# Sex Question **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 22, 2005, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-question/295675 "2005-03-22T03:24:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DrLoveGun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@DrLoveGun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrLoveGun)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-question/295675/1 "2005-03-22T03:24:48Z")
So my wife and I are a little scared of sex. Not that we don’t enjoy it, but we have a 4 month old and aren’t completely sure of her cycle yet. So we’ve decided to use the tried and true “Odds, Evens” method to see if it is safe. Anyone want to place bets on this one? ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-question/295675/2 "2005-03-22T04:00:03Z")
I’m not even sure what the Odds, Evens method is, but why not use a condom to be sure? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-question/295675/3 "2005-03-22T04:04:13Z")
Care to tell us what the “ol’ odds evens” method is? The fact that the first two people in this thread have never heard of it should tell you something. It probably means that “odds” are that she will get pregnant “even” if she doesn’t the first time. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-question/295675/4 "2005-03-22T04:05:15Z")
Also, your user name indicates that you should probably be more careful than most. ---
**Author:** ![DrLoveGun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@DrLoveGun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrLoveGun)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-question/295675/5 "2005-03-22T04:06:26Z")
Odds evens, one person calls odds one evens, and then you stick out either 1 finger or 2 fingers. If the sum is odd, it goes to that person and so on. Mostly seen on school playgrounds to settle disputes ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-question/295675/6 "2005-03-22T04:08:42Z")
Heh, unless I am clueless as to new ‘methods’ of BC, I think the OP is jokingly referring to ‘shooting odds or evens.’ If I’m right, keep the newborn clothes, you’re gonna need 'em. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-question/295675/7 "2005-03-22T04:10:59Z")
> [@DrLoveGun](#): > > Odds evens, one person calls odds one evens, and then you stick out either 1 finger or 2 fingers. If the sum is odd, it goes to that person and so on. Mostly seen on school playgrounds to settle disputes And this has exactly what to do with your fear of sex? Methinks our time is being wasted on meaningless blather here. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-question/295675/8 "2005-03-22T04:13:18Z")
> [@DrLoveGun](#): > > Odds evens, one person calls odds one evens, and then you stick out either 1 finger or 2 fingers. If the sum is odd, it goes to that person and so on. Mostly seen on school playgrounds to settle disputes Well, if you only make this wager with yourselves when you would normally have sex then you are going to lose some of the time thereby reducing the number of times you have sex. That is the only benefit to your super-scientific method. Sperm can live for [days](http://www.soc.ucsb.edu/sexinfo/?article=pregnancy&refid=012) inside the woman so trying to guess when she is fertile is a fool’s game unless you are willing to risk getting her pregnant. It might reduce the odds but that is like saying playing Russian Roulette with three bullets instead of all six is safe. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-question/295675/9 "2005-03-22T04:26:26Z")
> [@DrLoveGun](#): > > So my wife and I are a little scared of sex. Not that we don’t enjoy it, but we have a 4 month old and aren’t completely sure of her cycle yet. So we’ve decided to use the tried and true “Odds, Evens” method to see if it is safe. Anyone want to place bets on this one? Um… whatchoo talkin’ 'bout? Seriously…she’s probably fertile again. I ovulated today and delivered a premie five weeks ago. Breastfeeding is not birth control, especially considering the trouble she’s been having with nursing and the supplementation that was needed. (If your wife is who I think I remember it is.) Unless you want more troops, slap a helmet on that soldier before heading to the front lines! ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/45deac/32.png) [@Evil\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_One)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-question/295675/10 "2005-03-22T04:33:53Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Unless you want more troops, slap a helmet on that soldier before heading to the front lines! The laugh of the day. Thank you, WhyNot. ---
**Author:** ![inkleberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f17d59/32.png) [@inkleberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inkleberry)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-question/295675/11 "2005-03-22T04:47:39Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Um… whatchoo talkin’ 'bout? > > Seriously…she’s probably fertile again. I ovulated today and delivered a premie five weeks ago. Breastfeeding is not birth control, especially considering the trouble she’s been having with nursing and the supplementation that was needed. (If your wife is who I think I remember it is.) Unless you want more troops, slap a helmet on that soldier before heading to the front lines! He’s talking about shooting odds/evens to decide whether we need birth control. He is trying to be funny. It’s not working out so hot. Meanwhile, I am less dumb. Also, I like to remind him that I’m going to be pregnant just once more, and then he gets to meet Mr. Snips. If he wants to meet Mr. Snips this year, fine by me. Hell, if I have to face the prospect of two holiday seasons in a row with newborns, Mr. Snips may just come while he sleeps sometime during the pregnancy. No jury would convict me… ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-question/295675/12 "2005-03-22T04:57:42Z")
Apparently, [the smell](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=5973717#post5973717) is doing nothing to turn you off, huh? ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-question/295675/13 "2005-03-22T05:06:29Z")
> [@DrLoveGun](#): > > So my wife and I are a little scared of sex. Not that we don’t enjoy it, but we have a 4 month old and aren’t completely sure of her cycle yet. So we’ve decided to use the tried and true “Odds, Evens” method to see if it is safe. Anyone want to place bets on this one? Er, you mean intercourse. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![inkleberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f17d59/32.png) [@inkleberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inkleberry)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-question/295675/14 "2005-03-22T05:09:53Z")
> [@Casey1505](#): > > Apparently, [the smell](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=5973717#post5973717) is doing nothing to turn you off, huh? Thankfully, it is restricted to the corner of the living room, not the bedroom. Otherwise, our phasers would be set to “kill.” ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-question/295675/15 "2005-03-22T13:24:36Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Breastfeeding is not birth control, especially considering the trouble she’s been having with nursing and the supplementation that was needed. (If your wife is who I think I remember it is.) That was me, suppliementing with formula. Inkleberry has good booby drugs now. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-question/295675/16 "2005-03-22T14:16:13Z")
> [@GingerOfTheNorth](#): > > That was me, suppliementing with formula. Inkleberry has good booby drugs now. I know, but I thought \*\*Inkleberry \*\*was also supplementing before the drugs did their thing. I could very well be misremembering. Even so, exclusive breastfeeding isn’t good contraception in this modern world of well-fed mommies. Our nutrition is good enough that our bodies produce more than enough hormones to let us nurse \*and \*ovulate. What fun! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-question/295675/17 "2005-03-22T14:22:44Z")
Sounds like “odds/evens” should work just fine, so long as it’s “odds, DrLoveGun puts the condom on, evens, MrsLoveGun puts it on him.” ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-question/295675/18 "2005-03-22T15:02:10Z")
My best friend got pregnant while nursing full time, without getting her period beforehand. (This was OK with her, although a surprise. Her fertility issues are worth a novel.) Anyway I certainly wouldn’t try it. 😛