# Married Couples Keep Using Condoms After Menopause

> Married couples often continue using condoms for practical reasons after menopause, not for birth control.
- Title: Married Couples Keep Using Condoms After Menopause | Shortify
- Summary: Married couples often continue using condoms for practical reasons after menopause, not for birth control. Married couples may keep using condoms after…
- Keywords: condom use, menopause, married couples, sex advice, pregnancy prevention, Married, Couples, Keep, Using, Condoms, Slate Magazine
- Source: Slate Magazine — https://slate.com/advice/2026/10/sex-advice-married-couples-contraception.html?via=rss
- Author: Rich Juzwiak
- Published: 2026-10-07T16:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: condom use, menopause, married couples, sex advice, pregnancy prevention
## 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.
## Key takeaway

Married couples may keep using condoms after menopause for comfort, not pregnancy prevention.