# POLL: Contraceptives **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 18, 2001, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-contraceptives/69168 "2001-06-18T00:48:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kasuo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8c91f0/32.png) [@kasuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kasuo)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2001, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-contraceptives/69168/1 "2001-06-18T00:48:21Z")
Which contraceptives do you prefer/avoid? If any contraceptives were not mentioned, feel free to add others. 1. Abortion - no 2. Abstinence - no 3. Billings (woman observes vaginal discharge, similar to Rhythm method) - no 4. Body temperature (woman observes body temp. and pattern of ovulation in relation to it) - no 5. Cervical cap - yes 6. Condoms - yes 7. Diaphragm - yes 8. Hormonal birth control - yes 9. Interuterine device - yes 10. Morning-After pill - no 11. Rhythm method - no 12. Spermicides - yes 13. The pill - yes 14. Tubal ligation - no 15. Vasectomy - no 16. Withdrawl - no ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2001, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-contraceptives/69168/2 "2001-06-18T00:54:35Z")
At the moment, it’d be abstinence. When I’m in a monogamous, long term relationship, it’s the pill. If it’s anything other than that, it’s condoms, plus spermicide at a minimum. I’ve not tried any other methods. ---
**Author:** ![Rosebud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rosebud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rosebud)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2001, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-contraceptives/69168/3 "2001-06-18T01:21:58Z")
Used to be condoms, generally the ones treated with a spermicide. Haven’t tried any other barrier methods. I found spermacide-from-a-tube to be unpleasantly messy, though I’ll admit I didn’t give it much of a chance. Hated it too much. Switched to the pill for good almost a year and a half ago, it’s working fine in spite of a prescription change last month. I know some folks are happy with the Billings or body temp methods, but I wouldn’t feel as confident with them-- I’d be too afraid of screwing it up. I wouldn’t go with a surgical option unless I was absolutely certain I didn’t want kids. ---
**Author:** ![Carina42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Carina42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carina42)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2001, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-contraceptives/69168/4 "2001-06-18T02:27:27Z")
VASECTOMY! My ex-husband was neutered 🙂 as is my SO. Pill? Expensive; made me fat & moody. Condoms…squeak squeak, don’t like them. Diaphragm, rhythym, spermicide, withdrawal…too risky. Friend almost died from IUD/peritonitis…Nope. Morning after pill…rather not. No vasectomy, No nookie! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2001, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-contraceptives/69168/5 "2001-06-18T02:49:28Z")
I have to agree with **Carina42** , a vasectomy is the way to go, provided that you don’t want have anymore children. Speaking as a male who has been snipped, I find that I can now concentrate more on pleasing my SO and not have to think about pregnacy at all. It was always in the back of my mind, thus, I think hindering my performance. Without having to buy any contraceptives over the past nine years, the vasectomy has paid for itself. I love my kids, and 3 was enough for me. I don’t mind shooting blanks at all.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2001, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-contraceptives/69168/6 "2001-06-18T03:44:22Z")
> [@](#): > > VASECTOMY! Oh, yeah, baby. The SO had one done a couple of years ago right around Valentine’s Day. He didn’t want any kids and because of how rough my last pregnancy was and the fact that after 40 the Pill becomes a little more risky, he decided this was best. He refers to it as the gift that keeps on giving. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2001, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-contraceptives/69168/7 "2001-06-18T03:46:10Z")
For myself? Or OK with me as far as us using it as a couple? 1. Abortion - not for basic contraception. as a backstop yes. but she has to have it. i’m not having one myself. 2. Abstinence - no 3. Billings (woman observes vaginal discharge, similar to Rhythm method) - no way 4. Body temperature (woman observes body temp. and pattern of ovulation in relation to it) - no way 5. Cervical cap - yes 6. Condoms - result=abstinence. I’d rather just go without. 7. Diaphragm - only if other measures didn’t work out 8. Hormonal birth control - yes 9. Interuterine device - not unless they’ve gotten safer 10. Morning-After pill - OK 11. Rhythm method - no way 12. Spermicides - burn like hell. I’d rather go without. 13. The pill - yes 14. Tubal ligation - OK 15. Vasectomy - Actually I have one. Which makes the others on the list kind of hypothetical, I guess. 16. Withdrawl - no way ---
