tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post7297935461836731520..comments2024-03-22T05:55:48.117-04:00Comments on The Pervocracy: Five Things You Might Not Know About Contraception.Cliff Pervocracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02080142422250604406noreply@blogger.comBlogger162125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-38706854743774651642012-12-20T10:15:58.728-05:002012-12-20T10:15:58.728-05:00Hi, the advice on using regular pills as morning a...Hi, the advice on using regular pills as morning after pills is really useful. I want to add that there is a website by the Princeton University where you can look up how many pills of which brand in what time period to use to be safe (of becomming pregnant, at least). Coming from a country where morning after pills are not available over the counter and doctors tend to give you "Don't be a slut and you won't have to deal with this" speeches, this is highly convenient:<br />http://ec.princeton.edu/worldwide/default.asp#brandJulesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-42904845935573202672012-09-23T06:37:48.102-04:002012-09-23T06:37:48.102-04:00Roughly half a year late, but I feel like sharing ...Roughly half a year late, but I feel like sharing an interesting anecdote! Re: #5; you're probably right about male doctors today, but when the pill was first designed (by a male doctor) it did (mostly) prevent any sort of bleeding. That was changed when the first test group complained about it, and the company responsible for the research grew worried it would be seen as "unnatural".<br /><br />(For a bonus anecdote, when it was first marketed, it was advertised as a drug for people who suffered very heavy/irregular periods, with the "serious side effect" of preventing pregnancy. In Spain, that didn't change until 1976!)<br /><br />((Sorry, this comment is a bit irrelevant. But I recently wrote a uni essay on the development of the pill and now try and shoe-horn it into conversations because it's really interesting.))Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-21774449048845007642012-08-03T19:04:42.390-04:002012-08-03T19:04:42.390-04:00Irene - Of course it's more difficult for a wo...Irene - Of course it's more difficult for a woman to be sterilized than a man! Think about it for a second, if you need to get a man's gonads, he pulls off his undies and they're right there along with all their tubing. If you need to get at a woman's gonads and tubing you have to cut into her body to even find them. That's major surgery. A doctor wouldn't remove your appendix just because you wanted him to, that would be irresponsible, and while there are more benefits to sterilization, it's still major surgery just like said appendectomy. Even the reversal of tubal ligation is surgery.<br /><br />When we're discussing other potential surgeries (like hysterectomies) there are other concerns like the hormone levels.<br /><br />Yes this does target younger women more than older ones, but there is inherently more potential cost to a young woman undergoing the procedure regardless of perceived intelligence. However, the other factor that is often neglected is the doctor should have the right to refuse elective procedures. If a tattoo parlor refuses to tattoo on hands or face, isn't that their right? What if they normally wouldn't do hand tattoos but agree to do so for the older man with a solid career than the 18 year old guy who thinks it would be a great idea? How is that different than agreeing to perform tubal ligation on an older woman with two kids but not the 18 year-old without any?<br /><br />I can understand where this is bothersome, but there are really solid reasons behind it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-6081715780251535702012-07-27T13:39:48.724-04:002012-07-27T13:39:48.724-04:00except getting your period is not real confirmatio...except getting your period is not real confirmation that you aren't pregnant. The women in my family have a history of period like bleeding that includes cramps, bloating and emotional outbursts throughout pregnancy. <br /><br />And there are a lot of women who spot throughout pregnancy who don't realize they're pregnant until well into the second trimester. So I feel like being told by my healthcare professional that I should be having a period even *on* birth control is ridiculous.<br /><br />Granted, this is also why I opted for the three year in arm birth control Implanon, I will have spotting once every 4 to 7 months and that's it. And I can remove it at any time within the three year lifespan or choose to have a new one put in when this one is finished.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-83981696857917266642012-06-05T01:07:07.963-04:002012-06-05T01:07:07.963-04:001. Yes, definitely.
