Birth Control Questions

Hello,

The Girlfriend and I are looking into birth control options because we are interested in having sex soon, but we don’t know what birth control would be best suited for our unique circumstances. We’ve been waiting almost a year now to have sex as we have sorted out our lives.

Soon we will have a short window of opportunity to have sex, and if it is missed, it will be at least a few months before we can do it again, therefore we would like to do it when we can.

Our main birth control issue is cost. The Pill, IUDs, etc. are all too expensive for her to afford, and even though I can easily afford them, she is too fiercely independent to let me. (Kind of frustrating, I must admit, but I respect her need for independence.)

Unless it is over-the-counter, i.e., not a prescription and not requiring a doctor, we won’t be able to use it. What we’re looking for are birth control options reliable enough for this one time of us having sex and not have an accidental pregnancy, like a condom + spermicide combination, or something else? If none exist, we won’t be having sex, but I thought I’d ask for advice.

We’re both kind of impatient to have sex but we both want to be as safe as possible too.

All I can say is that the only way to prevent pregnancy and transmission of STD's 100% of the time is celibacy and abstinence.

Of course that's not reality for the vast majority of people ... Therefore, if cost is an issue go to your local health clinic ... Many of them provide various methods of birth control for little or no cost.

Regardless of what the girlfriend says she's using, don't ever have sex with any woman without wearing a condom! That way if she's lying, you're covered, and if she's not lying, you're both covered.

Again, nothing's 100%, but one or two methods is better than nothing at all ... Unless you're into abstinence and/or celibacy, that is!

I wish y'all the best, and I think it's awesome that y'all are being very rational about this instead of getting lost in the heat of the moment and having later regrets!

Other options, besides the ones discussed already:
* Diaphragm (cost about $15-75). Reusable. Information from Planned Parenthood
* Female condoms;
* Withdrawal method (while using a condom, just to be extra safe);
* Cervical cap (more expensive than diaphragm. "Reusable")

I would certainly suggest a condom along with a diaphragm if that's the direction you choose. They work, but (at least in our case) not as well as if you double up.

And as Psyche ... Sy ... as mentioned, don't think you can just pull out in time. Use a condom and also withdraw.

Is there a planned parenthood near you? I don't know about Canada, but in the US I they work on a sliding scale. She really should be protected before you indulge. Plus condoms.
If you ABSOLUTELY CANNOT get her an exam and some b/c, then use condoms w/spermicide AND get Plan B. Depending on where you are in Canada, it's over the counter.
Get it. Use it. Be safe.
If you or her or both of you are virgins, don't expect angels to sing from the get-go...

An option similar to Plan B is Ella, which can be ordered online and is more effective. You can buy legitimate Ella online. It's more expensive though, e.g. can cost up to $40 per pill (with shipping). You might be able to get it more cheaply in Canada.

Here's a comparison of Ella and Plan B: Which Morning After Pill Is Best? :: Quick and Dirty Tips ?

Condoms are a must, but if you can couple it with some sort of BC on her side, then the chances of pregnancy drop to somewhere in the ballpark of 0.001% or some such lottery worthy number. That said, I'm not intimately familiar with all the options there and how to obtain them, but if you both use whatever you get properly, you should be fine.