Contraception - I am so worried

[worried11b]

I am 2.5 weeks late on my period.

We use condoms. When it says 98% effective...does this mean the 2% of the time it doesnt work is when it breaks? Is it possible it wont work even when it hasn't broken?

We check after each time and none have ever broken. But i've never been late, either.

I've done tests - negative.

What's going on :( I'm scared.

It doesn't have to be breakage. Sperm can seep out if the condom is not removed properly after sex. Or if there was any contact prior to putting on the condom, the pre-cum stuff can have sperm in it.

But if the preggo test is negative, it may just be worry that is making you late.

2.5 weeks late is quite late. But the negative tests are odd, too.

I would say that if pregnancy is definitely, 100% something you do not want, I'd go for something a bit more long-term, contraception-wise, than condoms.

Hand-holding.

The 2% is perfect use so no breakages. In a year, out of 100 women using condoms carefully and with no accidents, 2 will fall pregnant.

If you're testing negative, it's unlikely you are pregnant. If you look at the conception topic, you'll find lots of women with later periods and negative tests. It's usually delayed or missed ovulation.

I am one of the 2% I have to say. We never had a breakage, were religious about using them and I found myself pregnant. I had a coil fitted, doubled up on condoms and then last year dh had a vasectomy. I wouldn't trust condoms alone after my experience.

I still don't think you're pregnant though.

The problem with condoms as a long-term contraceptive is not that they're ineffective; used properly, they're as effective as anything else.

But when you're in the throes of passion, you sometimes slip it on too late, or not at all, or don't take it out/off quite soon enough...

Seconding the coil as a better method of contraception. That 2% figure is when they are used perfectly - and it's very easy not to be perfect.

The failure rate refers to the number of pregnancies resulting if 100 couples used the method for a year.

For condoms, the 2% refers to perfect use, when you really cannot work out what went wrong (and all contraception has a fail rate). For condom typical use (with slips, breakages, not putting it on in time etc) it rises to 18%.

Table of failure rates of various methods