2. Roughly fourteen days. It...1. Yes, definitely.<br /><br />2. <i>Roughly</i> fourteen days. It varies some.<br /><br />3. I don't know about "safe periods" (in terms of pregnancy?) myself, but here's some information on fertility awareness ("rhythm method") in detail: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/birth-control/fertility-awareness-4217.htmCliff Pervocracyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02080142422250604406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-26303013812420411562012-06-04T06:26:21.842-04:002012-06-04T06:26:21.842-04:00can exercise cause a delay in ones period? and how...can exercise cause a delay in ones period? and how long after mensrtuation does ovulation occur? and is there something as a 'safe period' after mensrtuation?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-26808032930957345242012-05-28T22:59:13.066-04:002012-05-28T22:59:13.066-04:00Was knocking you out an option to begin with, or s...Was knocking you out an option to begin with, or something that ended up being medically necessary to complete the procedure, so they kind of had to? I ask because I am *dying* for an IUD but I am a huge wuss when it comes to pain, and most women I know who have them say insertion was so insanely painful that they probably wouldn't have gone through with it if they knew it was going to be that bad. I'm sure anesthesia policies vary from place to place, so obviously if your doctor offers it, I might not be able to find a doctor that does...<br /><br />Then again, my bigger issue is just finding a doctor to even insert an IUD. My current gyno who I otherwise love has basically just flat out dismissed my interest in an IUD by saying it's not a good option for someone my age, and who hasn't had children (I can see the risk/pain level for never having been pregnant, but age? Is it because youngins' tend to be having more partners? I'm about to be 25 and have been in the same monogamous relationship for almost 7 years...). Anyways, I'm sure my doc wouldn't give me anesthesia let alone insert this, and hearing how insanely painful and "risky"(according to my doc) it is doesn't make me sure enough of myself to go searching out a doctor who *will* insert one...<br /><br />Also yes to everything you've said about withdrawal! It gets such a bad rap, but we've used it successfully on and off for years - and for the record, I am also not an ignorant toothless woman relying on Jesus to not get pregnant ;). Seriously though, I get the concerns and risks and obviously it's not a great method for those who have just started having sex, teens, people not in monogamous relationship and not ready for the risk of pregnancy...but for those of us who are in a place where we're informed and aware of how to use it correctly and what the potential consequences are (and are prepared for pregnancy if it should happen), we shouldn't have to be ashamed. I hate having to lie to my gyno too...from what I hear, most women who use it do that, to avoid the lecture. >:(Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-73217239421121891102012-04-06T14:59:04.631-04:002012-04-06T14:59:04.631-04:00That's funny, because when I was on the shot, ...That's funny, because when I was on the shot, I had spotting for the Entire. Three. Months. <br /><br />Also I gained 50 lbs, had no sex drive, and was generally exhausted and cranky all the time.<br /><br />But I had been totally excited about that 'no period' thing, so it was really obnoxious to suddenly have one that just kept going.<br /><br />For other types of hormonal birth control, I've had the same problem... I can't go straight from one NuvaRing to the next, or I'll just spot the whole next month. It's like my body is going, "No, I need to have a period, and if you won't let me have it all at once, I'll just have to eek it out over the next month." Same if I ignore placebo pills and immediately start taking the next month's dose of hormone pills. I just bleed anyway.<br /><br />So. Annoying.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-39201327664748703672012-03-30T09:58:48.104-04:002012-03-30T09:58:48.104-04:00It's depressing what so-called 'doctors...It's depressing what so-called 'doctors' think they are Entitled to get away with. Misguided, Entitlement and greediness and not being caught/punished... seems to make these things worse, doesn't it? Maybe they think that it's ok, because no one has complained overmuch before? I hate it when ppl think it's ok to get away with something just because it is so easy to get away with it. The probability of 'getting into trouble' shouldn't be the only thing someone thinks about before deciding to take advantage of another person's position, whether it be by withholding something or by having more physical strength. <br /><br />This kind of sexual harassment/assault/abuse is a disgusting