A report by Kathy Lohr of National Public Radio discusses the problems that the economic downturn poses for access to family planning--and suggests that many people are considering abortion who might not have before.
So Nonviolent Choice would like to highlight some resources that can help people suffering from these hard times to still access good birth control and prevent undesired pregnancies and abortions. (This is limited to people in the US, unfortunately.)
--Educate yourself fully for free online about the different methods and the pros and cons (including the financial pros and cons) of each one with the resources in the Pregnancy Prevention section of our Directory.
--Might you be eligible for the Medicaid health insurance program for low-income people? In many states, family planning is a free benefit under Medicaid. Start by visiting the website of your state's Medicaid office.
--Title X is a national family planning program that serves mostly low-income and many uninsured Americans with affordable services. Find the Title X clinic nearest you.
--See if your state health department has any free or low-cost family planning services of its own.
--Whether or not you personally have trouble affording your birth control, take action to ensure that everyone in the US who wants it can get it. Please regularly visit the 2-Minute Activist at Cristina Page's Birth Control Watch to see all that you can do.
Welcome & Thank You...
...for visiting the Blog of the Nonviolent Choice Directory.
These measures include post abortion healing; male responsibility; comprehensive sexual/reproductive health education; all voluntary pregnancy prevention methods, plus rape and incest prevention & treatment; and life-affirming ways to get through crisis pregnancy and beyond.
Along with responding to our current action alerts, and participating in our Blog, you are welcome to volunteer with us.
We feature commentary but most of all action alerts on the same positive, abortion-reducing measures we cover in the Directory.
These measures include post abortion healing; male responsibility; comprehensive sexual/reproductive health education; all voluntary pregnancy prevention methods, plus rape and incest prevention & treatment; and life-affirming ways to get through crisis pregnancy and beyond.
Along with responding to our current action alerts, and participating in our Blog, you are welcome to volunteer with us.
Showing posts with label Pregnancy Prevention. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pregnancy Prevention. Show all posts
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Red Envelopes for Life Don't Tell the Whole Story
The Red Envelopes for Life Project asks people to send empty red envelopes to the WHite House with the folliwing written on the outside:
"Dear President Obama:
This envelope represents one child who died in abortion. It is empty because that life was unable to offer anything to the world. Responsibility begins with conception."
Yes, every abortion takes away an irreplaceable child. I'm not disputing that part of it.
But I cannot help but wonder *whose* responsibility begins at conception?
Is all the responsibility going to be heaped upon the pregnant woman, before, during, and ever after birth, same patriarchal set up as usual?
Or is the child's father going to assume his share?
Will the extended family and friends assume *their* share?
Will the schools, workplaces, religious institutions, and other private/civil society institutions assume *their* share?
Most of all, will the larger society assume *its* monster's share of the responsibility? Will it make an all out public commitment to reducing abortion through comprehensive sex education, full access to all prevention options, universal health care, living wage, et al?
And anyway, even if we're just speaking of individual responsibility here--doesn't individual responsibility begin before conception?
Doesn't it also reside in becoming fully informed about sex and reproduction well before one is ever facing the prospect of sexual activity?
About the various prevention options and all their strengths and drawbacks?
About prenatal development?
And doesn't it reside with boys and men as with girls and women?
Don't boys and men have the responsibility to learn that women are fully human beings, not just objects for their gratification?
Don't males have the responsibility to be utterly conscious that their sperm might fuse with ova and result in children they must support before and after birth?
Don't males have the responsibility to do all they can to have mutually consenting, egalitarian, nonviolent relationships with women?
Doesn't the larger society at all levels have the responsibility to support men in unlearning power-over women and learning power-with?
The Red Envelopes only tell one part of the whole story.
"Dear President Obama:
This envelope represents one child who died in abortion. It is empty because that life was unable to offer anything to the world. Responsibility begins with conception."
Yes, every abortion takes away an irreplaceable child. I'm not disputing that part of it.
But I cannot help but wonder *whose* responsibility begins at conception?
Is all the responsibility going to be heaped upon the pregnant woman, before, during, and ever after birth, same patriarchal set up as usual?
Or is the child's father going to assume his share?
Will the extended family and friends assume *their* share?
Will the schools, workplaces, religious institutions, and other private/civil society institutions assume *their* share?
Most of all, will the larger society assume *its* monster's share of the responsibility? Will it make an all out public commitment to reducing abortion through comprehensive sex education, full access to all prevention options, universal health care, living wage, et al?
And anyway, even if we're just speaking of individual responsibility here--doesn't individual responsibility begin before conception?
Doesn't it also reside in becoming fully informed about sex and reproduction well before one is ever facing the prospect of sexual activity?
About the various prevention options and all their strengths and drawbacks?
About prenatal development?
And doesn't it reside with boys and men as with girls and women?
Don't boys and men have the responsibility to learn that women are fully human beings, not just objects for their gratification?
Don't males have the responsibility to be utterly conscious that their sperm might fuse with ova and result in children they must support before and after birth?
Don't males have the responsibility to do all they can to have mutually consenting, egalitarian, nonviolent relationships with women?
Doesn't the larger society at all levels have the responsibility to support men in unlearning power-over women and learning power-with?
The Red Envelopes only tell one part of the whole story.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Tips for Contraceptive Success: A Reprise
To reprise our reprints of About.com Contraception Guide Dawn Stacey's advice on preventing contraceptive failure:
- Tips for Contraceptive Success (introduction to the series)
- What Leads to Contraceptive Failure?
- How To Prevent Condom Failure
- How To Respond to Men's Excuses for Not Wanting to Wear a Condom
- How To Prevent Diaphragm Failure
- How To Decrease Failure with the Fertility Awareness Method
- How To Prevent Oral Contraceptive Failure
- Medications and Inhibitors that Lower Hormonal Contraception Effectiveness
- How to Prevent IUD Failure
To learn more about contraception, please visit Dawn's work on About.com.
Or you can consult the Nonviolent Choice Directory's extensive Pregnancy Prevention resources. The Nonviolent Choice Directory also sells nonprescription family planning and safer sex items through our website.
Tips for Contraceptive Success: How to Prevent IUD Failure
By Dawn Stacey, M.Ed., LMHC, About.com Contraception Guide
(Reprinted with her permission)
Birth control must be used consistently and according to instructions in order to attain maximum effectiveness. In order to lower the chances of birth control failure, follow these suggestions if you curretnly use a Mirena IUD or a ParaGard IUD.
