mecaryn

I've been on the pill for several months now and my boyfriend and I usually use a condom also. We've had unprotected sex once, and we know that we're both clean for STDs, but I'm still nervous about making a habit out of not using a condom. I was wondering whether or not other people use condoms and back up methods while on the pill or if I'm just being paranoid. Also, guys, is it really that much better sans condom?
Thanks.

Baron Opal

It is possible to become pregnant while takeing birth control tablets, although it is often because the woman takes them sporadicly. The safest of sex is with a prescription and a barrier method of birth control. Many couples do this. In my case, my wife did not become pregnant until she had stopped taking birth control tablets.

Using a barrier method is recommended when starting or restarting BC tablets as they are not very effective the first cycle. Also, I notice a significant difference between wearing a condom and without. You can buy, however, very thin condoms, which are almost as good as without. I have not ever had a condom break on me, but my sexual practices are rather vanillia.

Rlyss

I certainly like it better without a condom, in fact I've only been able to orgasm a couple of times with a condom and it meant quite rough sex, which my partner wasn't really in to.

If your boyfriend can orgasm with the condom on, without any problems and without complaining then certainly keep using them. If he can't orgasm or it takes too long, needs to be too rough then you will certainly be sure that your birth control pill will be sufficient and you really don't have too much to worry about at all. But of course you'd be wise to discuss with your boyfriend what the plans would be if you were to become pregnant. Whatever your plans are, whatever you two agree on, that should be enough to put your mind at ease. Confidence in your partner and in your methods of protection make some of the best sex.

Once you guys have agreed on what to do in the very, very unlikely event of becoming pregnant, you should be fine without a condom. But if your boyfriend is happy with the condom, and so are you, then there's no need to change anything and that added assurance will be helpful.

Good on you for being so careful about all of this, by the way!

f6twister

My wife and I used both for a while but stopped with the condoms after a while. Even though she was taking the pill, we were always nervous about her getting pregnant. When she finally went off the pill, she was pregnant in two weeks. It usually takes a little longer afterward so we were kind of surprised.

I guess I'm saying that keeping both isn't always necessary but you can never be sure so stick with both to avoid any problems.

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gar1976

Used the pill only for 8 1/2 years with no problems. Just make sure you stay on schedule.

Condoms suck - makes you feel like you're having sex with a warm balloon, and I always got jock itch from them, and my wife always got yeast infections. Kind of a "last resort, I'm really horny" kind of thing.

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ratbastid

lurkette and I have relied solely on the pill for nearly 13 years. We've only used condoms on those rare times when for some reason she came off the pill for a month or two. No kids here!

scott_p_1

Little bit of warning: I'm the result of pill only apparently...

Zeraph

Interesting thread, I was curious about this too.

jvwgtr

My wife and I used to use only the Pill, but now we use condoms as a backup, too. I'm not crazy about condoms, but anything that gives her peace of mind (and more likely to have sex with me), I'm all for!
She also prefers the ease of cleanup involved when using condoms...another bonus, I guess.

1010011010

Provided you take the pills as directed and aren't super-duper fertile, you can dispense with the balloons.

If you miss a pill, use condoms as a back-up until you're back on schedule (read the directions for the pills you're taking... how long it takes for coverage to be re-established will vary from brand-to-brand and can vary by week depending on the hormone dosage of the pill in multi-forumula packs. An easy and safe solution is to use condoms+pill until you start a new pack whenever you miss.

Keep your boyfriend informed. Don't spring it on him with his pants half off that you're going to be using condoms for the rest of the month because you missed a pill two days ago. Also keep in mind that switching brands of birth control can be disruptive to coverage.

Hopefully you've already come to terms on how you and your partner plan on dealing with an unexpected pregnancy.

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Uuudar

God, ever since my girl and I stopped using condoms, whenever we use condoms just for easy clean up or whatever, it sucks super badly. Bare-back ruins any and all condom experiences. We've been doing this for uhh, I guess 8 months now and no babies or anything. I'm still nervous as hell though, which I don't really enjoy. If you really want to be sure, get everything possible.

slimshaydee

I'm in the same situation as you. I absolutey hate condoms, and the gf and I hate them aswell (we both can't finish). She's on the pill and I always pull out so the chances of her getting pregnant are very low.

Untitled

We use both, only because I'm terribly paranoid. At this point, I'd rather the added hassle of 2 kinds of birth control, than the added hassle of a child...

SparklingDot

I spoke with my doctor about this very thing. She told me that so long as I followed the directions for the pill (not skipping, taking them at the same time etc) that we would be fine. Quite frankly, she told me that using a condom in addition to the pill was unnecessary for contraceptive purposes. I'm still a bit uneasy about that .5% chance of pregnancy, but we've agreed on a course of action should we need it. And of course, should I accidently miss a pill, it would follow that we'd use double protection just in case.

