Sure, the general “birth control is bad for you” message is not optimal. But the root of this misinformation are insights about the side effects coming up more or less recently. iirc one third to half of all women on hormonal birth control experience major side effects like headaches, nausea or mood changes. I can see how these significant findings combined with patriarchy awareness and associated anger led to exaggerated messages.
Nonetheless, I think people thinking more critically about birth control is a good thing as one should always consider both benefits and risks.
Edit: Or did I misread this post? If so, I’m very sorry…
I get where you’re coming from, but there’s a bit of a (hopefully unintended) subtext in your comment that women must be the ones to bear the inconvenience in order to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
Used correctly, condoms are about 1% off from hormonal birth control in effectiveness. But I guess headaches, nausea, and other side effects for women aren’t all that bad compared to some reduced sensation for the penis. After all, women are already used to it from their cycles, right? /s
women must be the ones to bear the inconvenience in order to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
Women are the ones who get pregnant. Take it up with evolution.
This is like complaining that you’re the one who’s expected to lock your doors to prevent unwanted people in your house. Sure, you CAN choose to trust someone else to lock your doors for you, but ultimately, it IS your house, and YOU’RE the one who suffers the consequences if there’s a break-in, so when it comes down to it, it makes perfect sense to consider it primarily YOUR responsibility to take the precaution against the outcome that YOU (at least, you more than anyone else) don’t want.
Used correctly, condoms are about 1% off from hormonal birth control in effectiveness. But I guess headaches, nausea, and other side effects for women aren’t all that bad compared to some reduced sensation for the penis.
Don’t pretend women don’t also prefer sex without a condom, lol. Condoms are never wanted, by either men or women, when their STI/contraceptive ‘abilities’ aren’t needed.
After all, women are already used to it from their cycles, right?
The biggest irony of this is that women can stop having periods altogether with the right contraception, and that’s one of the many reasons women (especially those who have especially-unpleasant/painful periods) go on them, aside from actually needing to prevent pregnancy.
Sure, the general “birth control is bad for you” message is not optimal. But the root of this misinformation are insights about the side effects coming up more or less recently. iirc one third to half of all women on hormonal birth control experience major side effects like headaches, nausea or mood changes. I can see how these significant findings combined with patriarchy awareness and associated anger led to exaggerated messages.
Nonetheless, I think people thinking more critically about birth control is a good thing as one should always consider both benefits and risks.
Edit: Or did I misread this post? If so, I’m very sorry…
I think headaches and nausea are preferable over unwanted children for most people
I get where you’re coming from, but there’s a bit of a (hopefully unintended) subtext in your comment that women must be the ones to bear the inconvenience in order to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
Used correctly, condoms are about 1% off from hormonal birth control in effectiveness. But I guess headaches, nausea, and other side effects for women aren’t all that bad compared to some reduced sensation for the penis. After all, women are already used to it from their cycles, right? /s
Women are the ones who get pregnant. Take it up with evolution.
This is like complaining that you’re the one who’s expected to lock your doors to prevent unwanted people in your house. Sure, you CAN choose to trust someone else to lock your doors for you, but ultimately, it IS your house, and YOU’RE the one who suffers the consequences if there’s a break-in, so when it comes down to it, it makes perfect sense to consider it primarily YOUR responsibility to take the precaution against the outcome that YOU (at least, you more than anyone else) don’t want.
Don’t pretend women don’t also prefer sex without a condom, lol. Condoms are never wanted, by either men or women, when their STI/contraceptive ‘abilities’ aren’t needed.
The biggest irony of this is that women can stop having periods altogether with the right contraception, and that’s one of the many reasons women (especially those who have especially-unpleasant/painful periods) go on them, aside from actually needing to prevent pregnancy.