Anyone just use condoms-pros&cons?

[Minnie123456]

I've been on birth control (combined pill)from I was 15, am now 35. I was put on Gedaral 20/150 around Oct time. I've noticed i've been getting headaches before af is due that aren't easy to shift, my weight has increased i'm now classed as obese, my appetite has increased i'm constantly hungry,my boobs have got bigger, no sex drive what so ever and there are times I feel quite low. I think the pill is causing this.
I was thinking about giving my body a break and using condoms and tracking my cycles.
Anybody just use condoms, are they reliable and which ones would you recommend?

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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

There was a recent thread about this, worth a search.

We use condoms.

Pros - DH is responsible, loads of different ones so you can find what works for both of you, less mess, no hormones

Cons - loss of spontaneity, nothing major

We just use durex. I wanted a break from the hormones. It's fine. I'm certainly happier, and he doesn't seem to care. But then we don't do PIV every time.

Theres a bit less spontinaety (sp) I guess it could be expensive depending on the frequency. And you have to watch out for breaks / it getting stuck! Be ready to run to the pharmacy. Overall though it works for us.

We use Skyn and the lack of spontaneity is really annoying. Plus yes the cost!

Real life failure rate of about 15%

We use condoms despite my DR telling me I don't need contraception as I'm breastfeeding almost 7 months postpartum. I did prefer sex without but it hasn't impacted that much. I feel more normal not having extra hormones etc.

We use just condoms. Have done since 2015 when my first was born.

Pros - no hormones which fuck me up. Makes DH have some responsibility over not having more kids

Cons- lack of spontaneity (which with two small kids isn’t that Much of an issue. No midday kitchen sex here regardless)
Bad for environment

DH keeps saying he will get a vasectomy but you can’t get it on the nhs any more here and he’s only 36, so I worry if something goes wrong he’ll be in pain for the rest of his life 😬

We used them for 10 yrs with no problems at all. And when ttc got pregnant the first month so probably didn't have any fertility issues at the time. Just had 2nd baby and will go back to condoms. Never fancied the hormonal contraceptives, or anything that gets implanted and relies on a doctor deciding when it can be removed.

I used hormonal birth control for a little while but it massively messed up my hormones, so we switched back to condoms about 8 years ago. In those 8 years, we very occasionally (like once a year or twice a year) would use the pull out method when we were fine with having an oops baby. Outside of that we have used condoms. We’ve had a condom break once and used the morning after pill. I think two or three times in those 8 years, we’ve had to replace the condom during sex because it fell off or tore. Only had pregnancy scares when we’ve used pull out method or gone without a condom (last cycle when we were ummming and ahhing about TTC).

Pros - no hormonal contraception

• less mess (for you at least)
• DH is responsible for it. We have a rule that we’re not allowed to go below one condom and he makes sure to order more if he wants more sex
• you can buy them on amazon, so as you get to the last two you can order some on your phone (after) rather than trying to remember to pick them up at some other point
• I don’t really find the spontaneity being an issue as I continue with the foreplay (for both of us) while DH grabs the condom. With our brand when they arrive, they are two packets joined together. So when they arrive, I send 5 minutes taking off the packaging and separating them into single packets so all he has to do is reach for one and put it on.
• I don’t need lube as often

Cons - it took us a bit of time to find the brand we liked in terms of feeling protected, fit and sensation. We tried the durex variety packs first and found we liked the durex extra safe

• when travelling you need to remember to take the condoms (and have somewhere to dispose of them, so might not work if staying with family for instance)
• getting into the habit of buying/ordering condoms regularly might be a pain to begin with
• there might be some initial loss of sensation at first

Used them for ten years (except when ttc) with no problems.
Pros - no hormone issues, each time we wanted to ttc we didn't have to wait for anything to leave my system, it puts equal responsibility into dh.
Cons - they're just not sexy are they!

We've always used condoms because I hate hormonal contraceptives. 24 years and no unplanned pregnancies.

@LemonPeonies your doctor told you you couldn't conceive????
to suppress ovulation your baby has to have unlimited access to the breast, 24/7- kind of a contraceptive anyway I guess. How are you supposed to know when you ovulate for the first time?

