# Why do Women use the pill instead of other birth control methods? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 16, 2012, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-use-the-pill-instead-of-other-birth-control-methods/613006 "2012-02-16T03:53:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-use-the-pill-instead-of-other-birth-control-methods/613006/21 "2012-02-16T16:28:51Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > For me, the pill stops menstrual cramps, allows me to have a period that’s three days and barely need pads rather than seven days and frequent tampon+pad changes and mess, it also gives me clearer skin and smaller mood changes. . . I would stay on the Pill even if for some reason I took a vow of celibacy or something. It’s almost like the side effects are the main reason I take it … and, oh, yeah, by the way, it also keeps me from getting knocked up. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-use-the-pill-instead-of-other-birth-control-methods/613006/22 "2012-02-16T16:30:53Z")
> [@Foldup\_Rabbit](#): > > I’m going to venture a guess here, being female and on the pill. > > The pill is not surgical, doesn’t require shots, isn’t permanent, and doesn’t need a metal wire shoved into my nether regions. > > Remembering to take a pill every day is kinda like brushing your teeth. It takes two seconds, no one cuts into me, and I can stop if I feel the need. These are the reasons my SO gives for taking the pill. She also says that when she was off it she had really bad period pain, cramps etc. which are way way less when she is on the pill. I don’t know if other solutions might help that as well but she’s very happy taking the pill and manages to remember to take the thing every day. ---
**Author:** ![Minnie\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Minnie\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minnie_Luna)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-use-the-pill-instead-of-other-birth-control-methods/613006/23 "2012-02-16T16:41:00Z")
I’ve done the pill and depo. Depo made me gain weight (not a lot, but it was weight that wouldn’t come off no matter how hard I tried) and it took a year after stopping it for me to get a regular cycle back. I never had any problems with the pill, but a friend of mine had to go through many different brands/formulations to find one that didn’t leave her with awful side effects. Everyone is different, we should be glad we have so many different options. ---
**Author:** ![FlyByNight512](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/82dd89/32.png) [@FlyByNight512](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyByNight512)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-use-the-pill-instead-of-other-birth-control-methods/613006/24 "2012-02-16T17:26:51Z")
The reasons everyone else has given for choosing the pill are good ones. Personally, I know I forget to take my daily meds once in a while, so taking pills (where one missed day can mean a pregnancy) isn’t a good option for me. Plus my mother had breast cancer that was estrogen receptor positive, so I don’t like the idea of flooding my body with estrogen if I don’t have to. I’m on a different form that requires much less regular attention, and a calendar reminder keeps me on track. It’s more expensive (no generics available!) but worth it. Luckily side effects have been non-existent for me. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-use-the-pill-instead-of-other-birth-control-methods/613006/25 "2012-02-16T18:46:55Z")
Depo can also lead to hair loss… I have a friend who basically has a bald spot thanks to Depo. She was on it for 2 shots, and after the second one her hair started coming out in clumps. Half a decade later, it’s never fully grown back. NOT a side effect most women want! Another advantage of the Pill is that it’s something that’s entirely in women’s control - there’s no need for input from a partner. It doesn’t prevent STDs, but for a lot of people that’s not really an issue and barrier methods (or less common techniques like spermicides and sponges) involve a break in the action and/or a partner’s involvement and consent, both of which can be annoying. The Pill provides a near-guarantee (I consider \>95% to be a near guarantee) of not becoming pregnant and sex can be much more spontaneous and natural. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-use-the-pill-instead-of-other-birth-control-methods/613006/26 "2012-02-16T19:13:42Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I > I don’t know why women would rather use condoms than be on the pill. But if we weren’t all different there’d only be one kind of birth control instead of 20. In the case of a good friend of mine, because she has a severe latex allergy and a mother and a sister who have had breast cancer. She is having a bitch of a time trying to figure out what exactly she should use if she can’t use latex condoms or anything hormonal. And her weight has been fluctuating too much for a diaphragm to be reliable. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-use-the-pill-instead-of-other-birth-control-methods/613006/27 "2012-02-16T19:17:07Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > In the case of a good friend of mine, because she has a severe latex allergy and a mother and a sister who have had breast cancer. She is having a bitch of a time trying to figure out what exactly she should use if she can’t use latex condoms or anything hormonal. And her weight has been fluctuating too much for a diaphragm to be reliable. I wonder if she’s looked into a **non-hormonal** IUD, like Paragard. Depending on her age and whether or not she’s ever given birth, she may have to hunt around to find a gynecologist who’ll insert one. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-use-the-pill-instead-of-other-birth-control-methods/613006/28 "2012-02-16T19:47:21Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > In the case of a good friend of mine, because she has a severe latex allergy and a mother and a sister who have had breast cancer. She is having a bitch of a time trying to figure out what exactly she should use if she can’t use latex condoms or anything hormonal. And her weight has been fluctuating too much for a diaphragm to be reliable. Polyurethane condoms. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-use-the-pill-instead-of-other-birth-control-methods/613006/29 "2012-02-16T20:11:39Z")
