From Slate Magazine · Rich Juzwiak · · 2m
Married Couples Keep Using Condoms After Menopause
Married couples often continue using condoms for practical reasons after menopause, not for birth control.
In brief
Married couples often continue using condoms for practical reasons after menopause, not for birth control. Married couples may keep using condoms after menopause for comfort, not pregnancy prevention. Originally reported by Slate Magazine.
Married couples skip pregnancy concerns
My wife and I have decided we’re done having children after many years together.
Wife prefers condoms for cleanup
She finds them less messy than other methods and feels more comfortable with this approach for sex.
Pregnancy no longer a risk
She’s since gone through menopause, so pregnancy is no longer a possibility.
Condom use uncommon for married couples
A 2017 study found just 15.7 percent of married men and 13.1 percent of women used condoms.
Younger data shows lower use
The subjects in the study were younger than typical menopause age, so condom use likely decreases as pregnancy becomes impossible.
Wife’s comfort matters more
I recognize that her comfort and preference matter more than my assumptions about what sex should be like.
Condom use is not wrong
If it’s working for your sex life, that’s a positive and helps facilitate good sex.
Discussing alternatives is reasonable
You’ve been doing things one way for many years; it makes sense to explore how alternative methods could feel.
Respect her response is key
Make sure you respect her response and whatever boundaries she asserts.
Condoms for practical reasons
She prefers them for practical cleanup reasons, not for contraception.
Wife’s preference is valid
Her comfort and preference matter more than my assumptions about what sex should be like.
Condom use uncommon but valid
What you describe is uncommon but not wrong if it’s working for your sex life.
No need to change methods
If your wife is happy with this arrangement and your sex life is otherwise good, there’s no need to change methods.
Condom use is a personal choice
It’s reasonable to want to explore other sensations with your wife, especially if you’re monogamous.
What to remember
Married couples may keep using condoms after menopause for comfort, not pregnancy prevention.
