smoking and the pill

[Adone]

Does smoking negatively affect the Contraceptional Pill's effectiveness?

 

[Persephone]

Originally posted by Adone
Does smoking negatively affect the Contraceptional Pill's effectiveness?

From the PDR (Physician's Desk Reference): "WARNING: Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects from oral contraceptive use. (Note: go to http://www.plannedparenthood.com/pp...linfo/birthcontrol/pub-contraception-pill.xml for more information on what "cardiovascular side effects" means.) This risk increases with age and heavy smoking (15 or more cigarettes per day) and is quite marked in women over 35 years of age. Women who use oral contraceptives should be strongly advised not to smoke."

More info on combining smoking with hormonal birth control is here: http://www.plannedparenthood.com/pp...edicalinfo/birthcontrol/pub-smoking-pill.xml. The short version is that a woman who smokes and uses any form of hormonal birth control isn't increasing her risk of pregnancy, she's increasing her risk of serious medical problems or even death.

The worry with effectiveness lies dosage and in other medication she may be taking. Lower-dose and progestin-only pills have fewer side effects, but they just don't work for some women even when they're taken properly, a lesson usually learned the hard way. Even worse, progestin-only pills are a lot harder to take properly, as they have only three hours of wiggle room. Those with extremelly variable schedules (like college students) or who are absent-minded should use another method. Also, certain medications, especially antibiotics, may interfere with birth control pills. The data are inconsistent on this one, but just to be on the safe side, if she's on the Pill and you're not using condoms (which you should be because the Pill isn't 100% effective and doesn't prevent STDs) it's probably wise to do so if she's being treated with antibiotics. In general, she should always ask about possible interactions with any additional medication she is prescribed.

Persephone

 

[Adone]

Re: Re: smoking and the pill

Originally posted by Persephone
From the PDR (Physician's Desk Reference): "WARNING: Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects from oral contraceptive use. (Note: go to http://www.plannedparenthood.com/pp...linfo/birthcontrol/pub-contraception-pill.xml for more information on what "cardiovascular side effects" means.) This risk increases with age and heavy smoking (15 or more cigarettes per day) and is quite marked in women over 35 years of age. Women who use oral contraceptives should be strongly advised not to smoke."

More info on combining smoking with hormonal birth control is here: http://www.plannedparenthood.com/pp...edicalinfo/birthcontrol/pub-smoking-pill.xml. The short version is that a woman who smokes and uses any form of hormonal birth control isn't increasing her risk of pregnancy, she's increasing her risk of serious medical problems or even death.

The worry with effectiveness lies dosage and in other medication she may be taking. Lower-dose and progestin-only pills have fewer side effects, but they just don't work for some women even when they're taken properly, a lesson usually learned the hard way. Even worse, progestin-only pills are a lot harder to take properly, as they have only three hours of wiggle room. Those with extremelly variable schedules (like college students) or who are absent-minded should use another method. Also, certain medications, especially antibiotics, may interfere with birth control pills. The data are inconsistent on this one, but just to be on the safe side, if she's on the Pill and you're not using condoms (which you should be because the Pill isn't 100% effective and doesn't prevent STDs) it's probably wise to do so if she's being treated with antibiotics. In general, she should always ask about possible interactions with any additional medication she is prescribed.

Persephone

I asked because my girlfriend has just started to smoke, but we're only talking about a cigarette every other day or so. I'm going to do anything to avoid her picking up this bad habit and I recently threatened to break up if she doesn't give up smoking before Christmas.

I don't use condoms, because I've tried different brands and sizes, but they all feel bad. Anyway, I always pull out before ejaculating, so I don't think I have something to worry about, as long as she keeps taking the pill.

 

[Persephone]

Re: Re: Re: smoking and the pill

Originally posted by Adone
I asked because my girlfriend has just started to smoke, but we're only talking about a cigarette every other day or so. I'm going to do anything to avoid her picking up this bad habit and I recently threatened to break up if she doesn't give up smoking before Christmas.

I don't use condoms, because I've tried different brands and sizes, but they all feel bad. Anyway, I always pull out before ejaculating, so I don't think I have something to worry about, as long as she keeps taking the pill.

If she's on the Pill, you now have another lever to get her to stop smoking. If she's gotten this far without cigarettes, why on earth does she want to start?

Regarding iffy condoms, if fit is the problem, go here: http://www.condomania.com/products.asp?dept=80. About as close to custom as you can get.