If you have any questions about your birth control method, please contact your healthcare provider. You will lower your chances for birth control failure if you have a proper and thorough understanding of how to use your contraceptive.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: N/A
Tips:
1. It is especially important to check every few days for the first few weeks after an IUD insertion to make sure that it is still properly in place. You should also feel for the strings after your first period since the insertion. Additionally, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor after your first period (and no longer than 3 months after the insertion) to make sure that the IUD is still in place.
2. Make sure to check the strings each month to ensure that the IUD is still in place (your doctor can provide instructions on how to do this).
3. An IUD must be removed if it becomes partially expelled. It is a wise idea to check your pads and tampons during your period to make sure that the IUD has not fallen out.
Most pregnancies happen to Mirena or ParaGard IUD users when their IUDs slide out without them realizing it. Even though the chance of pregnancy while an IUD is in place is extremely low, if it does happen, you should have the IUD removed as soon as you are aware that you're pregnant.
4. If you cannot feel the strings, make sure to use an alternative, back-up contraceptive method, and call your healthcare provider to make sure that the IUD has not been displaced.
5. Some woman may have the IUD strings cut shorter if they are felt by the woman’s sexual partner. When this is the case, sometimes the strings are cut so short that the woman cannot actually check for the strings. Regular IUD checkups can be done at the same time as your periodic gynecological exam.
For the rest of Dawn's reprints:
- Tips for Contraceptive Success (introduction to the series)
- What Leads to Contraceptive Failure?
- How To Prevent Condom Failure
- How To Respond to Men's Excuses for Not Wanting to Wear a Condom
- How To Prevent Diaphragm Failure
- How To Decrease Failure with the Fertility Awareness Method
- How To Prevent Oral Contraceptive Failure
- Medications and Inhibitors that Lower Hormonal Contraception Effectiveness
- How to Prevent IUD Failure
To learn more about contraception, please visit Dawn's work on About.com.
Or you can consult the Nonviolent Choice Directory's extensive Pregnancy Prevention resources. The Nonviolent Choice Directory also sells nonprescription family planning and safer sex items through our website.
Tips for Contraceptive Success: Medications and Inhibitors that Lower Hormonal Contraception Effectiveness
By Dawn Stacey, M. Ed., LMHC, About.com Contraception Guide
(Reprinted with her permission)
Certain medications, antibiotics, and supplements can increase the chances of oral contraceptive (birth control pill), NuvaRing and Ortho Evra patch failure. These drugs and medications can cause interactions when used with some hormonal contraceptives.
If you have any questions about birth control methods, please contact your healthcare provider. You will lower your chances for birth control failure if you have a proper and thorough understanding of how to use your contraceptive.
1. Antibiotics
Some antibiotics used to treat infections may cause the Pill to be less effective.
The following antibiotics/antibacterial agents may interfere with pill use:
•Rifampin: used to treat tuberculosis or meningitis
•Rifabutin: used to treat mycobacterium avium complex
•Tetracycline
•Rifapentine: used to treat TB
•Some penicillin derivatives or cephalosporin (Keflin) may also decrease pill efficiency.
It is impossible to determine if taking an antibiotic will interfere with pill use (since each person's body responds differently), so it is wise to use a back-up method while on antibiotic medication as a precaution and ask your doctor.
2. Anti-HIV Protease Inhibitors
Ritonavir is an antiviral drug that is used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. If you are using this or another medication for the treatment of the HIV virus or AIDS, ask your healthcare provider if your specific medication will decrease the effectiveness of the pill.
3. Anti-Seizure Medications
Barbiturate medicines for producing sleep or treating seizures (convulsions) could interfere with the effectiveness of the Pill. Examples of these types of medications would be:
•Phenobarbital
•Primidone
The following medications can also help with seizure (convulsion) control in certain types of epilepsy and also treat nerve-related pain. Additionally, Topiramate may also be prescribed to help prevent migraine headaches. These mediactions, as well, may lower pill, nuvaring, or the patch's effectiveness:
•Oxcarbazepine
•Carbamazepine
•Phenytoin
•Topiramate
Please inquire with your healthcare provider if you are taking any of these medications.
4. Antidepressants
Certain medicines prescribed for mental depression, such as Nefazodone, can alter hormone levels. Inquire about these types of medications with your healthcare provider if you are currently being treated with a specific antidepressant.
5. Anti-Fungal Medication
Anti-Fungal Medications, especilally the ones that are typically taken orally for yeast infections can lower the effectivenes of the pill. Additionally, Griseofulvin, an anti-fungal used to treat fungus infections of the skin, hair, and nails may interfere with oral contraceptives or other hormonal birth control.
If you are using one of these types of medications, ask your healthcare provider if your specific medication will decrease the effectiveness of the pill, ring, or patch.
6. Diabetes Medication
Some of the medications for diabetes, including Troglitazone and Pioglitazone can interact with birth control pills. Make sure to discuss these types of medications with your healthcare provider to see if they will affect the use of your oral contraceptives.
7. Anxiety Treatments
Ask your healthcare provider if your specific anti-anxiety medication will decrease the effectiveness of the Pill as certain medicines used to treat anxiety or sleeping problems, such as Diazepam or Temazepam, may interfere with successful combination contraceptive use.
8. Natural Supplements
In addition to prescription medications, certain supplements have been shown to lower the effectiveness of hormonal contraception. These include:
•Soy Isoflavones - natural substances obtained from the soybean plant which claim to reduce the intensity of menopause-related hot flashes and to help maintain strong bones
•St. John's Wort - an herb or dietary supplement that is being promoted for its ability to improve mildly depressed moods
9. Vomiting and Diarrhea
Although not a medication, vomiting and diarrhea may also lower the effectiveness of the pill.
Additionally, the medication, Aprepitant, which is used to prevent or treat nausea and vomiting vcan also interfer with the oral contraceptive effectiveness. If you are experiencing these symptoms or taking this medication, use an additional method of birth control and contact your healthcare provider for advice.
For the rest of Dawn's reprints:
To learn more about contraception, please visit Dawn's work on About.com.
Or you can consult the Nonviolent Choice Directory's extensive Pregnancy Prevention resources. The Nonviolent Choice Directory also sells nonprescription family planning and safer sex items through our website.
(Reprinted with her permission)
Certain medications, antibiotics, and supplements can increase the chances of oral contraceptive (birth control pill), NuvaRing and Ortho Evra patch failure. These drugs and medications can cause interactions when used with some hormonal contraceptives.
If you have any questions about birth control methods, please contact your healthcare provider. You will lower your chances for birth control failure if you have a proper and thorough understanding of how to use your contraceptive.
1. Antibiotics
Some antibiotics used to treat infections may cause the Pill to be less effective.