Because implanted or injected hormones make me want to kill myself (literally)-- Depo was the worst experience of my entire life. At least with a pill, if it’s awful, it’s only awful for a day or two. And because no one will give me an IUD because I’m not married. Hooray! Trust me, I’d LOVE a copper IUD-- so much so, that I’m considering lying so I can just get one. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-use-the-pill-instead-of-other-birth-control-methods/613006/30 "2012-02-16T22:04:45Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > Because implanted or injected hormones make me want to kill myself (literally)-- Depo was the worst experience of my entire life. At least with a pill, if it’s awful, it’s only awful for a day or two. > > And because no one will give me an IUD because I’m not married. Hooray! Trust me, I’d LOVE a copper IUD-- so much so, that I’m considering lying so I can just get one. Why do you need to be married for an IUD? ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-use-the-pill-instead-of-other-birth-control-methods/613006/31 "2012-02-16T22:17:01Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > Why do you need to be married for an IUD? All my research says I don’t. But according to the local Planned Parenthood, they wont give me one because I’m not married— and what if I go have crazy, scandalous, slutty sex with a whole mess of strangers (because I can’t do that if I’m married), acquire a horrific disease, it travels up that little piece right into my uterus and kills me. WHAT THEN?!? When I pointed out to the doctor that I always use condoms anyway (well, with non monogamous partners) and that my understanding of the studies is that the chances of me getting PID due to the IUD and being infertile or dying is unlikely (like, super mega crazy unlikely). I even explained that I don’t really want kids anyway, so if something WERE to happen that caused infertility, it really wouldn’t ruin my life. See, I wasn’t some uninformed 15 year old girl trying to get one-- I was a 25 year old woman who had done _a lot_ of research on the matter. Nope. Declined. When I pointed out that hormonal birth control makes me sick, the doctor said, “Well, maybe you should just use condoms then.” When I pointed out that the statistics aren’t exactly the best for just condom usage alone, she said, “Well, then use the morning after pill.” Righto, doc-- tell somebody with adverse reactions to hormonal BC to just use the morning after pill (super high doses of hormones) as birth control. Makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-use-the-pill-instead-of-other-birth-control-methods/613006/32 "2012-02-16T22:44:05Z")
Please tell me you’ve found a new doctor! ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-use-the-pill-instead-of-other-birth-control-methods/613006/33 "2012-02-16T22:44:51Z")
Yeesh. Sounds like you have Crappy Doctor Syndrome, Diosa. You might want to see a (better) doctor about that. I’ve been on Depo for years. Best thing that ever happened for me. That said, I take 7 pills a day. If I was still on a pill BC, it wouldn’t be any more complicated than adding it to my pill box. We’re lucky to live in a time when women have options for these things. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-use-the-pill-instead-of-other-birth-control-methods/613006/34 "2012-02-16T22:57:23Z")
I don’t have insurance, so even though I’ve got cash to pay, I’m extremely limited by where I can go. I’ve tried several places-- many aren’t taking new patients/ cash patients/ whatever. Or-- like one-- which did take me (and my $130 office fee), just to tell me they wouldn’t refill my pills because they aren’t my regular doctor. Me explaining I don’t HAVE a regular doctor did no good. Whenever I ask these places, “Ok, so what am I supposed to do?” They all answer with Planned Parenthood. I’m an adult woman with a “real” job, plenty of money, and I can’t find a doctor to take my money. Hooray! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-use-the-pill-instead-of-other-birth-control-methods/613006/35 "2012-02-16T23:29:26Z")
I think that until recently there just wasn’t much information for young women who might have considered an IUD - there was that whole horror story from the 70’s thing, and you just didn’t hear much about them except for that sex ed lecture about what they were. I never considered getting one until I heard so many good things about Mirena here - cost me 30 whole dollars, good for 5 years, haven’t had a period since I got it installed. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-use-the-pill-instead-of-other-birth-control-methods/613006/36 "2012-02-16T23:39:49Z")
But you totally died though, right? Because I heard it kills you. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-use-the-pill-instead-of-other-birth-control-methods/613006/37 "2012-02-17T00:30:51Z")
Every day, but just a little, and usually only when I see those Sarah McLachlan animal shelter ads. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-use-the-pill-instead-of-other-birth-control-methods/613006/38 "2012-02-17T00:46:10Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Every day, but just a little, and usually only when I see those Sarah McLachlan animal shelter ads. Not effective birth control. At first, maybe, because I’m so disturbed, but attempts by my husband to comfort me often leads to risky behaviours… ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-use-the-pill-instead-of-other-birth-control-methods/613006/39 "2012-02-17T01:17:22Z")
I think the main reason the pill is such a popular option is because it has been around so long that everyone knows about it, everyone knows someone who takes it, and most people are comfortable with it. Given how easy it is to forget pills (one of the main reasons for those stories you hear about people who “got pregnant even though they were on the pill!”), I think the NuvaRing is a better option for a lot of women (especially teenagers) but another barrier to use of the NuvaRing is that many women are squeamish about touching their own genitals. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-use-the-pill-instead-of-other-birth-control-methods/613006/40 "2012-02-17T02:43:30Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > Not effective birth control. At first, maybe, because I’m so disturbed, but attempts by my husband to comfort me often leads to risky behaviours… It also does nothing to help you limit the number of animal dependents you have. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-use-the-pill-instead-of-other-birth-control-methods/613006.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-women-use-the-pill-instead-of-other-birth-control-methods/613006.md?page=3)