If it's sensation that's bugging you, try putting a small drop of lube at the tip of the condom on the inside before you put it on. Don't use too much or it will lubricate where it isn't supposed to and the condom will come off during sex, but the idea is to get it to slip and slide a little around the head and give you some of the wet friction you're missing. It might take a few tries before you get it right, so be careful while you're experimenting. Do not attempt this without a reliable back-up method!

Also, have you tried polyeurethane condoms? (http://www.condom.com/nonlatex.html) They're a little weird, but most of the men I've talked to who have used them have really liked them in part because they conduct heat better, which makes them feel better. They're not as reliable as latex (extra lube helps), but they're better than nothing, and pulling out isn't really an improvement over nothing. Pre*** has sperm in it and the stupid things have tails. They can swim a lot farther and a lot faster than people give them credit for.

Persephone

 

[Adone]

Re: Re: Re: Re: smoking and the pill

Originally posted by Persephone
If she's on the Pill, you now have another lever to get her to stop smoking. If she's gotten this far without cigarettes, why on earth does she want to start?

Regarding iffy condoms, if fit is the problem, go here: http://www.condomania.com/products.asp?dept=80. About as close to custom as you can get.

If it's sensation that's bugging you, try putting a small drop of lube at the tip of the condom on the inside before you put it on. Don't use too much or it will lubricate where it isn't supposed to and the condom will come off during sex, but the idea is to get it to slip and slide a little around the head and give you some of the wet friction you're missing. It might take a few tries before you get it right, so be careful while you're experimenting. Do not attempt this without a reliable back-up method!

Also, have you tried polyeurethane condoms? (http://www.condom.com/nonlatex.html) They're a little weird, but most of the men I've talked to who have used them have really liked them in part because they conduct heat better, which makes them feel better. They're not as reliable as latex (extra lube helps), but they're better than nothing, and pulling out isn't really an improvement over nothing. Pre*** has sperm in it and the stupid things have tails. They can swim a lot farther and a lot faster than people give them credit for.

Persephone

Unfortunately, the condoms you mentioned are not really available in my country. Anyway, the real issue with them is probably a psychological one. I don't know why, but I seem not to be able to mantain a decent erection when I put the condom on. Plus, it's really hard for everybody to have sex more than one or two times in a row, when you wear one.

I read in recent studies that pre-cùm is very unlikely to get a girl pregnant, since the amount of sperm is extremely small, plus (really important) the sperm needs to be shot very deep into the vagina to impregnate a girl. I know those "stupid things" can swim, but unless they are not shot inside with a certain amount of power, they find it really hard to get where they are supposed to. Do you agree with this?

Adone

 

[Persephone]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: smoking and the pill

Originally posted by Adone
Unfortunately, the condoms you mentioned are not really available in my country. Anyway, the real issue with them is probably a psychological one. I don't know why, but I seem not to be able to mantain a decent erection when I put the condom on. Plus, it's really hard for everybody to have sex more than one or two times in a row, when you wear one.

I read in recent studies that pre-cùm is very unlikely to get a girl pregnant, since the amount of sperm is extremely small, plus (really important) the sperm needs to be shot very deep into the vagina to impregnate a girl. I know those "stupid things" can swim, but unless they are not shot inside with a certain amount of power, they find it really hard to get where they are supposed to. Do you agree with this?

Adone

Withdrawal isn't totally ineffective, it's just not consistently effective, 73% - 96%, which is a lot of variation. It's like natural family planning. You have to know your body exceptionally well to make it work. If you want some guidelines on how to make the best of it, they're here: http://www.fwhc.org/birth-control/withdrawal.htm. Be aware of all of your options, though. Make sure that this is an active, informed choice, not a heat-of-the-moment non-choice.

Really, unless you're going to marry this woman and both stay faithful until death do you part, you should get used to condoms. I know there's a ton of psychological weirdness associated with them, but they're essential for casual sex and the first few months of a new relationship. Play with them, practice with them, put them on vegetables, turn them into water balloons, blow them up and draw silly faces on them, whatever it takes to get comfortable with them. Try setting new records for getting them out of the package and onto your d*** in the dark with the sheets wrapped around your legs and your shorts around your knees. As long as you do it behind closed doors and don't post about it, nobody has to know how deflating or ridiculous the process might be.