The following antibiotics/antibacterial agents may interfere with pill use:
•Rifampin: used to treat tuberculosis or meningitis
•Rifabutin: used to treat mycobacterium avium complex
•Tetracycline
•Rifapentine: used to treat TB
•Some penicillin derivatives or cephalosporin (Keflin) may also decrease pill efficiency.
It is impossible to determine if taking an antibiotic will interfere with pill use (since each person's body responds differently), so it is wise to use a back-up method while on antibiotic medication as a precaution and ask your doctor.
2. Anti-HIV Protease Inhibitors
Ritonavir is an antiviral drug that is used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. If you are using this or another medication for the treatment of the HIV virus or AIDS, ask your healthcare provider if your specific medication will decrease the effectiveness of the pill.
3. Anti-Seizure Medications
Barbiturate medicines for producing sleep or treating seizures (convulsions) could interfere with the effectiveness of the Pill. Examples of these types of medications would be:
•Phenobarbital
•Primidone
The following medications can also help with seizure (convulsion) control in certain types of epilepsy and also treat nerve-related pain. Additionally, Topiramate may also be prescribed to help prevent migraine headaches. These mediactions, as well, may lower pill, nuvaring, or the patch's effectiveness:
•Oxcarbazepine
•Carbamazepine
•Phenytoin
•Topiramate
Please inquire with your healthcare provider if you are taking any of these medications.
4. Antidepressants
Certain medicines prescribed for mental depression, such as Nefazodone, can alter hormone levels. Inquire about these types of medications with your healthcare provider if you are currently being treated with a specific antidepressant.
5. Anti-Fungal Medication
Anti-Fungal Medications, especilally the ones that are typically taken orally for yeast infections can lower the effectivenes of the pill. Additionally, Griseofulvin, an anti-fungal used to treat fungus infections of the skin, hair, and nails may interfere with oral contraceptives or other hormonal birth control.
If you are using one of these types of medications, ask your healthcare provider if your specific medication will decrease the effectiveness of the pill, ring, or patch.
6. Diabetes Medication
Some of the medications for diabetes, including Troglitazone and Pioglitazone can interact with birth control pills. Make sure to discuss these types of medications with your healthcare provider to see if they will affect the use of your oral contraceptives.
7. Anxiety Treatments
Ask your healthcare provider if your specific anti-anxiety medication will decrease the effectiveness of the Pill as certain medicines used to treat anxiety or sleeping problems, such as Diazepam or Temazepam, may interfere with successful combination contraceptive use.
8. Natural Supplements
In addition to prescription medications, certain supplements have been shown to lower the effectiveness of hormonal contraception. These include:
•Soy Isoflavones - natural substances obtained from the soybean plant which claim to reduce the intensity of menopause-related hot flashes and to help maintain strong bones
•St. John's Wort - an herb or dietary supplement that is being promoted for its ability to improve mildly depressed moods
9. Vomiting and Diarrhea
Although not a medication, vomiting and diarrhea may also lower the effectiveness of the pill.
Additionally, the medication, Aprepitant, which is used to prevent or treat nausea and vomiting vcan also interfer with the oral contraceptive effectiveness. If you are experiencing these symptoms or taking this medication, use an additional method of birth control and contact your healthcare provider for advice.
For the rest of Dawn's reprints:
- Tips for Contraceptive Success (introduction to the series)
- What Leads to Contraceptive Failure?
- How To Prevent Condom Failure
- How To Respond to Men's Excuses for Not Wanting to Wear a Condom
- How To Prevent Diaphragm Failure
- How To Decrease Failure with the Fertility Awareness Method
- How To Prevent Oral Contraceptive Failure
- Medications and Inhibitors that Lower Hormonal Contraception Effectiveness
- How to Prevent IUD Failure
To learn more about contraception, please visit Dawn's work on About.com.
Or you can consult the Nonviolent Choice Directory's extensive Pregnancy Prevention resources. The Nonviolent Choice Directory also sells nonprescription family planning and safer sex items through our website.
Tips for Contraceptive Success: How to Prevent Oral Contraceptive Failure
By Dawn Stacey, M.Ed., LMHC, About.com Contraception Guide
If you use the Pill, it has to be taken at the same time every day; in fact, if you forget to take just 1 birth control pill, you increase your chances of becoming pregnant. During a cycle, if 2 or more pills are missed, the chance of this method failing increases dramatically, especially if an alternative method of birth control (like a condom) is not used. Having a routine is a good way to reduce the likelihood of this happening. It has been show that having a set daily routine can affect birth control consistency. Women without a customary routine are more than 3 times as likely to miss 2 or more pills per cycle.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: N/A
Tips:
- A woman should make sure to use the Pill consistently and continually. She should take it at the same time, every day.
- An individual who uses the pill should understand how to take the pill properly and what to do if she accidently misses a pill.
- If a woman misses 2 or more pills during any cycle, she should use an alternate method of birth control as a back-up.
- It is helpful to associate pill use with some other regular daily activity (such as taking it before a person brushes her teeth). This way, taking the pill becomes part of a routine.
- A female should remember to bring an extra pack of pills when traveling if she will finish the old pack while away.
- It is important to consult with a medical doctor about using a back-up contraceptive method if a woman is prescribed antibiotics or is taking certain herbal supplements or other medications.
- If you have any questions about your birth control method, please contact your healthcare provider. You will lower your chances for birth control failure if you have a proper and thorough understanding of how to use your contraceptive.
(Note: See our next reprint from Dawn, Medications and Inhibitors That Lower Hormonal Contraceptive Effectiveness.)
For the rest of Dawn's reprints:
- Tips for Contraceptive Success (introduction to the series)
- What Leads to Contraceptive Failure?
- How To Prevent Condom Failure
- How To Respond to Men's Excuses for Not Wanting to Wear a Condom
- How To Prevent Diaphragm Failure
- How To Decrease Failure with the Fertility Awareness Method
- How To Prevent Oral Contraceptive Failure
- Medications and Inhibitors that Lower Hormonal Contraception Effectiveness
- How to Prevent IUD Failure
To learn more about contraception, please visit Dawn's work on About.com.
Or you can consult the Nonviolent Choice Directory's extensive Pregnancy Prevention resources. The Nonviolent Choice Directory also sells nonprescription family planning and safer sex items through our website.
Tips for Contraceptive Success: How To Decrease Failure with the Fertility Awareness Method
By Dawn Stacey, M.Ed., LMHC, About.com Contraception Guide
(Reprinted with her permission)
Natural Family Planning methods must be used consistently and according to instructions in order to attain maximum effectiveness. In order to lower the chances of birth control failure, follow these suggestions if you use fertility awareness as your contraceptive method.
