just have to risk it!!

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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

@ProudMarys

They only fail mostly because people don't use them right. Never been an issue always work fine.

I know how to use them right and have followed the instructions carefully but still had 2 accidents with them where they split and had to get the map.I can't relax when using them cos I'm constantly checking to make sure they're still intact or they haven't rolled down. Plus sex with a condom just doesn't feel as good. I hate them.

Best thing I ever did was stopping the pill and just using condoms.
No more headaches / migraines and got my libido back!

I realise I've been reckless but DH and I have used the withdrawal method for the past 12 years with no issues at all.

I monitor my cycle and during the risky times, we don't have sex at all.

I refuse to take hormone based contraceptive and have a reaction to most condoms. I can't abide them....the look and feel of them turn me right off.

Obviously the fact that we started this method when I was already 36 has probably played a part in my not getting pregnant. I wouldn't recommend it to someone younger.

Look, I'm always very honest about my abortions snd contraception failures. I have nothing to gain.

I've had five abortions over 30 years of active sexuality. Three of those were using condoms with my husband AND taking MAP after a failure. MAP has never worked for me, not once and I've always taken it as soon as I thought it may be heeded.

I DO think I'm not statistically very typical, BUT in a range of happenings I exist.

Been off hormonal contraception for just over a year and been fine except from one condom slip (took MAP). We are also pretty aware of my cycle and tend to avoid a couple days around ovulation if possible

[quote ToothFairyNemesis]@PuntoEBasta I was assuming from the op’s post she was mature enough to use condoms properly.[/quote]
But not mature enough to take the pill properly (if hormonal contraception were an option for her)?

Quite Punto.

I felt the same after having my daughter, although my GP could see the amount of trouble I’d had on various different pills beforehand she still pushed me to take a prescription for one as she thought I really ought to try. I didn’t get it. My body didn’t react well to any previous pills, why would I want to put a new mixture of hormones
Into my body so soon after having my baby? Unfortunately since having her I seem to be suffering from PMDD but I am scared to go on long term hormonal treatment. Ughhh. Being a woman is exhausting. I hope I come back in my next life as an average white guy.😂

We’ve used them the last 5 years - doctors always try and convince me to go back on some other form of contraception every visit I have - I just refuse! I wouldn’t touch any of it again - I had 10 tears of feeling not quite myself, constant migraines, Weight gain, anxiety - all that’s gone since I quit!

So yeah condoms are absolutely fine!

Been relying solely on condoms for 12 years now. Never got pregnant when I didn’t intend to.

My best friend's sister used condoms for most of her married life, they decided not to have anymore children. He got the snip, she was pregnant within 6 months. Only one thing is 100% all the rest have a chance.

I know how to use them right and have followed the instructions carefully but still had 2 accidents with them where they split and had to get the map.I can't relax when using them cos I'm constantly checking to make sure they're still intact or they haven't rolled down

A condom that rolls down and spilts is a condom that is too small.

Condoms all the way here - fallen pregnant 3 times but only when trying ( first month)

I don't trust the pill. I became pregnant at 22 whilst taking them carefully. So used condoms ever since!

Condoms here too. Until my partner gets a snip. Because for the last 2 years we have used condoms and boy does it suck. It kills spontaneous moments, plus the feeling of sex with a condom is just not the same as without. There are implants with zero to none hormones like a copper one right? They don't sell them where I live but I've heard of them

@BetteDavisWeLuvU

Ask your GP I have perfect skin now and two to three day periods and no side effects. The only time I have this is whilst on the pill.

My 15 yr old Dd is also on it as she used to have 10 day really heavy periods every three weeks and terrible skin. She is so happy now. 😁

I don’t like condoms, but they’ve worked when needed. After our 2nd child I opted to go back to ‘normal’ having been on pill then Mirena coil for years apart from ttc. I feel so much better now, I didn’t realise how crap it was making me feel. DH has now had the snip so we can do what we want when we want. 😆

I feel unusual as I’m 31 and have never used contraception except for condoms, never used any female contraception personally. Don’t like the sound of any of them tbh

Apart from one year when I took the pill, we have always used condoms, so 30+ years.
I remember a condom splitting once but other than that we never had any problems.
Just use them sensibly.

I’ve not been able to take hormone contraceptives and have always relied on condoms.

We’ve been fine.

I used only condoms for 6 years with three different partners and never got pregnant. Switched to the pill and like you had horrible reactions to every one I tried so when my relationship ended I came off the pill and have refused to go back.
Foolishly, perhaps, I used withdrawal for some years, but I only got pregnant the one time my partner didn’t pull out and I took the MAP the next day but it clearly had no effect whatsoever.
Anecdotally I know far more people who have got pregnant on the pill than any other form of contraception, plus one who had the coil and one friend who is super fastidious about using them but still fell pregnant using condoms. No contraception is 100% so just use what suits your body and relationship best.

They don't sell different sizes condoms in the UK do they?

They can fall without necessarily having split.

You want to look at the typical use stats. Not because anybody is particularly immature, but because that figure is actually a mix of people using them well and badly. Nobody is perfect and I actually think it must be fairly rare to use contraception perfectly, however it's a mistake to assume typical use refers to drunk people not bothering to use one half the time. That will factor into the typical use rate but it will also include people who do use it meticulously, and the real figure will be somewhere in between and incorporate much more everyday kinds of imperfect use such as not putting it on until the last minute.

To be honest if you look at the stats withdrawal is not that much less effective and is much less annoying. Combined with a proper fertility awareness method (observing cervical mucous, using opks) not just an app this night be good enough if you're in a stable relationship and a baby wouldn't be an absolute disaster.

Condoms only here with regular sex for 15 years and my only pregnancies have been my two planned children.
I’ve also had one condom break using the super thin ones but no other issues.

Been fine for me for 10 years and caught on first attempt both DC...

I’ve used condoms for 20 years and no accidents or scares. The condom has never split or become stuck or any other odd issue.

My DH and I used condoms for 13 years before deciding to have a baby. Two planned babies later and have continued to use them for past 14 years without any problems whatsoever.