Once you're comfortable and adept with them, you have as much control over your sexual safety and reproductive capacity as a man can have. Don't leave it all up to her!

Persephone

 

[Adone]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: smoking and the pill

Originally posted by Persephone
Withdrawal isn't totally ineffective, it's just not consistently effective, 73% - 96%, which is a lot of variation. It's like natural family planning. You have to know your body exceptionally well to make it work. If you want some guidelines on how to make the best of it, they're here: http://www.fwhc.org/birth-control/withdrawal.htm. Be aware of all of your options, though. Make sure that this is an active, informed choice, not a heat-of-the-moment non-choice.

Really, unless you're going to marry this woman and both stay faithful until death do you part, you should get used to condoms. I know there's a ton of psychological weirdness associated with them, but they're essential for casual sex and the first few months of a new relationship. Play with them, practice with them, put them on vegetables, turn them into water balloons, blow them up and draw silly faces on them, whatever it takes to get comfortable with them. Try setting new records for getting them out of the package and onto your d*** in the dark with the sheets wrapped around your legs and your shorts around your knees. As long as you do it behind closed doors and don't post about it, nobody has to know how deflating or ridiculous the process might be.

Once you're comfortable and adept with them, you have as much control over your sexual safety and reproductive capacity as a man can have. Don't leave it all up to her!

Persephone

I'm going to move to another city within a few months, so I know I'll have to learn to use condoms, but for now I think Conceptional Pill + Withdrawal gives me enough security...

 

[DrMetallica]

if she wants to smoke, she can`t be on the pill... or else... she`ll die mang

 

[Boner da Stoner]

life critical drug interactions that are not inherently told to the female while she is purchasing the product is against international law...

let her smoke, you can't get her pregnant if you wear a condom and play it safe(disease can grow inside of somebody regardless of their SEXUAL behaviours), and than sue the maker of her pills for ****ing with her.

If it's so dangerous, why is it legal

When I opened this thread I almost spewed my coffee I thought I had read

Smoking the pole... couldn't believe somebody could so blatantly hop the fence with so many people that don't understand why the commandment Honour thy father and thy mother...

bad upbringing equals different life choices

 

[Persephone]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: smoking and the pill

Originally posted by Adone
I'm going to move to another city within a few months, so I know I'll have to learn to use condoms, but for now I think Conceptional Pill + Withdrawal gives me enough security...

You're right. The pill and withdrawal aren't a bad combination as long as you're both clean. It's just that personally, I don't trust either withdrawal or natural family planning by themselves. I tend to assume worst-case scenarios when there's a lot of variability in success rates, and any method that depends on intensive self-knowledge is vulnerable to self-delusion. But yeah, get used to the condoms before you move. For a man, condoms and spermicide are as good as it gets for birth control and the best barrier you can put between you and any opportunistic microbes a woman might be harboring.

Think of it this way: this is power we're talking about. Serious power. As much as is humanly possible, you should take control over your own fertility. When you fail to learn to exercise every contraceptive option available to you, you cede power over your reproductive capacity to your partner. There are times when letting her handle it may be appropriate, but...do you really want a club pick-up, f***buddy or a oh-sh**-she's-more-unstable-than-I-thought girlfriend to be the one to choose whether or not you have a baby?

Persephone

 

[Persephone]

Originally posted by Boner da Stoner
life critical drug interactions that are not inherently told to the female while she is purchasing the product is against international law...

Women are, as a general rule, strongly cautioned about smoking while on the Pill, especially as they get older and the risks increase. That's part of why women need to see a doctor in order to get birth control pills. These things are useful, but they aren't harmless. The warnings against smoking are also part of the prescription information given when the drug is dispensed. Planned Parenthood's website says flat-out that a woman needs to choose between smoking or hormonal birth control because she cannot safely have both. http://www.plannedparenthood.com/pp...medicalinfo/birthcontrol/pub-smoking-pill.xml It's just that not everyone listens, and that includes doctors as well as patients. Doctors have their own preferences and prejudices where birth control is concerned, and have an unpleasant tendency to prescribe accordingly whether it's the best thing for that patient or not.

Bottom line: smokers should not use any hormonal form of birth control.

Persephone

 

[penkitten]

Originally posted by Adone
Does smoking negatively affect the Contraceptional Pill's effectiveness?

no they tell you not to smoke while you are on the pill because of heart and thyroid problems that can be caused or triggered.