Scott, 29, the patch
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By: health
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October 11, 2011
Scott and his girlfriend started with condoms until they both got tested for STIs. After that, she started with birth control pills , but moved on to the patch . He thinks it’s more convenient than having to take a pill every day. At first he was concerned about whether it would stick on her […]
Elliot, 24, the pill
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By: health
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October 11, 2011
Once Elliot and his girlfriend got more serious—and exclusive—they moved from condoms to the birth control pill. Sure, she has to set reminders to remember exactly when to take the pill everyday, but they’ve totally regulated her menstrual cycle. And Elliot appreciates that the pill is less expensive than condoms and allows them to be […]
Tim, 27, the ring
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By: health
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October 11, 2011
Tim’s girlfriend made the choice to get the NuvaRing, aka the ring , and he’s cool with that; he thinks it’s her body, her choice. For him, the ring is great because it lets him go condom-free and really feel her, but sometimes Tim and his girlfriend can also feel the ring during sex. When […]
Andrew, 25, IUD
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By: health
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October 11, 2011
Andrew might not know what IUD stands for, but he knows what he likes about it: he and his girlfriend get to enjoy the highest level of effectiveness, no hormones (she uses the copper kind of IUD), and they can have spontaneous sex whenever the mood hits. She did have to go into the doctor […]
Justin, 27, diaphragm
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By: health
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October 11, 2011
In the beginning, they were cautious about STIs and pregnancy, so they used condoms to protect against both. Now, as an exclusive couple with a clean bill of health, they use a diaphragm and go condom-free. (Except when she’s ovulating; that’s when they double up because women are more susceptible to getting pregnant around the […]
Emergency contraception: the male perspective
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By: health
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October 11, 2011
Pregnancy scares are no fun. That’s something men and women seem to agree on. Even though women are the ones who physically have to use emergency contraception , we asked a group of guys to talk about their experiences with it. Their stories are unique, but all of them were grateful that emergency contraception was […]
More promising, far-from-available male birth control
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By: health
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August 31, 2011
As if we needed another reason to save the rainforest: A leafy plant found deep in the jungles of Indonesia may hold the key to the elusive male birth control pill. The gandarusa plant has been used as a stress-reliever for centuries, and locals knew it had a reputation for reducing fertility. Now, researchers are […]
Where in the world is birth control for men?
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By: health
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May 31, 2011
Last updated on November 11, 2014. Picture this: a couple is in a committed relationship and they’ve agreed they’re not ready for kids. They talk to each other about birth control and maybe he helps her remember to take her pill. Maybe he’d like to take even more responsibility for birth control…but he’s got scant […]
Getting the snip: Should it be me or my partner?
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By: health
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July 30, 2010
Done having kids or sure you never want any? If you answer yes, you might be thinking about permanent birth control, also called sterilization . Sterilization can be done for women or men. For women, it is often called “getting your tubes tied” or “tubal ligation.” For men, it is called a vasectomy. Sterilization is […]