violation-feeling, and I am sorry you had to go through it. I would definitely say it was at least 'abuse'... I don't see why she/he would need a rectal exam, although I could be wrong. I would definitely be very upset if I was coerced into it for MY hard-earned money... I don't usually have a problem w/ ppl, but I could def find some anger in me when dealing with ppl like that. I guess smugness and abuse of power/position is just a pet peeve of mine. <br /><br />(My alcoholic mom abused her 'role' of being mother to get what she wanted from my dad many times, until he finally couldn't live that way anymore and thankfully got her out of our house, finally. I am ok with talking to her still, but don't expect her to change any time soon.)<br /><br />Even though it might not sound that bad to some, because it was a 'medical' thing done by a 'doctor'... I think that actually makes it worse... Because you are SUPPOSED to be able to trust them, and they have abused that trust. They were probably not affected by it at all, but you will have to live with the memory :( <br /><br />The whole terrible thing about the predator and the prey... The prey is victimized and the predator is in charge and gets whatever they want, without caring about you. It can be a fun roleplay in the bedroom, but it is NOT a fun thing to do or have done to you if it is not Consensual (assuming one enjoys it when their 'partner' is enjoying it... overall... my 'roleplay' can get kinda intense even when it's physically tame, so my partner and I have to be more attentive about each other, and know that line between 'enjoying' and 'not enjoying'... especially if the guy is uncomfortable with doing certain things to me, and I have to respect his limits as well :)<br /><br />When I first got BCPs (hoping to help with my horrible horrible period symptoms and not intending to actually start having sex *just* yet, as I personally wasn't ready for it) my aunt took me and it wasn't as bad as I was sure it was going to be, even though I had hoped it was going to be a woman doing it, so I was lucky for that.<br /><br />If my aunt had taken me to him and I was told (in the middle of it) that a rectal exam was necessary because he 'had to be sure I wasn't having sex'... well, that would have hurt my trust in both her and the 'doctor'... that's something I would really needed to know going into it, so I could find a different doctor. One that I could actually work with, not one that would not trust my answers, and vice versa... >.<<br />IMO, if a doctor thinks a patient is lying to them, it is better to let them know that they can't properly treat you if you aren't honest, rather than going in and getting evidence to catch your lie... Am I just crazy that way?<br />The military always threw BCPs at me as long as I had an up to date 'Well-Women's exam'... so my future experiences with civilan doctors may be different (which I will be trying, since the VA has kinda been disappointing).<br /><br />I was quite young then and I don't trust people very easily sometimes, so I realize now that her way of going about it (trying to gain my confidence) really put me off (pushed me away).<br /><br />-BlueberryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-65341008967788671702012-03-23T20:00:47.455-04:002012-03-23T20:00:47.455-04:00I actually rolled my eyes at "highway rubbery...I actually rolled my eyes at "highway rubbery." By which I mean I love you--because I would have done it if you didn't.Johnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-89912720608058024052012-03-23T14:56:04.895-04:002012-03-23T14:56:04.895-04:00"so if your risk of getting pregnant with the..."so if your risk of getting pregnant with the pullout method is 27%, its pretty much like using nothing"<br /><br />It's actually 3-4%, so there's a big difference between 4% and 85%. (Both statistics compare YEARLY rates, not monthly rates. Monthly rates vary between 0-20%). Condoms with actual use have about an 18% failure rate, whereas 'perfect' use is 3%. I don't see people telling anyone not to use condoms as a form of birth control or STD protection simply because with actual use they're not as effective.Bridgetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-36664991698126123302012-03-15T15:36:19.725-04:002012-03-15T15:36:19.725-04:00To participate in a study you have to have sex at ...To participate in a study you have to have sex at least four times per cycleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-74137080302344970062012-03-15T15:12:17.281-04:002012-03-15T15:12:17.281-04:00Late responding here, but I'll just say that I...Late responding here, but I'll just say that I live in the US and just had my Implanon inserted 3 days ago, no exam. Managed to opt out of the STD panel, too.