Contraceptives

Continuing the series on ‘How to use’ different types of contraceptives, today is the guy’s turn and we’ll start with an obvious one, the condom. You may think that there is not much to learn about condoms, girls, - you wish ‘he’ would use one without being reminded, you know what they are for, that they are easily available, that you can blow them up like balloons and that if they tear or slip off, oops- your health and entire future could be affected! OK but there’s a lot more to condoms than this.

Do you know?

• which type of condom to use if your partner is allergic to latex
• which condom is best-one with/without a nipple at the end
• is it OK to use petroleum jelly as a lubricant with latex condoms
• that your wallet is NOT a good place to carry condoms

Sexually Active Guys and Gals should carry condoms - if they are used correctly, one of the most important things about condoms is that they provide good protection against STD’s. I know you’ve heard it all before but it IS important for you to talk to your partner and have a birth control PLAN, which may mean using more than one type of contraceptive. Agreeing to a contraceptive solution that is workable for both of you will enrich those spontaneous moments and reduce the worry of ‘catching something’!

There is a short video in the videos category on this site too, on how to a put a condom on but first, here is the link to some clear instructions and dias. on How To Use a Condom and please read the warnings on this site about using Nonoxynol-9 as a lubricant with condoms or other contraceptives.

I think the best and most reliable site for more information and for buying condoms and other ‘goodies’ on line is Condom Man

Do you know how long sperm can survive in fertile cervical fluid?

I know this site is about reviews of contraceptives BUT knowledge about the whole process is power, right? Even when you are trying to STOP those eager little beavers from getting to that egg of yours, the more you know about the habits of ‘the enemy’ the better to foil them, right?

I found this information (in quotes) at a good site for women who want to conceive and while www.fertilityfriend.com is not supplying information for prevention of pregnancy, the facts are empowering to us all, especially when read before watching the video on this site about ‘How you get Pregnant”.

“The longest that sperm can survive in fertile (eggwhite) cervical fluid is five days. All pregnancies can be attributed to intercourse that takes place within the five days before ovulation and the day of ovulation.

Sperm, however, do not typically survive for five days, even in fertile cervical fluid. A life span of 2-3 days is much more typical for sperm, even in fertile cervical fluid- less if there is no fertile cervical fluid.”

In a normal menstrual cycle

“Cervical fluid is produced by your cervix as you approach ovulation due to increased estrogen. It flows from the cervix into the vagina where it can easily be observed. Your cervical fluid changes throughout your cycle, increasing in quantity and becoming more clear and stretchy as you get closer to ovulation. Noticing and recording these changes will help you better time intercourse and recognize your own fertility pattern.

In the most common pattern, cervical fluid starts out dry after your period and then gets sticky, then creamy, then wet and watery, becoming most like eggwhite as you get closer to ovulation. You may get different types of cervical fluid on the same day.”

Hopefully this will help you to understand why oral contraceptives are effective in slowing down sperm -they THICKEN this cervical fluid, the sperm take longer to swim through this ‘glue’, few make it through to reach the egg or die of exhaustion in the process!

OK- Now you know all this- make sure you have ‘back up’ from this guy too.

If you have multiple sexual partners don’t let them give you the gift of syphilis for Christmas! Unless you are absolutely certain of your partner’s medical history in this area , you should always insist on the use of condoms, even though an oral contraceptive or other method of birth control may be used as well.

A condom is the safest way of protecting yourself against sexually transmitted diseases so….. watch the little ‘cucumber’ video below( especially if sex is relatively new to you)

“Oh, Come on!” ” I can hear you say but please indulge me, better safe than sorry and it will give you a giggle (AND ease my conscience that I have left no rubber ‘unrolled’ in simplifying the useful information I promised to deliver on this site).

By the way, if you had any ‘accidents’ or unfortunate experiences with condoms that could serve as a warning to others, please feel free to leave a comment- but keep it ‘clean’. I think the best and most reliable (pardon the pun) site for buying condoms and other ‘goodies’ on line is this one.

If research funds hold out and we can hold our breath for another 4 or 5 years, two types of oral contraceptive pill for men and a sperm blocker may be coming our way. In America, approximately one third of the responsibility for contraception is taken by men using condoms or having vasectomies. For this figure to grow, other non-permanent methods of acceptable and safe birth control for use by males will have to be developed.

We have been told for years now that a male contraceptive will be on the market ’soon’. When one finally DOES appear on the market, there could be mixed reactions from women, not least issues of trust and maybe handing back the ‘power of control’ over when to conceive. You will still need a good supply of anti STD devices though so stock up here at a reliable site- they have other ‘goodies’ too.
Will women rely solely on her male partner to take responsibility for birth control (as HE will not be the one physically going through an unplanned pregnancy) or will she take extra precautions ‘just in case’?

“Some men are quite desperate for better control over their fertility,” said Kirsten Thompson, director of the International Male Contraception Coalition. “They’re looking for something they can really count on.” So are we gentlemen!

Two conferences on the “Future of Male Contraception” have been held so far in Seattle (sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, World Health Organization and others) and a number of possibilities for new male contraceptive options look like being viable, including, wait for it guys, a device for blocking sperm that is inserted into the vas deferens (is that a cringe I feel?).

The vas deferens is the ’sperm tube’ that is cut in a vasectomy (my ex had this done and if one sits on an ice bag immediately after the op it keeps the bruising down and recovery is quite quick)

The sperm blocker device currently being developed, is comprised of a set of removable plugs that have so far been tested on 90 men. The results of the plug insertion trial show “substantial equivalence to traditional vasectomy methods”. However, more research is now required to find out if normal fertility returns after the devices have been removed.

Could this be the makings of a new catchphrase ladies? “Show me your scars honey!”

The Oral Contraceptive Pill for women uses synthetic female hormones- a ‘testosterone-like’ pill for men that uses a drug called “selective androgen receptor modulator,” or SARM is presently being tested on humans for treating osteoporosis and muscle wasting, this drug, when taken orally, has also been found to reduce sperm count in rabbits.

A team @ Pittsburgh University has found that a non- hormonal compound known as CDB-4022 stops monkey sperm from swimming to their destination and importantly, within 16 weeks of stopping treatment, normal fertility returned. The chief factor of safety in the administration of this drug still needs to be tested though.

A new survey by the International Male Contraception Coalition found 61 percent of men would pick a non-hormonal drug over other contraceptive choices. I wonder if they asked these men if they were comfortable with us women taking a hormonal contraceptive pill?

If the latest studies are to be believed, more men are becoming interested in taking more responsibility for birth control. While it is doubtful that we shall reach a point where ALL men see that this responsibility should be shared equally with women, surely it is healthy and mature to keep abreast of the latest developments so that we are all in a better position (no pun intended) to discuss the type of contraceptive ‘arrangement’ that is win/win for both partners and successful family planning for the future?

Adjudin and the ‘dry orgasm’ pill for men (no ejaculate produced) may eventually be developed with very minor side effects.

To see the reactions of 10 men when asked about taking a male contraceptive pill watch this 2 min. video

If the video does not appear in 10 seconds CLICK HERE