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r/polyamory • … • u/Gnomes_Brew

Birth Control Options for Penis-Havers

I've commented something like this several times now, so making a post too. Just like uterus-havers often need to try various forms of birth control to find what works for them, I think its reasonable for penis-havers to need to do that too. So here's my attempt at starting a nuanced conversation about it that doesn't shame people for wanting to have good sex and wanting and expressing when a birth control method is problematic for them.

The reality is that being sexually active carries risks (emotional and physical). And being sexually active in an open, non-monogamous, ecosystem just intensifies those risks. But IMHO the rewards of being poly and sexually active are worth it, and I think many here agree, so we do our best to mitigate the risks.

A very real risk of having PiV sex is pregnancy. That's real. That's true. You need to look that square in the face.

And if you are the penis haver in that situation, you lose all control over that situation and managing that risk as soon as you ejaculate. That's real and true and again you should look that square in the face. So, if you want to be responsible and mitigate your risk around unplanned pregnancies, you have to control what happens to your ejaculate.

Layering up methods is always your best bet, because statistics! Unfortunately, culture being what it is, penis havers don't have a ton of options for BC methods they control, but there are some, and you and should review them all. Here are what I could think of.

- Traditional condoms (effective and readily available. Also fair STI protection. Problematic for some) - Female condoms (These are inserted into the penetratee, and the penis-haver gets to move against it. Provides different sensation and isnt restrictive. Slightly less effective BC than traditional condoms, fair STI protextion, and harder to find. My BF and I switched between these and traditional condoms (as well as layering my methods) just to have options and variety.) - Vasectomy (yes, doesn't work if you want kids down the road, reversability is highly questionable) - Pulling out (actually not terrible stats on this if done correctly and consistently (like 80%) and is a legitimate secondary or tertiary method, again if done consistently and correctly. DON'T use as your only method. But its something he can control, and is great layered on top of her hormonal or other BC) - Spermacide (a legit secondary or tertiary method, again something he can control, and great layered on top of her other methods).

What other methods do folks know of that the penis-haver could control?

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