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KinkyKiwi

hmmm... my mother never missed or was late for her pills ..yet here i am...

i just just pills and condoms...

but theres also like diaphrams and sponges or spermicides...

no condoms ...2 kinds of birthcontrol

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jon_264

My wife and I don't use condoms at all at the moment although we are trying for another baby so lots of sex for me (YEAH!).
I will just say though, that in the past we have had problems with just relying on the pill. It was due to the break she was taking between each 28 days course (5 days I think but don't quote me on that). The way it was explained to us was due to the length of the break her hormone levels returned to normal quicker than expected and she became pregnant (which she lost through a miscarriage). The doctor recommended leaving a smaller gap between each course which has been fine ever since.
My opinion would be that if you aren't prepared to deal with getting pregnant then using a condom is a safer option, however I have had a few split on me in the past so they aren't always that reliable. But considering that you would be using 2 forms of contraception then it is very unlikely that you would become pregnant.

Amano

any recommendations?

KinkyKiwi

kimono brand!! those rule..and strangly ...my SO seems to liek the planned parenthood brand that they gave me like 3 dozen of

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kel

I think condoms + the pill is not overkill in certain cases. It really all depends on you and whether you think you will reliably take the pill and not forget that you "forgot" to take it. If you are a super-reliable person and you know your not going to mess up your schedule then condoms aren't totally necessary. However, if your not sure... use a condom! The minor discomfort you feel is far lessworse then having an unplanned child. Both for you and the child!

That being said try and fork over the money for depo if you can. It may screw you up or it may be the best thing you've ever felt.

If condoms aren't working for you consider the various lube products on the market. There are some that moisturize and warm etc. that might make the experience more pleasant.

I personally don't mind condoms that much. My penis isn't sensitive to texture except at the tip, and warmth is transmitted very well by a condom.

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KinkyKiwi

hello!! if you dont want to use condoms but want to kinds of birth control use like a sponge, diaphram or spermicide...

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Play with each other. Play with yourselves. Just don't play with the squirrels, they bite.

Sargeman

Okay, I've got three kids, two of them, my wife was on birth control, she used a spermicide AND I had a condom on. Yes, all my kids do look like me..... well somewhat anyways.

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KinkyKiwi

hahaha thats funny

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Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps.
Play with each other. Play with yourselves. Just don't play with the squirrels, they bite.

viejo gringo

We have never used condoms...and I found to many of those damn "empty"
pill cases on top of the refrig with two or three pills still in them ---SO---
snip, snip....nomore worries...no harm, just charm...( and we already had 6 kids between us)

of coarse the safe way is to put it in double, and let the squirty end hang out..

TheProf

A basic question maybe, but when you say "the same time" or "on a regular schedule" does that mean at 9:05 am exactly everyday, or does that mean between 8 - 10 am, or does that mean anytime that morning?

New to that whole BCP thing

TheBrit

What's a diaphram like for a woman?

Stompy

You're fine with just the pill, honestly.

Yeah, I'm sure people will say, "I'm the result of the pill," but generally the schedule wasn't consistent or the dosage wasn't appropriate. Plus, that was what... at least 18 years ago (since you need to be 18 to get on this board)? Medicine has come a long way, there's also many different kinds of pills.

You CAN still get pregnant on the pill, but it's HIGHLY unlikely. I seriously wouldn't worry about it. That's like being worried that you'll die in a car accident while driving up to the corner store.. can it happen? Yeah, but it's not very likely.

I've had girlfriends on the pill for about 8 years now.. my current one and the one before her. Never had a problem.

Everyone I know who is on the pill never had a problem... and that's a lot of people.

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snowy

Just be aware of WHEN the Pill is fallible--for instance, taking antibiotics lessens the effectiveness of oral contraceptives, taking it at different times can affect its effectiveness, etc. Taking it at the SAME TIME every day is vital as many of the pills now are so low in hormone that missing one can allow that window of opportunity to open up.

If you don't like using condoms, seek out another barrier method, like the diaphragm.

One method I haven't heard mentioned in this thread is the IUD. It isn't as popular in the United States as it is overseas, but the effectiveness rate is similar to that of the Pill and there are fewer worries. They now also have a five-year hormone-coated IUD called Mirena that has the beneficial side effects of Depo--lighter and fewer periods.

I would recommend going down to Planned Parenthood or the county health clinic and having a long discussion with a practioner if you have any questions or worries. They can answer nearly everything you can throw at them.

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KinkyKiwi

within the hour..same time everyday..its super important..closer to teh same time the better..and ahem.....

"just pillers"..the "problem" would be getting pregnant...so not having any problems..umm..well kinda a big risk doncha think?

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Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps.
Play with each other. Play with yourselves. Just don't play with the squirrels, they bite.

