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’m 11 weeks pregnant with the result of a condom failure! And we are sensible grown ups. Also got the MAP but knew there was a fair chance it wouldn’t work due to cycle timings.

I’m delighted though. Always wanted more tho DH didn’t. I think this might spur him on to get the snip!

@epigram

That NHS website is a really poor use of statistics. The key stat should be real world use not perfect use. Obviously people can then make a judgement about whether they are better or worse than the average person.

I can't find the original data I've seen but the plannedparenthood website says this

"If you use condoms perfectly every single time you have sex, they’re 98% effective at preventing pregnancy. But people aren’t perfect, so in real life condoms are about 85% effective — that means about 15 out of 100 people who use condoms as their only birth control method will get pregnant each year."

Tmi alert, but I had a partner who sort of had a banana shaped Willy, and the condom did break several times! With my current partner there have been no issues for 15 years though as I said above!

Do others not feel that condoms ruin the sensation?

We can't stand them, we prefer to feel everything.

Stopped using them 10 years ago, they kept breaking. We have 1 planned child.

I'm 23 and I only use condoms. Been with my partner 6 years and after countless mood swings, depressed phases and using the patch, pill I decided to have time out and he agreed. I was a WHOLE new person after it. I could think clearly I was no where near as snappy or moody. I would never go back onto any hormonal contraceptive again. I don't understand why it isn't on main stream news how much the pill and hormonal contraceptives can affect someone and lead to depression and anxiety and doctors try to make out like it doesn't happen when you ask for advice. Every girl at my work has said the same about it. With regards to my partner, he is much happier seeing how much better I am and it's true what they say if you have someone understanding and caring they will want the best for you. He does moan on the odd occasion (once every 3 months probably) and when I say do you want me to go back on the pill he's like " NOOOOO" because of how much if affected me. It doesn't feel much different and you do get use to it quickly. I also noticed my sex drive was significantly higher and I haven't had any accidents or scares.

images.app.goo.gl/gzW7nQ9SBcQyTR5v7

I've been with my husband for nearly 15 years and we only used condoms as the pill didn't work for me. We had our first child 2 years after I met him so 28 and the second with a deliberate gap of 4 years. Both times I did get pregnant on the first attempts, no trying to conceive for a long time but we were not bothered by that prospect as we were at the stage of wanting children. I did have one unplanned pregnancy last year at 41 but I had a miscarriage early on. Again though, it wouldn't have been a huge issue and I was actually very sad that it ended in a miscarriage.

Condoms only here. Was on the depot and getting fatter, came off 14 months ago, lost a stone and feel great.

No condom issues. I actually prefer it, don't get the mess afterwards...

Also happy that when we want to try for a baby I won't have to wait until my body's natural cycles return because I've already done it. However, if we were to have had an accident it really doesn't matter so I suppose that influenced my decision a bit. If i reeeeally didn't want a baby I might feel differently about relying on condoms.

My fiance and I have used condoms for the past 3 years with no accidents. Previously, I was on the pill but I had terrible moods swings on it. I also use an app to track my period and cycle so I know the rough times of when I'm ovulating. We made the decision to come off the pill when we had our own home and were in a stable position because if we did have any accidents it would be ok but so far there have been none.

Re. Coil and never having had a baby your GP is flat out wrong - there is no formal medical advice saying it will be an issue. I’ve had two inserted and removed and never had a baby. If you don’t want one fair enough but that’s terrible advice.

Ditto about not having one if you are trying to conceive in a couple of years - just because they last for five years doesn’t mean you can’t have one out sooner. I had my second one out after only 18 months as I wanted to conceive and I knew this timeline full well when I had it put in.

Anyway hope you find a solution that works for you - none are perfect!

I mean if it was a choice of the sex not feeling as good because of the condom or having constant migraines, loss of libido, spotting, mood swings - I know I’d pick the condoms every time?

Also the pill is just as risky as a condom surely? If you forget to take it? Both options rely on proper use so I don’t see how people can say they feel the pill is a more reliable method tbh

I've only used condoms for the last seventeen years, since we planned the conception of our first child. No problems here - twice I have thought, hmmmm, that could've been a bit of a whoopsy, and gone and got the morning after pill. Only have as many children as we planned.

Always used condoms for disease protection as well as contraception until I met the now DH. Then went to coil.
Sex is so much nicer without the rubber between us. And in some amazing unplanned places when no condom available. :)

After disasters with hormonal contraceptives including getting a rare side effect and being hospitalised, I stopped. We have been condom only for 1 year now and no problems. I know my DP would prefer otherwise, and so would I, but my body needed a break

@Pineapple1

Do others not feel that condoms ruin the sensation?

We can't stand them, we prefer to feel everything.

Stopped using them 10 years ago, they kept breaking. We have 1 planned child.

No? They’re so thin I don’t understand how you can’t feel “everything” Never had that issue

Have been off hormonal contraception for 7 years now, wanted to give my body a break before TTC.

We've had two planned pregnancies and the rest of the time we've used condoms only.

Re feeling them.

I honestly can't tell whether he is wearing one or not, it feels exactly the same. I don't know what sensation it could possibly be taking away. It still feels warm, it's still feels full. What other sensations are there? Have I just got dull vaginal nerve?
DH reckons he can feel a difference but not enough to make the side effects of hormonal contraceptives worth it.

Condoms only for me and DH for over 20 years and two planned children. To be perfectly honest buying a bulk pack of condoms versus multiple visits to doctors/family planning to try out different contraceptives seems a hell of a lot more convenient.

[quote Epigram]@Floatyboat actually it's 2% according to the NHS website, not 20%.[/quote]
As explained upthread that is the ‘perfect use’ statistic. Typical use is 82%.

Re: feeling them - it feels the same! For me, as a woman, anyway. Can't speak for him. I have not been a prude in my life so have experienced a bit and can confirm there's no difference

@Pineapple1

Do others not feel that condoms ruin the sensation?

We can't stand them, we prefer to feel everything.

Stopped using them 10 years ago, they kept breaking. We have 1 planned child.

They don't ruin the sensation for me, but all the fumbling and unwrapping and unrolling is a bit of a passion killer. But that's just us. Obviously they work for many people and of course they offer STD protection if you need that.

I used them all the time as a youngster. Never had any problems. That was for years and years

10 years together 2 pregnancies and both were planned. We've only ever used condoms. Had one or 2 slips in the early days but alcohol was most definitely involved back then. No issues in at least 7 years.

DH might get a vasectomy in a few years. Once we are sure that we are done having kids.

This is the NHS page which gives perfect and typical use statistics for most forms of contraception.

I can feel the difference! Not a huge amount of difference but it's definitely there.

As I said earlier, if you're going to use natural family planning whether alone or in conjunction with anything else DO NOT just use an app - you MUST use some kind of physical tracking of your own body too. Ovulation dates can vary so much between women and even between cycles that there is no way a one size fits all prediction of fertile days on an app will be accurate enough to prevent conception.