Find Your Own Damn Condoms, Pal

[TNT]

I think if my mother actually bought me a condom, let ALONE telling me I would be 'much better off' if I were getting laid... I would never have sex...

Ever.

Well, presumably, my mother had had sex, else I wouldn't be here. It therefore came as no big surprise that she wasn't adverse to her son doing the same thing.

[Andara Bledin]

No, I don't mean the IUD. I mean the implant with the hormone release.

It's a mere fraction of the hormone levels required to get from your digestive system to your reproductive system, so while it is possible that it would have an effect similar to taking the pill, the likelihood is very low, and any reaction would be much reduced, too.

^-.-^

[infavorofnaturalselection]

And most forms of birth control don't come risk-free for women, either.

?

Well there have been some positive side affects for women from taking the pill. Of course I do think it is outrageous if that if a male birth control patch was developed men would be able to get it for free from their health insurance while women don't get their birth control for free.

As for female condoms it's just like male condoms you have to read the directions and practice putting it on or rather in to get the max efficancy out of it. It's just like a tampon in application. Also a number of men will refuse to wear a condom so you gotta use something that works.

It's loads better then trying to use party balloons.

[JustADude]

Sperm production is triggered by testosterone in the blood but it's a very narrow window of testosterone that triggers it. Too high or too low, and we stop making it.

Okay, that I didn't know. I'd still like to know what the side-effects of the extra testosterone are, but I'd feel a lot more comfortable about that than other forms of 'internal' birth control designed towards men I've heard of.

[Brynhild]

My mother bought me condoms. I remember her once saying, "You'd be so much better off if you got laid regularly."

*dies laughing* I think that might be the kind of mom I'll be when I eventually have kids. Hell knows I'd be better off right now if I got laid regularly, but it's my fault I guess.

[Posture Moll]

I've never seen an actual female condom but from what I hear they are more trouble than what they are worth.

I'm still waiting for birth control pills for men.

Feh, but even if they *did* perfect them, would you really trust most men to take it properly? Or even take it at all?

I sure as heck wouldn't - not with the risk of ME being the one to potentially get knocked up.

[Will-Mun]

Ow Moll, kinda taking a stab at men there eh? I'm pretty sure just as many men as women have NO desire for pregnancies, and would not only remember to take Male Birth Control, but would walk around with a big grin knowing that there is NO way sex can end with "I have some news" a week later.

I think I should weigh in with the 'Male Pill', I think most men would he hessitent, not because we wouldn't want to take it, but because all forms of male Birth Control is either EXTREAMLY new, or still in trials. The Pill has been around for decades.

If you give the tech enough time, I assure you a common phrase will be "The Male Pill"

As of right now we have women on the Pill, which now and again has side effects. Not exactly 100%, but it's tested tried and true.

Men have Condoms, and that... well, it has it's own forms of side effects.

But Condoms are the easiest form of Birth Control to get, so they'll probably be around for a long time even AFTER the Male Pill is made.

[TNT]

I think I should weigh in with the 'Male Pill', I think most men would he hessitent, not because we wouldn't want to take it, but because all forms of male Birth Control is either EXTREAMLY new, or still in trials. The Pill has been around for decades.

Be that as it may, my view is still this: I would never ask a woman to do anything I wouldn't do.

Value it as you please.

[Posture Moll]

Ow Moll, kinda taking a stab at men there eh?

I'm a big ole cynic in general: I wouldn't necessarily be too quick to trust other women, either, but fortunately the chances of me getting another chick pregnant are nil.

However, if I *were* of the XY-chromosomed sex, I'd be just as concerned about the old lady being an idiot when it came to taking her pills on time.

[AFpheonix]

I can't do the pill. The hormones put me seriously out of balance, and I'm a moody bitch 24/7.

Have you tried the smaller dose pills like Yaz, Yasmin, Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, or Ortho Micronor? You do have to be more anal about taking Micronor at the same time every day to keep a constant level in your blood stream, but it has a very low level of only one type of hormone.
Also, if you want to not cycle, you may consider Yasmin or Lo-Estrin, as they have been documented to be used safely and continuously. Also Seasonale and Seasonique are packaged especially so that you only have 4 periods a year.
I guess what I'm getting at is if one type of oral BC doesn't work, there's a bazillion others and more coming out all the time, so you should be able to find something that works well for your biology.
Me, I'm pretty easy. I do really well on the patch, I feel perfectly normal, and really has smoothed out the funky PMS/ no fun period time I used to have when I wasn't on anything at all. I wish I could use it continuously, but they haven't done the research to show it's safe yet, and it's already associated with a higher risk of blood clots

Of course I do think it is outrageous if that if a male birth control patch was developed men would be able to get it for free from their health insurance while women don't get their birth control for free.