SilverScooter

birth control + condom = freakishly small chance of pregnancy

haven't tried it (yet) because i'm absolutely terrified of making babies (we're both still in college) but i would assume that if you cut one of the two out, presumably the weiner bags, you'd have to make sure that the other method is done right.

all birth control is going to do its job a fraction of the time, even with condoms + birth control + anything else you throw at your swimmers, there's a small chance. if you guys continue to use both and get pregnant, i suggest you take the baby to vegas when s/he's old enough because god knows that kid's here against all odds...

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Seaver

Me and my old GF did pill + condom. She never was very good at staying consistant with taking it so didnt risk anything.

My new GF is on the pill and we dont bother with rubbers...

Having sex with a condom is like eating food through the plastic wrap, you can still feel it in your mouth, you know it's there, you just dont get to enjoy it very much.

doncalypso

My girlfriend has been on the pill for almost three years now, and we haven't used condoms the whole time. However I must admit that I am excessively worried about the possibility of her getting pregnant because she has missed taking her pills a few times in the past, and she also admitted that having babies is an absolute necessity for her in the future.

In truth, I fear that she may try to get pregnant on purpose by "forgetting" to take her pills before we graduate from college so she can force my hand into marrying her and not go off to graduate school. She has admitted that if she got married to a man whom she knew did not want children she'd still foil her birth control just so she could get pregnant.

I've tried time and time again to talk my girlfriend into going back to using condoms as an additional means to prevent pregnancy (I don't trust the pill 100%---especially given that she doesn't always take it at the exact same hour every day), but she's totally against the idea. She claims that sex just doesn't feel as good for her when I wear a condom, but deep down I fear that she's expressing her subconscious desire to have a child.

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aktornado

xx

Seaver

Not to mension afterwards going to the restroom to clean yourself off, instead of being able to lay with each other like a good man should.

Untitled

I am actually the worst person ever in the world for remembering to take my pills at the same time every day. My schedule is soooo crazy that I'm never in the same place at the same time every day. So its definitely both, just like you....

Scarlette

HI

I've had sex without a condom and find it much better. And I think to myself if the girl likes it better, than it must be that much better for the guy!

The pill was enough to stop me from getting pregnant. There was even a couple instances of being late taking it and I was fine. Although I may just have been lucky. But that said, if taken properly, like they say, it's almost 100 percent effective. I was ok, some others probably weren't. I'd say chances are you'd be fine, but there would be that slight risk to consider and be aware or and ready for if anything were to happen. Hope that helps.

imkeen

My wife and I have been on both the pill and condoms since our 2nd child together. He was an 'accident'. She was on the pill, but probably not as consistent with it as she should have been. I figure, if she's going through the effort to take the pill, I can take the time and care to put on a condom. We've found that its a great way to experiment with new types and varieties of condoms. You really can't do that with the pill. :-) Besides that, she plays with my erection while I'm trying to pull the condoms out of the nightstand. (Again, :-)) A vasectomy may be in my future, but I'm too young, in my opinion to seriously think about taking that permenant step yet.

By the way, slimshadee, pulling out isn't birth control.

And just for the record, if any man isn't willing to put on a condom for a woman, you're a selfish bastard that really doesn't care about your female partner. And if your'e a woman who lets a man determine if you're going to get pregnant by letting him decide alone if he's going to wear a condom you don't think too much of your future. Don't get me wrong, kids are great, but they need to be cared for, not regretted.

bad jane

if you are careful with the pill, then that alone is fine. but if you aren't, then you need condoms too. if you don't take it the same time every day (i bought a watch with an alarm on it to make sure i did) or need to take antibiotics often (which make the pill less effective) then don't trust yourself on the pill alone.

i'm also a fan of the iud (not personally, but the stats on it are nice and the women i've known with one all loved it) but many dr's won't give you one unless you've already had one child. years ago there were probs with them but the new iud's are fine to use. but you do have to go to a dr for insertion and removal. and if you have certain medical conditions (pcos for example) then your dr prolly won't provide you with an iud (assuming you have a decent dr...).

there are so many birth control options out there these days, your best bet really is to head over to planned parenthood and have a chat with someone. they can walk you through the various types of the pill (different hormone levels, side effects, usage, etc.) and find the one that is right for you or make you feel more secure with the pill you currently take. they'll also have info on iud's, diaphragms, condoms, and depo etc.

or if you really hate condoms but don't feel 100% with the pill but don't want to talk to anyone, there are kits you can buy that help women who are trying to get pregnant determine when they are most fertile. when you are at your most fertile, use some back-up. but this is a hell of a lot more labor intensive than just using a condom all the time (more commitment than it is worth imo, but i had a friend who went this route and it gave her peace of mind without using condoms so...to each their own).

johnsimon885

Well, I'm not married and don't intend to be, and we use both. Hey, if it eases her mind, I'm not too inconvenienced by it. Beats pregnancy!

Homey_V

Huzzah for both! I like kids, as long as they arent mine. And I dont want any just yet so......
Latex = my close and personal friend.

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