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

I do not react well to hormonal contraceptives so have relied on condoms for years The only times I got pregnant was when I was trying to.

I have been pg on pill, with implant and coil (ectopic). I've had really bad side effects from any kind of hormonal birth control I've tried, on top of some of them not even being effective. I seem to be very fertile. If anything condoms have been the most effective for us, with the least amount of side effects. I absolutely will not be using hormonal birth control again. Currently pg with DC3 and DH is getting a vasectomy.

My body didn't take well to hormonal contraceptives after the birth of my DD, as they all played havoc with my weight, mood etc. We have solely used condoms for the last 4 years and have had no problems whatsoever.

There is breast cancer in my family. I never wanted hormonal contraceptives.

Through my twenties I used condoms only and one of those digital fertility things which tells you if you are fertile or not.

Avoided sex on the very fertile days (usually) and always used condoms. Never an issue.

I’m very fertile it turns out as has three kids in my thirties very quickly when I tried.

I haven’t used hormonal contraception in 10 years with no issue.
Condoms and pull out.

Tracking cycle is also useful.

Stopped using the pill at 18 - it caused severe migraines. Been using a mixture of condoms and withdrawal method ever since. One partner between 18 and now.

When I went to get a coil fitted (for heavy periods) the doctor at the sexual health clinic looked shocked when she realised I'd been using mainly the WM for 20 years...... she was ready to start counselling me for fertility checks I think.

But I have gotten pg quickly the two times we've tried and spent 7/20 years pregnant or bf (although my periods come back when bf and I got pg whilst bf).

No MAP or unwanted pg in that time.

I've given up on hormonal contraceptives and we've used condoms since the birth of DD2 with no accidents.

From my friends/relatives experience of unplanned pregnancies, they've all been pill failure.

I would never go on hormonal contraception. I'm just really squeamish about putting it in my body, not sure exactly why. We have never had an accident but it wouldn't be the end of the world if we did.

You could double up with the diaphragm too- we have used a combination of diaphragm ( which I love) and condoms, using both during most fertile times.
In 25 years only two planned pregnancies.

My SIL claims she accidentally got pregnant while using condoms properly.

We have DC 3 because of condoms. We still use them because we’re at a bit of a contraception standoff (I don’t want anything hormonal, he doesn’t want the snip) but we’re super vigilant about checking the condom during/after and to be honest we rarely have sex now as we’re scared I’ll conceive again!

I can't tolerate hormonal contraceptives either. I've been doing cycle tracking for a about 2 years now, no unplanned pregnancies. I use an app called clue. We use condoms through fertile period which is about 7 days of the month. Wouldn't ever consider going back to hormonal contraception now.

Just condoms here too. I won't take contraceptive pills after reading the leaflet. No thank you.

Condoms only for years. Always carry some in my handbag. Theyvare not just a man thing.

‘Can’t remember when l last had sex without one (40s, with good memory), l don’t like messing with my hormones, which also lowers my libido.

Sexual health is important.

We haven't used any other form of contraception other than condoms for 7+ years! No unplanned pregnancies, only got pregnant when we planned it.

We use condoms only. Last year I made the decision to come off hormonal contraceptives. We have never had one break.

We only use condoms, but I am not very fertile, it took 5 yrs to conceive DC1 and 3 for DC2.
If I fell pregnant at the drop of a hat a would probably use something else as well.

My whole relationship with my body changed when I came off hormonal contraception. I hadn't realised because it was my entire adult life until that point (went on pill at 16). But I was depressed, lethargic, had no libido, generally felt rubbish. Since stopping hormonal contraception (6 years ago!) I have had a new lease of life! I just use condoms now (and have a LOT more sex!)
You couldn't pay me to take the pill again.

Every hormonal contraception I tried made me violently sick. My GP was baffled by me. So from age 18 to 26 I just used condoms. I never had any breakages or issues or unplanned pregnancies. At 26 I had my first planned pregnancy and at 28 I had my second (slightly unplanned but not because of condoms, because of wine and a split second where a second child sounded like a good idea 😆😆). Condoms worked for me! Although once I have this second kid and we possibly agree we dont want any more DH is saying he may have the snip. I wouldn't rely on them forever.

Dh and I did, no ‘surprises’.

Having said that, my planned pregnancies didn’t happen the minute we tried, so I don’t think we were super fertile.

So much will depend IMO on how careful your dh/partner is, though. If he’s inclined to be slapdash and you conceive very easily, I wouldn’t recommend it.

We have used condoms for 13 years since our youngest was born. I didn't want to mess about with hormones anymore and he didn't want a vasectomy. We have never had an issue. We were definitely very fertile back in the day as our children were both conceived on first month of trying. Mind there isn't masses of sex going on, we'd be talking 4-6 times a month.

me!

I used the pill in my early 20s for a couple of years but couldn't handle the migraines. Have been using condoms only every since and no unplanned pregnancy (I am mid 40s now so have been doing this for a good 20 years - 3 planned pregnancies in between where I got pregnant within 2 cycles each time).

Condoms only for 10 years. Two planned pregnancies the two times we didn't use one! You just HAVE to make sure he isn't to drunk to put on. Some men can't put their glasses on when drunk so I would avoid sex or put it on yourself.

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!!!

not sure what it is with GPs. Mine tried to talk me into the coil so many times without me even asking about contraception insinuating it was irresponsible what we were doing. I don't understand why they cannot accept a grown up woman deciding herself if she wants to swallow hormones on a daily basis.

Should maybe add we had once a torn condom but I got the MAP.