I doubt it would be covered any better for men than current BC is for women. They hardly even cover erectile dysfunction meds. (although I'll give a few plans credit, they're starting to cover a small supply per month now without needing to have the doctor call and try and get an exception for the poor guy. Used to be that only worked if the guy had partial paralyzation or something like that, not for your run of the mill limp dick.)
Although I will put in a lil' praise of my state's legislature, who just passed a bill that requires insurance companies here to cover birth control. I don't know when it will go into effect, though. My own is covered, but they just changed it to a tier 3 med, so it's kinda spendy now I think I'm gonna switch to mail order.
Also our state's medicaid will now cover Plan B without a script (I don't know if this is nationwide or not), so that's pretty nifty.

[Jpurple]

They just recently started advertising something similar in the US, but they have some requirement that you have had a child to get it. I don't know what that's about,
^-.-^

I was told that they recommend you have already had a child before wearing an IUD because your cervix is slightly larger afterwards and its much less painful to insert then. OF course, I had my IUD inserted in Canada, so the medical reasoning in the US may be completely different. I would be seriously tempted by the IUD/hormone combo if I wan't planning something much more permanent in the birth control area. (tubal ligation, here I come!)

[Kiwi]

My mother once picked up a perscription at the pharmacy when one of my brothers friends happened to be in the store and said hello to her. She noticed a glass "candy jar" of "gold things" and thought they were those chocolate coins you can get and asked the cashier what kind of chocolate they were?

they were gold magnums (GOLD?!?!?!?!) but chris just about burst a blood vessel laughing, asking my mum how many treats she wanted

[blas]

Not to send any CS members on here on the Pill into a tizzy and worry fizzy....

But the Pill is how I got here. As in, how baby blas was made! If it wasn't for the Pill failing, I wouldn't be here right now

I'll never go on the pill. Not only because I cannot swallow pills easily, and because I know that even though my mother took them exactly as directed, I came anyway. I realize that the Pill has came a long way, even in the past 20 years, but it's not as effective as I'd like it to be.

I'm on the shot. Yes, many more side effects, but no period for me. Ever. And for the weight gain, as long as you eat sensibly and keep exercising, the shot won't make you gain any weight. I've been in the same weight area since I first got on the shot. And it has a much better success rate.

It's all about what the woman feels is right when it comes to chosing birth control. My only advice would be that if you really, really, really do not want kids, don't go on the Pill. The Pill does do wonders for acne and regulating cycles, though.

[Greenday]

But the Pill is how I got here. As in, how baby blas was made! If it wasn't for the Pill failing, I wouldn't be here right now

And God said, "Let there be blas!" Well, we're even more lucky to have you now.

I don't trust all women to take the pill correctly. How am I supposed to know if they are lying or not? Mister condom, when used correctly, does not fail me.

[Andara Bledin]

I doubt it would be covered any better for men than current BC is for women. They hardly even cover erectile dysfunction meds.

Don't bet on it. Men's health gets covered faster and more fully than women's health in most instances.

They've known for more than a decade that two nights of hospital stay provides exponentially greater benefits to women who have undergone a mastectomy than a single night. It still is not covered. However, less than a year after it was released to the market, and I knew people who were getting Viagra through their health plans.

And God said, "Let there be blas!" Well, we're even more lucky to have you now.

I don't trust all women to take the pill correctly. How am I supposed to know if they are lying or not? Mister condom, when used correctly, does not fail me.

Mister condom is only effective until he fails. The big difference is that it is far easier to end up with a problem with taking a pill than with using a condom. But when they are both used properly, the pill is more effective.

Nothing short of abstinance could keep my grandmother from becoming pregnant. Although I blame some of that on the fact that my grandfather was a bombadier during WWII.

I don't want kids. To the core of my being, I wish to remain childless. Studies have shown that women who honestly have no desire to become pregnant are actually less likely to conceive. Although I won't let that stop me from also utilizing condoms, however.

^-.-^