If you have any questions about your birth control method, please contact your healthcare provider. You will lower your chances for birth control failure if you have a proper and thorough understanding of how to use your contraceptive.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: N/A
Tips:
- It is essential that you understand how fertility awareness methods work.
- It is helpful to have knowledge about the female body and how ovulation and fertilization take place.
- Try to make sure that you are using this method precisely and consistently. If not, failure could occur.
- It is critical, with natural family planning, that you accurately predict when your fertile period is.
- Make certain that you have correctly figured out your ovulation pattern; then, abstain before and after your fertile time..
- Remember, it only takes one unprotected act of sexual intercourse to become pregnant.
What You Need:
- Calendar
- Fertility Charts
- Cycle Beads (optional)
- Basal Thermometer
For the rest of Dawn's reprints:
- Tips for Contraceptive Success (introduction to the series)
- What Leads to Contraceptive Failure?
- How To Prevent Condom Failure
- How To Respond to Men's Excuses for Not Wanting to Wear a Condom
- How To Prevent Diaphragm Failure
- How To Decrease Failure with the Fertility Awareness Method
- How To Prevent Oral Contraceptive Failure
- Medications and Inhibitors that Lower Hormonal Contraception Effectiveness
- How to Prevent IUD Failure
To learn more about contraception, please visit Dawn's work on About.com.
Or you can consult the Nonviolent Choice Directory's extensive Pregnancy Prevention resources. The Nonviolent Choice Directory also sells nonprescription family planning and safer sex items through our website.
Tips for Contraceptive Success: How to Prevent Diaphragm Failure
By Dawn Stacey, M.Ed., LMHC, About.com Contraception Guide
(Reprinted with her permission)
Contraception must be used consistently and according to instructions in order to attain maximum effectiveness. If you use a diaphragm, follow these suggestions in order to lower the chances of contraceptive failure.
If you have any questions about your birth control method, please contact your healthcare provider. You will lower your chances for birth control failure if you have a proper and thorough understanding of how to use your contraceptive.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: N/A
Here's How:
- Put spermicide inside your diaphragm AND around the rim EVERY time you use it.
- After inserting it, make sure that the diaphragm is covering your cervix (as directed by your doctor).
- Wait at least 6 hours after sex to remove diaphragm (do not take it out any sooner).
Tips:
- Remember to add additional spermicide into the vagina between each new sexual acts or if more than 2 hours have gone by since the diaphragm has been inserted.
- Diaphragms may fail if they are moved out of place by the penis thrusting against the cervix.
- Using a condom and spermicide with these devices (especially during your fertile period) can result in the greatest chances of contraceptive success.
(Note: Couples who do not wish the pregnancy risk (however small) of condom and spermicide use during the fertile period [or any other time in the cycle, for that matter] have the option of practicing Outercourse & Oral Sex.--Marysia)
For the rest of Dawn's reprints:
- Tips for Contraceptive Success (introduction to the series)
- What Leads to Contraceptive Failure?
- How To Prevent Condom Failure
- How To Respond to Men's Excuses for Not Wanting to Wear a Condom
- How To Prevent Diaphragm Failure
- How To Decrease Failure with the Fertility Awareness Method
- How To Prevent Oral Contraceptive Failure
- Medications and Inhibitors that Lower Hormonal Contraception Effectiveness
- How to Prevent IUD Failure
To learn more about contraception, please visit Dawn's work on About.com.
Or you can consult the Nonviolent Choice Directory's extensive Pregnancy Prevention resources. The Nonviolent Choice Directory also sells nonprescription family planning and safer sex items through our website.
Tips for Contraceptive Success: How To Respond to Men's Excuses for Not Wanting to Wear a Condom
By Dawn Stacey, M.Ed., LMHC, About.com Contraception Guide
(Reprinted with her permission)
(We commend Dawn for addressing this critical component of success with condoms. With condoms as with other methods, women's sexual assertiveness and equitable relationships between male and female partners are essential to preventing unintended pregnancies and abortions, not to mention sexually transmitted infections like HIV/AIDS.--Marysia)
I’ve heard all types of reasons why men don’t want to wear condoms. But, by not using them, your safety is at risk. Using condoms every time you have sex offers the best protection from catching an STD, including HIV . It is even suggested to use a condom if on The Pill (or other prescription method). If a man says that he is “too large” to fit into a condom, open one up, put your hands together (like you’re clapping), roll the condom over your hands, then spread them apart about 12 inches wide – ask him if he is bigger than that!
Here's some excuses men give and responses you can use.
Difficulty: N/A
Time Required: 15 Minutes to Practice Responses
Here's How:
To learn more about contraception, please visit Dawn's work on About.com.
Or you can consult the Nonviolent Choice Directory's extensive Pregnancy Prevention resources. The Nonviolent Choice Directory also sells nonprescription family planning and safer sex items through our website.
(Reprinted with her permission)
(We commend Dawn for addressing this critical component of success with condoms. With condoms as with other methods, women's sexual assertiveness and equitable relationships between male and female partners are essential to preventing unintended pregnancies and abortions, not to mention sexually transmitted infections like HIV/AIDS.--Marysia)
I’ve heard all types of reasons why men don’t want to wear condoms. But, by not using them, your safety is at risk. Using condoms every time you have sex offers the best protection from catching an STD, including HIV . It is even suggested to use a condom if on The Pill (or other prescription method). If a man says that he is “too large” to fit into a condom, open one up, put your hands together (like you’re clapping), roll the condom over your hands, then spread them apart about 12 inches wide – ask him if he is bigger than that!
Here's some excuses men give and responses you can use.
Difficulty: N/A
Time Required: 15 Minutes to Practice Responses
Here's How:
1. If he says: "It ruins the mood."
How to respond: "Having unsafe sex puts me out of the mood. For good!"
2. If his excuse is: "A condom spoils my enjoyment of sex.”
How to respond: “I can't enjoy sex unless we’re protected.”
3. If he says: "If you really love me, you should trust me."
How to respond: “It is because I love you that I want to be sure we’re both protected.”
4. If he complains: "I can’t feel anything when I’m wearing a condom.”
How to respond: “Many condoms have extra features to actually make sex better, and that you will both be better able to relax knowing you are safeguarding yourselves against STD’s and unintended pregnancy. Plus, men can actually experience more pleasure with a ribbed condom than without one at all.”
5. If he says: "Condoms don’t really work; most of them get busted."
How to respond: "If we use it the right way, its 98% effective."
6. If his excuse is: "Wearing a condom is uncomfortable."
How to respond: Suggest a different brand or size.