Yes she said if I'm breastfeeding roughly 4 hourly I don't need to use contraception, I asked her for the pill. She did write me a prescription anyway but said I wouldn't need it.

to suppress ovulation your baby has to have unlimited access to the breast, 24/7

Yep, did that, period still came back at 4 months on the dot with clear strong ovulation symptoms two weeks before. Regular as clockwork for the year since. Had regular sex from about 4 weeks PP but had condoms lined up and no accidents thankfully.

Just condoms here. No issues at all. He puts it on one handed while eating my pussy there's no awkward pauses ha!

We have used them for years - no pregnancies. They are easy to get in supermarkets or online. DH gets ours from Savers. We have had the odd one break. Personally, I like Durex because they are smooth and well lubricated and the Extra Safe seems reliable but DH says they are tight. DH prefers Pasante King Size - very easy to put on.... even I can do it for him. Don't flush them - once when I was a student and before DH me and my BF used them. One day the drain in the back yard overflowed and the landlord came out to unblock it. I watched in horror as he pulled out a mass of our used condoms that my BF had been flushing down the loo! I think the landlord was more embarrassed than us and asked "who has been putting bottle tops down the drain"

Thank you for all your replies. I did not know amazon sold condoms . I'm surprised there wasn't a lot more cons and it's put my mind at ease that they are quite reliable when used right. I have one more month of the pill left so we are going to decide wether to continue with pill or switch to condoms.

I’ve been off the pill for over 2 years now and I feel so much better without it.
I had chronic thrush and regular UTIs which cleared up straight away coming off the pill.
Had no problems with condoms. We order off amazon. It’s not as sexy as slipping it straight in, but it’s good not to have cum dribbling out randomly at a later point!

Thanks for the reply @Spanielmadness. What are the use by dates like on the condoms from Amazon? Wouldn't want to buy loads and then not use them all lol.

I am sorry to put a negative spin on this but I came off the pill the start of this year (long story short I wanted to stay on but was advised not to by nurse). I then wanted the coil but in between being able to have this fitted we used condoms.
We had been using them for about 2 months which was absolutely fine. Then after sex I noticed sperm was leaking from me (sorry for the detail) if it wasn't for me noticing this I would be none the wiser, but after looking at the condom we realised it has a really small spilt in it! I was so shocked as I had always been so careful and was quite annoyed this had happened.
I unfortunately had to take the MAP, but even after multiple negative pregnancy tests I still feel like it didn't work, my body feels so so strange.
Anyway, Iv now become so paranoid after this and refuse to have sex until I get my coil fitted (poor other half).
I'm frustrated that when I try so hard to not get pregnant that the odds were against me.
They are absolutely fine to use but can be a massive stress if they break!

Thanks for your reply @PracticalMagic111 it's nice to get opinions for both sides. one of the reasons i'm not sure is the chance that it will split

Pros: 4 children

Cons: 4 children

Yes I did and the cons, split condoms, never mind I,ll get the MAP. No still din,t work result my DD.

DP and I use condoms and they're great. The only thing I worry about is them breaking while he's inside me. At first it didn't seem sexy but we're completely used to them now. I mean it was sexy for me since I wasn't getting pregnant, but he adjusted to them after a while. I was the first time he used them, he had a fiance before me and she was on the pill. Personally I like durex and he likes those and ID.

@june2007 I am now worried the MAP didn't work for me as I have felt so strange since taking it. I took it the end of April and havnt felt right since, cramping constantly and really uncomfortable abdominal pain. I have had monthly bleeds but so much lighter than what I'm used to, lasting about a day and a half.
Iv took multiple pregnancy tests, all showing negative but I can't help but think I'm one of those people that don't get positive tests (paranoid I know)
Could I just ask you, when did you find out the MAP didn't work for you and did it show positive on a test? Sorry for all the questions but Its all I have been thinking about for the past few months!
Thank you for any help :)

I got morning sickness and took a test. Wasn,t too concearned about cycles as I often missed a cycle. Actually only sick a couple of times with that pregnancy. Yes positive on test.