**Author:** ![Cyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@Cyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyn)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2001, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-contraceptives/69168/8 "2001-06-18T03:48:33Z")
#14 Works like a charm ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2001, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-contraceptives/69168/9 "2001-06-18T04:11:23Z")
1. **Abortion** - Ideally, no. However, would use if necessary. 2. **Abstinence** - Very unlikely. 3. **Billings** - Too much effort. No. 4. **Body temperature** - See above. 5. **Cervical cap** - No. 6. **Condoms** - Yes 7. **Diaphragm** - No. 8. **Hormonal birth control** - Don’t really know enough about this one. Possibly. 9. **Interuterine device** - Yes. 10. **Morning-After pill** - In emergencies, yes. Not as regular contraception. 11. **Rhythm method** - Possibly, if I were regular like clockwork 12. **Spermicides** - No. Ick. 13. **The pill** - Yes. However, if I gained any weight, I’d go straight off it. I like my body how it is atm. 14. **Tubal ligation** - Not at this point in my life. 15. **Vasectomy** - Not at this point in his life. 16. **Withdrawl** - Ideally, no. But have used it in the past. ---
**Author:** ![Myrr21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Myrr21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrr21)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2001, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-contraceptives/69168/10 "2001-06-18T06:43:28Z")
Whatever happened to the good old-fashioned method of beating 'em off with a stick? Upon reflection, I should rephrase that, but it amuses me too much this way. ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2001, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-contraceptives/69168/11 "2001-06-18T10:54:57Z")
I’m currently wanting a kid, and though my wife took the shot because she wanted to put off getting pregnant for a while, we were actively trying for some time before that and are probably going to keep trying when the shot wears off. So my answers will be based on what I have used in the past, or what I might use if I was trying not to. 1. Abortion - Not yet, though I wouldn’t have a problem with it if it was needed 2. Abstinence - Well, I’ve had long dry stretches but they weren’t by choice 3. Billings - Unreliable 4. Body temperature (woman observes body temp. and pattern of ovulation in relation to it) - No, but we used this when we were trying to get pregnant 5. Cervical cap - Haven’t used, but seems OK if the woman is up to it 6. Condoms - Have used them in the past, would like to never have to use them again, though. Can only reach orgasm about half the time when wearing one. 7. Diaphragm - Never used, but see 5. 8. Hormonal birth control - Currently using this (this is the shot, right?) 9. Interuterine device - Heard too much scary stuff about it. Nobody I know has used it. 10. Morning-After pill - If I was a woman I wouldn’t have a problem with it, but it’s expensive and there are better ways if you are having sex regularly 11. Rhythm method - See 3 and 4 12. Spermicides - Had a friend who used them, too unreliable, too messy 13. The pill - A few of the women I have been with used this, one in combination with condoms 14. Tubal ligation - Been with one who had this 15. Vasectomy - Nope, I change my mind too much to make a permanent decision like that - at least until the reversible kind becomes more commonly used and reliable. 16. Withdrawl - Yes, but only with a woman who was pretty infertile (15 years of sex with no pregnancies) ---
**Author:** ![bagkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ab992/32.png) [@bagkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bagkitty)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2001, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-contraceptives/69168/12 "2001-06-18T11:15:20Z")
Sillies… your forgot number 17: sex only with partner of the same gender. Works for me, never had any of my partners subject to a pregnancy scare. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2001, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-contraceptives/69168/13 "2001-06-18T12:59:08Z")
abortion-not for me thanks. i live in the land of free health care…so i got the pill, condoms and (once) the MAP free. had to stop using the pill, so it’s condoms all the way now. every thing else is icky, unreliable and/or uncalled for. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2001, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-contraceptives/69168/14 "2001-06-18T19:50:35Z")
Related hijack: Has anyone here ever used a diaphram or a cervical cap? What are hte advantages/disadvantages? How much does a diaphram cost? I have decided to go off chemical birth control because I really hate what it does to my body: not only do I gain weight, but I swear it messes up my mind, my libido, my whole personality. Pregnancy would not be good right now, and so my current plan is to use a diaphram and condoms together. It seems to me that as a pair the two would be pretty damn effective. I have a doctors appointment on Thursday to talk about this, but hearing people’s personal experiences would certainly be useful.