Or, if you are feeling a bit feisty, you could come back with, "Yes, and so is being pregnant for 9 months and then having to give birth."
7. If he says: "Don’t tell me that you actually think you’ll catch something from me."
How to respond: "I’m sure I won’t, but it's better to be safe than sorry."
8. If his objection is: “But you’re on the pill.”
How to respond: "The pill won’t protect us from STD’s that we may not even know we have – a condom will give us that protection.”
9. If he insists: “But we’ve had sex without a condom before.”
How to respond: “That that was a bad decision, and I don’t want to make it again. We were lucky, and I am not chancing it again.”
10. If his excuse is: "I don't know how to use a condom the right way."
How to respond: "I’ll do it for you."
Tips:
1. Don’t be afraid to ask your partner to use a condom because you think he won’t trust you. If this is so, then it may mean that you don’t trust him enough to ask him to use a condom.
2. Remember, there are many reasons to use a condom. Learn all of the ways a condom can protect both of you, so you can remind him (and yourself) of why you should use a condom every time you have sexual intercourse. Don’t let your partner’s excuses stop you from protecting yourselves.
3. Read these ways of how you can respond to your partner. If it will make you feel more prepared, rehearse them; then, you can be ready to challenge him if he gives you an excuse for not wanting to wear a condom.
4. Remind yourself that asking someone to use a condom shows that you have respect for yourself and for them, so refuse to have sex with someone who does not respect you or themselves enough to use protection.
For the rest of Dawn's reprints:
- Tips for Contraceptive Success (introduction to the series)
- What Leads to Contraceptive Failure?
- How To Prevent Condom Failure
- How To Respond to Men's Excuses for Not Wanting to Wear a Condom
- How To Prevent Diaphragm Failure
- How To Decrease Failure with the Fertility Awareness Method
- How To Prevent Oral Contraceptive Failure
- Medications and Inhibitors that Lower Hormonal Contraception Effectiveness
- How to Prevent IUD Failure
To learn more about contraception, please visit Dawn's work on About.com.
Or you can consult the Nonviolent Choice Directory's extensive Pregnancy Prevention resources. The Nonviolent Choice Directory also sells nonprescription family planning and safer sex items through our website.
Tips for Contraceptive Success: How to Prevent Condom Failure
By Dawn Stacey, M.Ed., LMHC, About.com Contraception Guide
(Reprinted with her permission)
Over the counter contraceptives are not perfect. Let’s face it, condoms can break and tear during sex. When condoms break, semen can leak out, so the use of vaginal spermicides with condoms can help to increase your pregnancy protection should condom failure occur. (Typically, 2 - 5% of all condoms tear during use. This can generally be prevented by making sure that you use condoms the correct way. If you have any questions about your birth control method, please contact your doctor. You will lower your chances for birth control failure if you have a proper and thorough understanding of how to use your contraceptive.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: N/A
Here's How:
To learn more about contraception, please visit Dawn's work on About.com.
Or you can consult the Nonviolent Choice Directory's extensive Pregnancy Prevention resources. The Nonviolent Choice Directory also sells nonprescription family planning and safer sex items through our website.
(Reprinted with her permission)
Over the counter contraceptives are not perfect. Let’s face it, condoms can break and tear during sex. When condoms break, semen can leak out, so the use of vaginal spermicides with condoms can help to increase your pregnancy protection should condom failure occur. (Typically, 2 - 5% of all condoms tear during use. This can generally be prevented by making sure that you use condoms the correct way. If you have any questions about your birth control method, please contact your doctor. You will lower your chances for birth control failure if you have a proper and thorough understanding of how to use your contraceptive.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: N/A
Here's How:
- Read the directions.
- Before use, inspect the condom for any obvious tears.
- Put lubrication inside the condom. (See Dawn's note below about proper lubricants to use anywhere near a condom.--Marysia)
- Make sure you are putting the condom on the right way by leaving room at the top and rolling it on in the proper direction.
- Lubricate the outside of the condom. Make sure to use only water-based products intended for use with condoms (such as KY jelly, Astroglide, etc). Any oil-based or petroleum-based products will compromise the integrity of the condom.
- After ejaculation, make sure to take the condom off properly by holding the rim firmly, withdrawing penis, and sliding the condom off (away from the vagina).
- Tie the condom in a knot - away from the vagina. Then throw it out in a garbage can.
Tips:
- Don’t use condoms once their expiration date has passed.
- Make sure to store condoms properly (not in hot places).
- Watch out for fingernails and/or jewelry which can also cause tears in the condom.
A final note about condom failure, sometimes, no matter what you do, a condom will break. It is always possible that the condom could have been damaged sometime during or after production. Remember, no method is 100% effective!
For the rest of Dawn's reprints:
- Tips for Contraceptive Success (introduction to the series)
- What Leads to Contraceptive Failure?
- How To Prevent Condom Failure
- How To Respond to Men's Excuses for Not Wanting to Wear a Condom
- How To Prevent Diaphragm Failure
- How To Decrease Failure with the Fertility Awareness Method
- How To Prevent Oral Contraceptive Failure
- Medications and Inhibitors that Lower Hormonal Contraception Effectiveness
- How to Prevent IUD Failure
To learn more about contraception, please visit Dawn's work on About.com.
Or you can consult the Nonviolent Choice Directory's extensive Pregnancy Prevention resources. The Nonviolent Choice Directory also sells nonprescription family planning and safer sex items through our website.
Tips for Contraceptive Success: What Leads to Contraceptive Failure?
By Dawn Stacey, M.Ed., LMHC, About.com Contraception Guide
(Reprinted with her permission)
Question: What Leads to Contraception Failure?
Unintended pregnancy is a significant concern affecting thousands of people each year. According to a study published in Family Planning Perspectives, 50% of all the pregnancies in the United States were unintended; this includes those conceptions that resulted in abortions, miscarriages or live births. Surprisingly, half of the women faced with these unplanned pregnancies were using contraception during the month that they conceived. Because of these high numbers, it is vital that we know the main reasons for contraception failure as well as some of the risk factors associated with it.
Answer: Contraceptive Failure Varies by Method.
Your contraceptive method of choice greatly impacts your ability to avoid an intended pregnancy. Contraceptive failure can result from a natural malfunction of the birth control method itself. Research has shown that the use of longer acting methods, which require less for the individual to do, tend to help minimize the chances for user error. These methods (like Depo Provera injections, Implanon implants, ParaGard and Mirena IUDs and sterilization) result in the lowest "typical user" rate of contraceptive failure.
When comparing contraceptive effectiveness,
• "Typical use" refers to failure rates for women who do not consistently or always correctly use their birth control.