<br /><br />I think a lot of the reason that women in the US end up getting a pelvic exam when they get BC is because they go to an OB/GYN and the BC portion is an add on to a regular exam/visit, or an 'after pregnancy' check in (pure assumption, here, I went through Planned Parenthood to get a quicker appointment).<br /><br />I also don't have any regular/annual exams or follow ups scheduled, but then again, I won't be needing a new prescription or anything either, so that may be why on the no follow up.girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388884748004763892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-63041356960748455942012-03-15T13:21:49.317-04:002012-03-15T13:21:49.317-04:00Teenagers are actually very slightly less fertile ...Teenagers are actually very slightly less fertile on average than women in their early to mid-20s, and the 30% for 35+ is for the chance of getting pregnant in any one menstrual cycle, not for the year. I wouldn't be at all surprised if that translated to an 85% chance of getting pregnant within a year. But of course as the population ages you get more people who are subfertile or outright infertile without knowing it, so the spread around the average gets wider, and the average gets less meaningful for any individual woman.<br /><br />http://books.google.com/books?id=UOGpNfTGlrwC&pg=PT26 suggests that the likelihood of conceiving a baby within a year if you're trying to do so is about 80% up through 35. Presumably those in their 30s average more months to get pregnant, but the difference is not significant in terms of pregnancies per year.Irenenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-88916688845522010522012-03-15T01:24:52.224-04:002012-03-15T01:24:52.224-04:00hola! i've been on here a few times and i love...hola! i've been on here a few times and i love it! just wanted to jump in on a positive note before i ask- WHERE are these statistics from?!?! because " It's certainly better than nothing (85% risk)," which seems to allude to an 85% risk of pregnancy for one year without contraceptive use, is pretty much reserved for peak female fertility (if i remember correctly, it's TEENS and maybe very early 20s). the statistic that's used for women older than that is actually 30%. which lasts until about age 30-35, and then declines exponentially... so if your risk of getting pregnant with the pullout method is 27%, its pretty much like using nothing...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-77246498341818025322012-03-14T14:10:53.493-04:002012-03-14T14:10:53.493-04:00I agree about this particular point, but if http:/...I agree about this particular point, but if http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/pill/peopleevents/p_rock.html (a rather admiring view) has it at all right, it sounds to me as though it was a good thing someone like him was there at the right time. Of course it's effed up that we had to worry about the Catholic church at all, but I think given the times it was necessary. Oh, heck, what am I saying, NOW it would be a good idea if we had some prominent Catholic doctors standing up against the likes of Santorum.Irenenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-26938222309913471242012-03-14T08:12:40.958-04:002012-03-14T08:12:40.958-04:00Just a couple of things to add:
You can leave th...Just a couple of things to add: <br /><br />You can leave the Nuvaring in for a whole extra week (i.e., use it for four weeks, then take it out and have a period as usual) without loss of protection. When I read the sheet that came with it, I was like, *ding* extra period-free week!<br /><br />All condoms sold in the US have to meet the same safety standards. The ones that are more expensive aren't more effective; they just have more marketing costs. <br /><br />I read that the reason the pill is set up so you have a period was more or less a marketing issue. When it first came out, people were really skeptical that a pill could really prevent pregnancy. Thus, they built in the period week basically so people would really believe that they weren't pregnant. <br /><br />I work in women's health education, so I really loved the post! Thanks, Holly!Nimuenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-62828181096243410272012-03-14T04:56:23.333-04:002012-03-14T04:56:23.333-04:00Thank God I'm not the only person who knows th...Thank God I'm not the only person who knows this. I read the comments just to make sure someone had mentioned it.<br /><br />This is totally true. The inventor of BC pills was a Catholic and thought the church might approve it if it seemed "natural". He also thought women might like a reminder that they aren't pregnant.<br /><br />The 'false period' is allllll about the patriarchy.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16373584630038515042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-39579969927583336462012-03-12T20:39:09.239-04:002012-03-12T20:39:09.239-04:00Mythago:
