BlogHer - birth control - Comments

Thank you!

DelRey — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:27:41 -0500

Great post and good reminders, although I disagree about not marrying in your 20s... I believe that if you've got a great guy that you're in love with who wants to start a family - well, this is a rare thing that you shouldn't let slip away. But I guess the grass is always greener. I'm in my 20s, and I'd love to have found someone like that by now.

This is also a nice counterpoint to this depressing article from about a year ago: http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200803/single-marry

I do think that it must be a horrible feeling to be a 40-something woman who wants biological children but has no partner at that point in her life. When I think about the horrors of fertility treatments and all the expense to boot - not to mention that pregnancy tends to be easier and the genetic material is "healthier" in your 20s vs. later on. I've reached the conclusion that it's better to start a family too early than too late, if you know that you're going to want kids at some point.

Keeping on keeping on

AmberS — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:06:45 -0500

I'm on maternity leave right now. It feels a little uncertain, being away from work in this economic climate. I feel a little vulnerable. But at the same time, I agree with you. We will get through this. And for me, right now, a better future includes the baby in my arms. In a few years it might mean a vasectomy for my husband. But in the meantime I will continue living my life, because that's all I can do.

~ Amber

www.strocel.com

And now a word from an actual vasectomy survivor

Daddy Scratches — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:16:57 -0500

Got mine done a few years ago, after the birth of our second child. It wasn't so much an economically driven decision for us, but rather more of a mental health issue ... as in, had we gone on to have a third child, my mental health would have deteriorated to an irreversible point.

Having said that, one of the lesser reasons I didn't want to have more than two was because of the financial ramifications. It wouldn't have been the deciding factor, but it was a significant footnote.

(And I really should have more shame and humility than to want to share this with anybody, particularly the technological equivalent of a roomful of women, but ... here's a firsthand account of what it's like to go through the whole vasectomy thing.)

Totally worth it, despite how it sounds.

You might be a redneck if you get a vasectomy...

sandhillsis — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:07:50 -0500

in a double wide trailer house, like my DH. The highly rated urologist was building a brand new building, the double wide was his temporary office. But still. I was shocked and turned and said "You think they'll give you a shot of whiskey and stick to bite down on."

Needless to say DH's color drained and he walked a little slower to the door. HA.

Getting the big SNIP is a great, cost effective way to go, we are glad we did it.

Sandhill Sis

www.reclaimsimplicity.com

Discover how rich and hilarious life can be when it's simple. Tales and tips on making money mind, riding the recycle, simple food, homegrown music, gardening and more.

Its fabulous

blindedbyblonde — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:13:30 -0500

i love men getting fixed.

First off its cheaper, less down time, and reversible. Women over 35 can't take the pill without health risk of something and the surgical version for us is soo far more complicate including hormone therapy.

A man who is clipped never has to worry about the woman who gets pregnant on purpose or worry about the accidental ones and have to have the horrible conversation of asking a woman to abort.

Its a great thing!!!

um, gah.

Her Bad Mother — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:54:14 -0500

My husband is scheduled to have a v-section on April 21. I am not 100% supportive (which is to say, I am 99% supportive, but that 1% is kind of sticking in my craw.) So I'm kind of stuck on the potential regret thing, rather than the economics (which kinda just becomes one more argument for the hubs, which is fine, but still: did I mention that 1%?)

snip, snip...

anotherjen — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:01:02 -0500

Well, I guess that's one way to cut back in a bad economy. =)

Yikes, sorry, I couldn't resist!

Jen

The Next Rich Girl: http://www.NextRichGirl.com

Those cakes are hilarious

AmberS — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:30:55 -0500

Those vasectomy cakes are awesome!

We're not quite ready to make the final leap yet, so for now I have an IUD. And I currently have a 7-month-old, so we're still in early days anyway. But I would be hesitant to have another child in the current economic climate. I can see why it might change the equation when you're deciding if you want to have another baby, or get the snip.

~ Amber

www.strocel.com

When they tossed this in...

nelle2nelle — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:59:59 -0600

it seemed such a spiteful and semi-sneaky thing to do. They knew it would be tossed, but did it anyway.

I get a tad annoyed with the fad of exceptions people toss at us now. Dammit, if I don't like hunting, I don't hunt. If I am (hypothetically) skittish about the sight of blood, I don't work in a health care facility. If I cannot find it in my conscience to dispense all prescribed medication, well... I should not work in a pharmacy, and so on.

Yet the latter and the subject of your post deals with people who sought such a bye on part of their job duties. The birth control element makes me crazy (the example you cite of the nurse.)

We protect gun rights more zealously than we protect our right to decide for ourselves what happens with our bodies - what kind of societal convoluted logic are we working with here?

What I saw with the governance of the right was a rough framework of religious rights that meant right to worship as a Christian. Others, not so much.

A defence of freedom - except when freedom starts extending to our bodies. When that happens, time to regulate and 'protect the sanctity of life.' What in bloody hell is the sanctity of life when someone can force pregnancy upon an unwilling woman? A willing philosophy that it is ok to blow past her will and force her to do this.

I cannot imagine being placed in this situation. I have a friend - my name actually comes from her, when I changed it... she was forced to carry by her mom - after she was raped, and then... forced to place the child for adoption.

She was 16 at the time. And this sort of memory is what drives me to go nuts in the writing on the subject.

Overall, I have no issue with a health care provider passing on aborting, though even that leaves me skittish in remote areas, in emergencies, etc. With bc? No way, we will help you find other employment more suited to your conscience.

llhaesa

Still work to be done!

Suzanne Reisman — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:28:27 -0600

It is a relief, but during the comment period, don't forget to write in because the opposition is doing so already! I don't think we can take anything for granted, although certainly this rule is going to be improved.

Suzanne Reisman, Contributing Editor - Feminism & Gender
Campaign for Unshaved Snatch (CUSS) & Other Rants

Such a relief

Liz Rizzo — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:35:46 -0600

That rule was truly heinous. I'm beyond relieved that it's being reversed.

Liz Rizzo

I blog at Everyday Goddess.

I have been very excited

Pam — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 09:10:06 -0600

By the Obama administrations quick action to get this stuff stricken from the books. I actually got a little weepy over the overthrow of the "objection" law because while I did vote Obama, I worried that he was not the progressive he presented himself to be at first. So far, so good!

Nerd's Eye View
@nerdseyeview

Bush Admin: the most duplicitous, cynical and secretive...

KeegsMom — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 08:25:27 -0600

It was very difficult to sit by and watch Bush signing these last minute proclamations, but knowing that Obama would soon UNdo them was some small comfort. Really, I felt we were sliding into some kind of dark ages again.... Thanks for calling attention to this, for those who may not have been following along.

KeegsMom

KIDSFLIX

http://kidsflix.blogspot.com

It's a melting pot after all

Liz Rizzo — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:32:52 -0600

I never understand these concerns. If America finds itself low on population, couldn't we just let more people become citizens? Even with all of our troubles, there certainly still seem to be plenty of people who want to come here.

Liz Rizzo

I blog at Everyday Goddess.

RE RE Two things

sandhillsis — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:47:58 -0600

I would love to see an option to opt out of SS. I would cut my loses with what they have already rec'd from me in the last 20 years and plan to be self supporting.

www.reclaimsimplicity.com

Discover how rich and hilarious life can be when it's simple. Tales and tips on making money mind, riding the recycle, simple food, homegrown music, gardening and more.