• "Perfect use" refers to failure rates for those whose use is consistent and always correct.
Demographics Play a Role in Contraceptive Failure
Marriage status:
• 17% of unmarried, cohabiting women experienced contraceptive failure during the first year of contraceptive use.
Age:
•16% of adolescents (aged 19 or under) and 13% of women aged 20 - 24 experienced birth control failure during the first year of use.
Income:
•Contraception failure rates are higher for low-income women.
•Those with incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level are almost two times more likely to experience birth control failure than their higher income counterparts.
Some contraceptive methods are more prone to failure than others. Discover ways to decrease the chances of your contraception failing you.
For the rest of Dawn's reprints:
- Tips for Contraceptive Success (introduction to the series)
- What Leads to Contraceptive Failure?
- How To Prevent Condom Failure
- How To Respond to Men's Excuses for Not Wanting to Wear a Condom
- How To Prevent Diaphragm Failure
- How To Decrease Failure with the Fertility Awareness Method
- How To Prevent Oral Contraceptive Failure
- Medications and Inhibitors that Lower Hormonal Contraception Effectiveness
- How to Prevent IUD Failure
To learn more about contraception, please visit Dawn's work on About.com.
Or you can consult the Nonviolent Choice Directory's extensive Pregnancy Prevention resources. The Nonviolent Choice Directory also sells nonprescription family planning and safer sex items through our website.
Tips for Contraceptive Success: Introduction to Our Reprint Series from Dawn Stacey, M.Ed., LMHC, About.com Contraception Guide
Unfortunately, no method of contraception is 100% effective; a lot of political commitment and research is needed before that can ever happen.
But please don’t let that discourage you from trying your best! Most methods work pretty well at preventing pregnancy—especially if you use them correctly and consistently every single time you have penis-vagina intercourse.
Want to learn how to boost your odds of preventing unintended pregnancy? Dawn Stacey is a master’s level health educator and licensed mental health counselor who specializes in reproductive health work. She serves as Contraception Guide for the website About.com. She has graciously given us reprint permission for these physician-reviewed About.com articles she authored on preventing contraceptive failure. And for that we thank her. We hope you will, too.
For the rest of Dawn's reprints:
- Tips for Contraceptive Success (introduction to the series)
- What Leads to Contraceptive Failure?
- How To Prevent Condom Failure
- How To Respond to Men's Excuses for Not Wanting to Wear a Condom
- How To Prevent Diaphragm Failure
- How To Decrease Failure with the Fertility Awareness Method
- How To Prevent Oral Contraceptive Failure
- Medications and Inhibitors that Lower Hormonal Contraception Effectiveness
- How to Prevent IUD Failure
To learn more about contraception, please visit Dawn's work on About.com.
Or you can consult the Nonviolent Choice Directory's extensive Pregnancy Prevention resources. The Nonviolent Choice Directory also sells nonprescription family planning and safer sex items through our website.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
We Are Prolife and Pro-Contraception
Turn the Clock Forward is calling for a prolife, pro-contraception blogswarm on May 31. Since I probably won't have much computer access on that day, I will chime in early.
I want to underscore the many ways that the Nonviolent Choice Directory helps to secure and protect the human rights to freedom of conscience in pregnancy prevention and to strong social support for all voluntary prevention options. Contraception, of course, is included under these rights, as are rape and incest prevention and treatment, abstinence, fertility awareness/natural family planning, outercourse, and same-sex relations.
Nonviolent Choice:
I want to underscore the many ways that the Nonviolent Choice Directory helps to secure and protect the human rights to freedom of conscience in pregnancy prevention and to strong social support for all voluntary prevention options. Contraception, of course, is included under these rights, as are rape and incest prevention and treatment, abstinence, fertility awareness/natural family planning, outercourse, and same-sex relations.
Nonviolent Choice:
- Offers global resources on Sexual/Reproductive Health Education of the comprehensive (contraception-inclusive, as opposed to abstinence-only) variety and all of the above methods of Pregnancy Prevention, most surely and at great length including contraception--including "male methods," consonant with our focus on Male Responsibility as a means of reducing abortion.
- With Turn the Clock Forward, cosponsors Pro Every Life, Pro Nonviolent Choice, Pro Reproductive Justice for All: A Manifesto, which endorses freedom of choice in and social support for pregnancy prevention methods--and how can that not include contraception?!
- Sells nonprescription family planning and safer sex items through our website.
- Regularly features action alerts that defend voluntary contraception (see the lefthand sidebar of this blog, "Current Action Alerts").
- Archives my debate/dialogue with an anti-contraception, anti-abortion visitor. This may be helpful to other pro-contraceptive prolifers engaged in similar debates/dialogues, especially the scientific references on whether hormonal contraceptives are abortifacient and whether contraception reduces abortion.
- If you are both prolife and pro-contraception, Nonviolent Choice shows that you have company, and that there are opportunities for political and civic engagement that express your beliefs!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Adoption as an Alternative to Abortion
Cory Richards at RHRealityCheck.org insists: "Facilitating adoptions, especially of hard-to-place children, deserves our strong support. But it does nothing to affect the abortion rate. To assert that it does is either ill-informed or simply cynical, and it should stop." He concludes that "the only way to meaningfully achieve fewer abortions is to do better in helping women and their partners prevent unintended pregnancies in the first place."
Now, I fully agree on the importance of prevention in reducing abortions. But is it "the only way [italics mine] to meaningfully achieve this goal"? Might adoption actually play a part, too--in the real lives of women and babies in crisis pregnancies, not merely in the crowd-playing, manipulative rhetoric of politicians?
A new study from the prochoice Guttmacher Institute on women's motivations to abort raises that possibility. "Without being asked directly, several of the women indicated that adoption is not a realistic option for them. They reported that the thought of one’s child being out in the world without knowing if it was being taken care of or by whom would induce more guilt than having an abortion."
The story of Robin Ringleka-Kottke, one of the prochoice activists featured in the 2005 documentary "Speak Out: I Had an Abortion" also suggests the power of women's perceptions about and experiences of adoption to affect their pregnancy outcomes. As a young woman who wished to complete her education, she seriously considered adoption. That is, until the dubious "prolife" agency she had turned to for help found out that while she was white, her baby's father was black. At a Chicago Foundation for Women screening of the documentary, Ringleka-Kottke described the impact of this racist rebuff. “It was a huge blow. What occurred to me was there isn’t a shortage of children at all...I remember having a tremendous amount of hate for this thing growing inside me. I didn’t think racism extended anywhere outside the South.” She then had an abortion.
