My wife stopped taking her birth control without informing me

In a cozy home, the hum of a grocery delivery unravels a marriage’s fragile trust. A husband, juggling work and a master’s degree, stares in disbelief at a pregnancy test among the bags—a silent scream of a plan he never agreed to. His wife, his partner of nine months, stopped her birth control in secret, hoping to “surprise” him with a baby they’d agreed to delay. The sting of betrayal cuts deep, their shared dreams of waiting for stability now teetering on the edge.

This isn’t just about a test; it’s about a promise broken. With a pandemic looming and finances tight, the husband’s anger bubbles over, his vision of fatherhood nowhere near ready. Their love, still fresh from wedding vows, faces a test tougher than any exam. Can they rebuild, or is this a dealbreaker?

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‘My wife stopped taking her birth control without informing me’

The husband’s raw emotions pour out in a gripping Reddit post, detailing the moment his world tilted. Here’s his story, unfiltered:

My wife and I have been married almost nine months. We tied the knot last December. We came into the relationship both wanting children, however we had mutually discussed and agreed to wait until we owned a home, I finished school, and we had our finances in order more to start trying. The entirety of our relationship, she's been on the pill as her preferred method of birth control.

My wife is out having dinner with her parents tonight while I'm hanging out at the house with some friends. She had ordered groceries to be delivered earlier today, and when they arrived I, of course, started to put things away. One of the items she purchased was a pregnancy test, which was such a shock that I literally felt my stomach drop when I saw it.

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Immediately I called her, and asked why on earth she ordered a pregnancy test. Turns out about a month ago she decided to stop taking her pill because she thought we were ready for children. I asked why she wouldn't get my input on something so HUGE and she replied that she 'wanted to surprise me.'

I told her there's literally a hundred different surprises that I would prefer currently, told her I'd see her later, and ended the call. Her period is due later this week, so unless she plans on taking it early we won't know if she's pregnant for a few days. I'm livid! We are not in the position to become parents currently.

I certainly don't want to be bringing a newborn into the world during a pandemic. I don't know if it's justified considering we are married and both eventually want children, but I feel absolutely betrayed that she would make a decision like this behind my back.

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We had even agreed that if somehow we got pregnant while she was on the pill that we wouldn't go through with the pregnancy. I know she'll be coming home soon, and honestly I don't even want to look at her right now or know what to say.

Am I right to be upset about this? What should I do? I'm currently working a full time job while pursuing my masters; I literally do not have the time to be a suitable parent..

This newlywed’s discovery is a gut-wrenching breach of trust, where a pregnancy test becomes a symbol of unspoken decisions. The husband’s fury is understandable—his wife’s choice to stop birth control, bypassing their mutual agreement, undermines the partnership at marriage’s core. Her “surprise” rationale clashes with his need for stability, especially amid a pandemic and his demanding schedule. Both want kids, but timing is everything, and her solo move feels like a betrayal.

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Reproductive coercion, even unintentional, is a serious issue. A 2020 study in the Journal of Marriage and Family found that 1 in 10 couples face disagreements over reproductive decisions, often straining trust (source: Journal of Marriage and Family). The husband’s sense of betrayal mirrors this, as their shared plan to wait was discarded without discussion.

Dr. John Gottman, a leading relationship expert, emphasizes, “Trust is built in the small moments of honesty and mutual respect” (source: Gottman Institute). Here, the wife’s secrecy eroded that foundation, leaving the husband questioning their partnership. Gottman’s insight suggests open dialogue is crucial to repair the damage, addressing why she acted alone and how they can realign their goals.

Couples counseling could help them navigate this rift, fostering honest communication about their timeline and feelings. The husband might also benefit from individual therapy to process his anger, while resources like Planned Parenthood offer guidance on reproductive choices (source: Planned Parenthood). Moving forward, they need clear boundaries and shared decision-making.

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These are the responses from Reddit users:

Reddit’s buzzing with takes on this marital curveball—get ready for some bold, no-holds-barred opinions!

lmbc7 − This is completely messed up but what also stands out to me is her “apology.” Saying she’s sorry you’re reacting this way does not = her being sorry for her actions.

[Reddit User] − You have every right to be mad. Partnership is built off trust. Going behind your back was not okay.

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baby_got_backhand − Any apology that starts with 'I'm sorry you're...' is NOT an apology. Starting a family is a decision you make together, not something you trick your partner with.

Soniq268 − That’s so fucked up. You’re absolutely justified in your reaction. Be careful thou, if she’s willing to do something like this once, time to add condoms onto that shopping list.

GingerBakersDozen − Well this is a dealbreaker. She decided to take your future into her hands. Why would you trust her with anything?

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Complete_Entry − Wendy Williams advised her viewers to do this. your spouse was feeling insecure in the relationship and feels this gives her more power.. If you think she was honest when she agreed to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, you're wrong.. If she's not pregnant, file.

tequilalemonade − I'm so sorry that you're reacting this way. You've seemed really unhappy lately and I thought you would consider this good news' 1. This is not an apology. She takes no ownership of her actions. Quite frankly this just makes her shittier..

2. Her actions are what's called reproductive coercion. 3. A child will not fix problems of you being 'unhappy.' If she thinks she can fix that with a baby rather than communication you have bigger issues than a pregnancy scare.

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FreyaFrost − This is horrible. If she is pregnant save your texts and any proof because this is reproductive coercion and you could take her to court. Also I think divorce or marriage counseling is a must for you

[Reddit User] − This is called reproductive coercion. It is basically a**ault. Imagine if it were the opposite and a man decided to switch his wife’s pills to a placebo in order to surprise her by forcing her into pregnancy and parenthood. That is a**ault.

You agreed to have s** with your wife under the circumstances that she was protecting you from parenthood by using the pill. She has unknowingly changed that and made you have s** in an circumstance you have previously disagreed too.

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What I would do is wait for the test. If positive, consider asking her to terminate, I understand completely you were not ready nor willing to get her pregnant and become a father. If she refuses the only thing you can do is support her financially, but I’m afraid your marriage is probably over. Being reproductively coerced is serious a**ault and should not be brushed aside.

If the test is negative and you can find it in your heart to forgive her, I suggest lots and lots of marriage counseling and individual therapy to work back to trusting her again. But I personally would not stay with a partner that messed with my birth control, betrayed my trust, and assaulted me.

These Redditors are laying it all out, but are they hitting the mark, or just adding noise? What’s the real deal here?

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This husband’s story is a heart-pounding clash of love, trust, and timing, with a marriage hanging in the balance. A secret decision has rocked their newlywed bliss, forcing tough questions about partnership and priorities. Can they talk it out, rebuild trust, or is this a sign of deeper cracks? What would you do if your partner flipped a major plan without a word? Drop your advice, stories, or reactions in the comments—let’s dive into this!

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