Hi All

OK I have a question what do you girls use for contraception?

As you know I am now in a permanent relationship with Mark but he does not want any children and although I would love to have a baby with him I will honour his wishes and we will see in the future if his heart changes when our situation does. I don't think a baby would be ideal for me at present either.

We use condoms but tonight it broke so now I have to go for the Morning After Pill which is not something I want to do but I will.

I haven't taken the Pill for 14 years or more.

Hugs
Tracey

Hi Tracey

I don't know whether you're vegan or not, but I was unaware until fairly recently that most condoms are not suitable for vegans as they contain casein (milk protein).

There is a whole thread here (see link below), if you feel like reading it, that talks about different types of contraception.  Some of the dialogue is a bit silly but there are some interesting bits too if you sift through.

You need to decide whether you want to alter your body's natural cycle by interefering with it, and also look into the moral implications of some forms of contraception, such as the IUD, which effectively has an abortive approach and is therefore possibly not something you'd be comfortable with (depending on your views of when life begins etc. and how you generally feel about abortion).

There are some good books available at the library as well which talk about the various methods available.  I know a breaking condom can be a frightening thing; it's happened to me before too, right when I was ovulating, but the chances of it happening are actually quite rare, so maybe don't let that one breakage turn you off them completely.  I'd also have a discussion with your partner to decide what action you'd both want to take if you became pregnant while not wanting to.  I think it's good to be clear on that upfront so that you wouldn't be faced with that discussion if it were to happen, when emotions can run high.

Best of luck with finding a method that suits you both.

Love swami xxx

http://www.vegsoc.org.au/forum_messages.asp?Thread_ID=2333&Topic_ID=6&start=0

Hi Tracey

I sensed you would feel that way about interfering with your body's cycle and inserting foreign objects....I feel the same way.  Would your partner consider a vasectomy if he is definite about not having children or are you secretly (or not so secretly!) hoping he'll change his mind (or heart) one day?

There are vegan condoms available, so don't fret!!  There's a brand called Condomi and you can get extra tough ones (for gay sex) as well as many other types.  I don't know where or if you can get them in Australia.  There's another brand called Glyde which you can order online through the Cruelty Free Shop in Australia and I think Vegan Essentials sell a vegan brand too, but from memory they're the Glyde ones too.  If you do a search for Condomi, you'll probably come up with a few online places (that's if you're concerned about the casein...I take veganism to its extreme). 

I think on the link I gave you, there was an Ansell one as well made from some other type of material and it is suitable for vegans.  I'm guessing you can buy them on the shelf in supermarkets or chemists but I've never looked (since I practice abstinence!!!).  Ah, but I live in hope and like to be informed!!

Will go and read your journal sometime soon.

Love to you,

swami xxx

Thanks Osianna I will check that out. The more natural the better and it is something Mark has said to me that he would like to do in having unprotected sex but he can't because he doesn't want any children. I don't believe in interferring in the naturalness in any way but sometimes you have to.

I know when I ovulate and but don't have a regular menstrual cycle and when I was 100% raw last year I had no mentruation at all and I think there is a fear factor in the safety of getting a period now that is holding me back from being 100% again.

Hugs
Tracey

Hey Swami hoping he might change his mind one day but I already have 6 so whatever is mean't to be will be. I don't really believe in vasectomy either because it is not natural for men the same as interferring with the womens body. That's why I homebirthed. Will check out the vegan condoms.

Aguacate, thanks for that info about using 2 I will tell him. Probably was just a one off not going to worry too much about it got the morning after pill today and it cost $25.00 so not something you would want to need to often. As for a problem no it is not a problem really and he knows how I feel as I know how he feels. I'm just content to have a man who loves me and my kids.

Love & Hugs
Tracey

Wow, I assume you are fairly young, D.R. Interesting to think you have already taken quite a big step in regards to ever having children.


That's a very serious way of dealing with contraception, I think if a guy is serious about NEVER wanting to have children is more appropriate since there are other less permanent ways of dealing w/ contraception!

My boyfriend and I don't use anything other than me knowing where I am in my cycle, it works well, for us.

I was on the Pill from the age of 16 til about 21-22 and never want to use it again. It took my body atleast a year to get back into it's own cycle and for me to feel myself again.

I think using the knowledge of your own cycle is good and more "natural" than using anything that interferes w/ your hormones or having anything implanted or having to bother with condoms. But not all guys will be accepting of that if they are particularly worried about you becoming pregnant. And of course I mean in regards to being with a longterm partner not lots of different ppl

I understand, after reading the thread on periods yesterday and the fact that some women don't menstruate worried me a little because it would be a lot harder to tell, but I'm only 6 weeks in so no changes for me, so far!

And you're right, even if you think you are safe somewhere in your cycle, you never know what could happen.

Best of luck with whatever you choose

yowsers Harley!

We dont want to have a baby right now, but want kids in the future. Thats a very final way of dealing with it. Is it reversible? Maybe I should read up on vasectomies. You make it seem like a casual form of contraception.

My husband not wanting to have kids now doesnt make him any less of a man. He has 'balls' so to speak, even if he chooses not to have a vasectomy. He is the one who uses the contraception in our relationship though as I had problems with the pill and havent been on it for four years.

I think the issue with women taking the responsibility most of the time is that there are more contraceptive methods available to women than there are to men. But I dont think guys are being wimpy if they dont get vasectomies. That seems a bit extreme to me!