Whatever the inmost truths of her motives, or the motives of the women in the Guttmacher study, which only they can tell...am I wrong and misplaced to surmise that if they had seen and/or experienced adoption differently, they might have gone that route instead?
The women in the Guttmacher study expressed that they resorted to abortion out of concern that they could not properly mother these babies. Were they affected by the pernicious stereotype that birthmothers are uncaring and so adoption is an act of not caring? By the stuck-in-the-past but still unfortunately widespread view that adoption means the birthmother has no say over who raises her child and no contact ever after...when in fact a birthmother in the US generally chooses the adoptive family and the kinds and amounts of contact she has with them?
(In saying this I do not wish to minimize the considerable "leap of faith" involved in permanently relinquishing one's own flesh and blood over to others, even people one has chosen for the task. I only wish to point out that birthmothers today, especially when they are working through ethical, humane organizations, have far more say over their children's fates and far more opportunity to heal than they did under the horrific old shame-ridden practice of closed adoption.)
What was/is the disconnect here between these women and so many others like them, struggling with crisis pregnancies, and the positive realities within adoption today? (Assuming there was/is one. Having been a maternity services counselor...I would venture to speculate there was/is one.) How can it be bridged, and would bridging it not have a profound affect on their pregnancy outcomes? I for one think it would.
As for Robin Ringleka-Kottke's story--yes, there are many involved today in arranging adoptions who are only interested in placing white babies with upper-crusty Chreeshtain white families. And sometimes this is done in the unmerited name of "prolife," when prolife indeed means anything but racial discrimination! On the other hand, there are actually many ethical, nondiscriminatory agencies--some of them operating under the rubric of prolife--that readily find loving homes for babies of color, despite the fact (known to Americans of color but not so much to whites) that racism is omnipresent and brutally so throughout the United States.
But what was/is the disconnect between such agencies and women like Robin Ringleka-Kottke, facing the fear that no one will love and care for their racially "unwanted," deemed-inferior babies? How can it be bridged? And again, I feel fairly sure that bridging it will make for more adoptions, fewer abortions.
I also feel fairly sure that there are no easy answers for women's pregnancy dilemmas--having been through one of my own, and having borne witness to the dilemmas of so many other women, as a counselor, and also as a friend. There is no "only answer"--whether it is the "only answer" of prochoicers like Cory Richards or the "only answer" of prolifers who blithely intone "Adoption not Abortion." There are as many answers as there are women and babies and other humans affected by problem pregnancy.
And if abortion, an act of lifetaking, is not to be part of the vast repertoire of possible answers....that just makes it all the more vital to advocate voluntary pregnancy prevention, challenge white supremacy in the adoption field, and connect women in crisis with the positive realities that do exist today in that field--the rampant racism, misogyny, greed, and exploitation notwithstanding.
Now, I fully agree on the importance of prevention in reducing abortions. But is it "the only way [italics mine] to meaningfully achieve this goal"? Might adoption actually play a part, too--in the real lives of women and babies in crisis pregnancies, not merely in the crowd-playing, manipulative rhetoric of politicians?
A new study from the prochoice Guttmacher Institute on women's motivations to abort raises that possibility. "Without being asked directly, several of the women indicated that adoption is not a realistic option for them. They reported that the thought of one’s child being out in the world without knowing if it was being taken care of or by whom would induce more guilt than having an abortion."
The story of Robin Ringleka-Kottke, one of the prochoice activists featured in the 2005 documentary "Speak Out: I Had an Abortion" also suggests the power of women's perceptions about and experiences of adoption to affect their pregnancy outcomes. As a young woman who wished to complete her education, she seriously considered adoption. That is, until the dubious "prolife" agency she had turned to for help found out that while she was white, her baby's father was black. At a Chicago Foundation for Women screening of the documentary, Ringleka-Kottke described the impact of this racist rebuff. “It was a huge blow. What occurred to me was there isn’t a shortage of children at all...I remember having a tremendous amount of hate for this thing growing inside me. I didn’t think racism extended anywhere outside the South.” She then had an abortion.
Whatever the inmost truths of her motives, or the motives of the women in the Guttmacher study, which only they can tell...am I wrong and misplaced to surmise that if they had seen and/or experienced adoption differently, they might have gone that route instead?
The women in the Guttmacher study expressed that they resorted to abortion out of concern that they could not properly mother these babies. Were they affected by the pernicious stereotype that birthmothers are uncaring and so adoption is an act of not caring? By the stuck-in-the-past but still unfortunately widespread view that adoption means the birthmother has no say over who raises her child and no contact ever after...when in fact a birthmother in the US generally chooses the adoptive family and the kinds and amounts of contact she has with them?
(In saying this I do not wish to minimize the considerable "leap of faith" involved in permanently relinquishing one's own flesh and blood over to others, even people one has chosen for the task. I only wish to point out that birthmothers today, especially when they are working through ethical, humane organizations, have far more say over their children's fates and far more opportunity to heal than they did under the horrific old shame-ridden practice of closed adoption.)
What was/is the disconnect here between these women and so many others like them, struggling with crisis pregnancies, and the positive realities within adoption today? (Assuming there was/is one. Having been a maternity services counselor...I would venture to speculate there was/is one.) How can it be bridged, and would bridging it not have a profound affect on their pregnancy outcomes? I for one think it would.
As for Robin Ringleka-Kottke's story--yes, there are many involved today in arranging adoptions who are only interested in placing white babies with upper-crusty Chreeshtain white families. And sometimes this is done in the unmerited name of "prolife," when prolife indeed means anything but racial discrimination! On the other hand, there are actually many ethical, nondiscriminatory agencies--some of them operating under the rubric of prolife--that readily find loving homes for babies of color, despite the fact (known to Americans of color but not so much to whites) that racism is omnipresent and brutally so throughout the United States.
But what was/is the disconnect between such agencies and women like Robin Ringleka-Kottke, facing the fear that no one will love and care for their racially "unwanted," deemed-inferior babies? How can it be bridged? And again, I feel fairly sure that bridging it will make for more adoptions, fewer abortions.
I also feel fairly sure that there are no easy answers for women's pregnancy dilemmas--having been through one of my own, and having borne witness to the dilemmas of so many other women, as a counselor, and also as a friend. There is no "only answer"--whether it is the "only answer" of prochoicers like Cory Richards or the "only answer" of prolifers who blithely intone "Adoption not Abortion." There are as many answers as there are women and babies and other humans affected by problem pregnancy.