Well, don't take my word for it, tak...Mythago:<br /><br />Well, don't take my word for it, take the word of this thing called 'statistics.' Ya know, where people do things called 'research' and stuff and extrapolate across large populations and come up with valid results that hold for more than a single person. Withdrawal is 96% effective with perfect use. It's a lot lower with usual use, but so are almost all other methods (including condoms and BC pills) which rely on human error. If you trust yourself not to fuck up, then it works, well, almost as well as any other extremely effective method. My guess is there are far more people using withdrawal than will admit, because being treated like an illiterate fundamentalist Christian gets old, and so it's easier to lie.Bridgetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-49058832140125729792012-03-12T18:25:36.976-04:002012-03-12T18:25:36.976-04:00In many places it's harder for a woman (especi...In many places it's harder for a woman (especially a younger woman with no or few children) to get sterilized than a man. Double standards either way are definitely bad. Also, $1300? You wuz robbed. Planned Parenthood says the cost varies between $350 and $1000 (http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/birth-control/vasectomy-4249.htm).<br /><br />mythago, do you have cites on vasectomy pressures? The stuff I've read about inappropriate sterilizations has mostly been about women; I can't think of anything in the US where vasectomies were forced on men. Not doubting you at all, just curious. I'd love to see a class-based breakdown on current vasectomy status. I am inclined to think that these days it's mostly an option taken up by middle-to-upperclass folks, correlating strongly with decent health insurance.Irenenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-91382958254997629202012-03-12T06:45:50.420-04:002012-03-12T06:45:50.420-04:00Hello Mary Kaye - not suggesting you try this beca...Hello Mary Kaye - not suggesting you try this because you do have a good solution for you, but I used to turn off my periods by taking huge amounts of good quality evening primrose oil from the start of my cycle. Sometimes I'd just start it whenever, and by luck hit the start of the cycle. Most times however, I could work out from the relative intensity of flow when my period should have finished and start the primrose oil then. It's worth sharing as you did because many women head for hysterectomies because of bleeding - and its only just a short time until all that finishes anyway. BTW - having had periods like a gushing tap, I can understand the blood up to the elbows thing! Good luck everyone! :-) CCandicehttp://candicewing.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-67248859412969951792012-03-12T00:55:53.266-04:002012-03-12T00:55:53.266-04:00It's also assuming that there has been and wil...It's also assuming that there has been and will not be any special or even coercive pressure on the poor or on certain ethnic groups to get a vasectomy. There is a long and ugly history of that in the US.mythagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07138471078836187498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-31615199318739465702012-03-11T08:51:34.650-04:002012-03-11T08:51:34.650-04:00I would just like to point out regarding getting y...I would just like to point out regarding getting your period on the pill, that for me it would be a reason to start getting the pill. Since I am suffering from PCO I usually have a period every six months something like that. I have tried regulating with anything from p-pills to acupuntcure. Not because I neccesarily want to get pregnant right now, but because I feel disconnected from my body and have problems perceiving myself as an adult woman rather than a child. Therefor I would like to protest against the notion about male doctors. In some instances periods, with all that they mean of pain and uncomforability can be something you wish for.<br />SSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-47226730891099881902012-03-11T01:57:48.604-05:002012-03-11T01:57:48.604-05:00Holly said in the post that the base rate was 85% ...Holly said in the post that the base rate was 85% (in the bit about spermicide being better than nothing). And yeah, of course that's probably assuming some goodness-knows-what average frequency of having sex (try the Kinsey Institute).Irenenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770580070906411828.post-56625431970929729982012-03-11T00:04:16.067-05:002012-03-11T00:04:16.067-05:00That first link is Crown condoms! Our favorite! I...That first link is Crown condoms! Our favorite! Ignore the somewhat strange pink color they are great.KaralynZnoreply@blogger.com