Pavlina: Life is Not For the Living

Pavlina: Life is Not For the Living random header image

Gender predjudice in…birth control?

August 12th, 2009 by Pavlina

So, I’ll admit it here and now. The factory is closed. I have two kids and I don’t want anymore. I love them into tiny little pieces, but I am done. Period.

Thing is, I want a more permanent form of birth control, get my meaning? A surgical form of birth control. These come in two flavors, male and female.

I go to this website. Under the female flavor it says:

Women who are looking for a permanent form of birth control may choose to have a tubal ligation, also known as getting your “tubes tied” or female sterilization….In some cases, a woman may choose to have a hysterectomy. This is when the entire uterus (and possibly the fallopian tubes, ovaries and/or cervix) is removed. Unlike a tubal ligation, a hysterectomy is not reversible….For women that are sure that they do not want any more children, or any children at all, having a tubal ligation can be a successful means of birth control. Although tubal ligation reversal surgery is available, all women should consider having their tubes tied as a permanent solution. Therefore, it is best to take your time and talk with your doctor as well as your partner so that you can be sure that this is the right decision for you.

All very good points. I was a bit apprehensive how casually this site dropped in The Hysterectomy. I mean, we are talking major, big time surgery here! Not just, “gee, I don’t want any more kids,” but more like “Gee, I seem to have a massive tumor or growth down there.” I didn’t think women got The Big H done for birth control. I’ll admit that it seems to have certain…perks. Major surgery? No thanks.

At any rate, I cruise over and look at the male flavor. You know, for giggles.

Aside from condoms, a vasectomy is pretty much the only other method of male birth control available. A vasectomy is a simple procedure that can be done in a doctor’s office and is a permanent way of preventing pregnancy. …Suits You?
A vasectomy is seen as a permanent form of birth control. It is generally recommended for men that are done having children or are absolutely certain that they do not want to have children….If you are not absolutely sure that you do not want children, would like to have biological children in the future, are being pressured to have a vasectomy, or have not taken into account life changes, such as remarriage and the death of a child, having a vasectomy may not be the best choice for you right now.

Now, I got to say, this is totally out of line. the female flavor gets a warning that is they want any or any more children not to get it done. Then the male flavor comes out with making sure they don’t want to have children, TWICE. Then say make sure you don’t want children, biological children, are being pressured (WTF?) or have not taken into account life changes???? Such as remarriage???? Why don’t we, as women, get the came warnings? I mean, doesn’t this go both ways? What if a woman gets remarried and wants to have “biological” children? What if one of her children dies in an unfortunate accident and she wants another? What if she is getting pressured for the procedure?

Why are all these riders only on the male page and not for the female?

Absolutely crazy.

Tags:   · 2 Comments

Leave A Comment

2 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Air Aug 15, 2009 at 3:41 pm

    True story: last year I had my tubes tied. When I told my mother, she said “But I thought your husband already had a vasectomy!?” I replied, “He did, mom”. End of conversation.

  • 2 Hot Rod Aug 20, 2009 at 10:16 pm

    R U DEAD? Maybe I dont need the snip-snip