And if abortion, an act of lifetaking, is not to be part of the vast repertoire of possible answers....that just makes it all the more vital to advocate voluntary pregnancy prevention, challenge white supremacy in the adoption field, and connect women in crisis with the positive realities that do exist today in that field--the rampant racism, misogyny, greed, and exploitation notwithstanding.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
How to Make $10 Go a Really Long Way--and Save Lives While You're at It
How far can $10 go these days? A lot more than a person in a dollar-rich country might imagine.
The newest edition of Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers is now available in English, in online and print editions, with translations forthcoming in at least ten more languages. As the Handbook's website states, it is "one of the World Health Organization’s Family Planning Cornerstones, provides evidence-based guidance developed through worldwide collaboration. It offers clinic-based health care professionals in developing countries the latest guidance on providing contraceptive methods."
Voluntary family planning is a proven lifesaver because it promotes maternal health and prevents maternal and fetal deaths and injuries from abortion. And for $10, you can put a print copy of the Handbook into the hands of a health care provider in the Two-Thirds World region of your choice. Just click on the above link and take it from there--and please do spread the word!
A word to people who have religious beliefs against what you all term "artificial methods": You might be interested to know that the Handbook covers the latest scientific knowledge concerning what you all call term "natural methods."
The newest edition of Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers is now available in English, in online and print editions, with translations forthcoming in at least ten more languages. As the Handbook's website states, it is "one of the World Health Organization’s Family Planning Cornerstones, provides evidence-based guidance developed through worldwide collaboration. It offers clinic-based health care professionals in developing countries the latest guidance on providing contraceptive methods."
Voluntary family planning is a proven lifesaver because it promotes maternal health and prevents maternal and fetal deaths and injuries from abortion. And for $10, you can put a print copy of the Handbook into the hands of a health care provider in the Two-Thirds World region of your choice. Just click on the above link and take it from there--and please do spread the word!
A word to people who have religious beliefs against what you all term "artificial methods": You might be interested to know that the Handbook covers the latest scientific knowledge concerning what you all call term "natural methods."
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Answering Some Objections to "Artificial" Contraception
ben d. has, in comments on a much earlier post, raised some extended arguments against contraception and its abortion-reducing value. He expresses the concerns that "artificial" methods might lead to increased abortion and male exploitation of women.
I have tried to explain why and how I most vigorously disagree. The conflation of abortion and "artificial" prevention methods by prolifers and prochoicers alike is a great sticking point in the abortion debate. It is long past time for alternative takes on the issue.
I have tried to explain why and how I most vigorously disagree. The conflation of abortion and "artificial" prevention methods by prolifers and prochoicers alike is a great sticking point in the abortion debate. It is long past time for alternative takes on the issue.
Friday, June 8, 2007
Are Feminists for Life Really Feminists? Part Three
On Feminists for Life and pregnancy prevention methods:
Now here is an area where FFL has for years needed to change!
I do remember when the current policy on family planning methods was developed. And as FFL president Serrin Foster discusses in the Mother Jones article, there were elements in it of trying to accomodate a wide range of views within the organization, and not wanting to stretch a strapped-for-resources nonprofit too thin, but instead sticking to its main focus on the unmet needs of women who are already pregnant and beset with pressures towards abortion.
However...a large and pointed however....
The policy has been a cause of ongoing discontent and dissent for me and many prolife feminists ever since, and it's scared off otherwise interested people from joining or staying in the organization.
I and many other prolife feminists are unapologetic advocates of voluntary contraception, as well as any other voluntary, informed, safe methods that women and men can choose to prevent undesired pregnancies--fertility awareness methods, outercourse, abstinence, same-sex relationships, for example. We advocate these methods in their own right and as essential means of reducing abortion.
Something like 85% of people in the abortion-opponent movement support contraception, and I'm willing to bet that percentage is much higher among people who gravitate to both the words "prolife" and "feminist."
So why doesn't FFL's policy reflect our views?
And if FFL still--after all this--wants its policy to reflect a diversity of views and/or not stretch its resources too thin: aren't there other and better ways for FFL to do this?
For example, why can't it set forward an unequivocal, unabashed resolution in favor of the right to voluntary pregnancy prevention, through whatever nonviolent method(s) accord with one's beliefs?
Even if FFL wants to stay focused on women's postconception needs just as other groups focus on the preconception needs...why can't it assert that active respect for the abovementioned human right of women is essential to getting at the root causes of abortion?
Prochoice feminists have also regularly zeroed in on the FFL policy as the definitive proof that there is no such thing as a prolife feminist or that we are at the very least a suspect and (as Frances Kissling put it) "weaselly" bunch.
So the policy has definitely thwarted the capacity of prolife and prochoice feminists to dialogue and work together and with the "general public" on common-ground measures that reduce abortion.
So why does FFL hold onto it? Inquiring minds want to know.
Now here is an area where FFL has for years needed to change!
I do remember when the current policy on family planning methods was developed. And as FFL president Serrin Foster discusses in the Mother Jones article, there were elements in it of trying to accomodate a wide range of views within the organization, and not wanting to stretch a strapped-for-resources nonprofit too thin, but instead sticking to its main focus on the unmet needs of women who are already pregnant and beset with pressures towards abortion.
However...a large and pointed however....
The policy has been a cause of ongoing discontent and dissent for me and many prolife feminists ever since, and it's scared off otherwise interested people from joining or staying in the organization.
I and many other prolife feminists are unapologetic advocates of voluntary contraception, as well as any other voluntary, informed, safe methods that women and men can choose to prevent undesired pregnancies--fertility awareness methods, outercourse, abstinence, same-sex relationships, for example. We advocate these methods in their own right and as essential means of reducing abortion.
Something like 85% of people in the abortion-opponent movement support contraception, and I'm willing to bet that percentage is much higher among people who gravitate to both the words "prolife" and "feminist."
So why doesn't FFL's policy reflect our views?
And if FFL still--after all this--wants its policy to reflect a diversity of views and/or not stretch its resources too thin: aren't there other and better ways for FFL to do this?
For example, why can't it set forward an unequivocal, unabashed resolution in favor of the right to voluntary pregnancy prevention, through whatever nonviolent method(s) accord with one's beliefs?
Even if FFL wants to stay focused on women's postconception needs just as other groups focus on the preconception needs...why can't it assert that active respect for the abovementioned human right of women is essential to getting at the root causes of abortion?
Prochoice feminists have also regularly zeroed in on the FFL policy as the definitive proof that there is no such thing as a prolife feminist or that we are at the very least a suspect and (as Frances Kissling put it) "weaselly" bunch.
So the policy has definitely thwarted the capacity of prolife and prochoice feminists to dialogue and work together and with the "general public" on common-ground measures that reduce abortion.
So why does FFL hold onto it? Inquiring minds want to know.
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