Birth control?

[bbw4youngercocks1]

Since some have thrown out questions about other aspects featured in stories (anal sex, double penetration, bisexual, just to name a few), how does the majority feel about birth control being mentioned?

I'd gotten a few negative comments on a couple of my older stories from a few years ago, so I wondering what other writers thought about the mention of birth control pills or the use of condoms.

 

[Stella_Omega]

If my story includes penis action, and is in a modern setting, I write condoms. If one of my dykes is planning to fuck more than one woman with her strap-on, she carries condoms as well.

In fantasy settings, I tend to ignore safe sex.

 

[PennLady]

I'm all in favor of safe sex, of course, and often mention condoms or the pill in stories. Not always, but I feel like I should, or should have the participants have a conversation about it. I tend to write contemporary stuff and so it seems like that should happen. But I don't usually spend a lot of time on it. I'll just write that the guy reached for a condom, or the woman will comment that she's on the pill (or whatever). It doesn't spoil the mood for me. Although if it's not there, I also don't care, b/c I figure it's fiction, escapism, etc.

In an sf or fantasy setting or historical or whatever, I wouldn't expect it.

 

[bbw4youngercocks1]

I'm all in favor of safe sex, of course, and often mention condoms or the pill in stories. Not always, but I feel like I should, or should have the participants have a conversation about it. I tend to write contemporary stuff and so it seems like that should happen. But I don't usually spend a lot of time on it. I'll just write that the guy reached for a condom, or the woman will comment that she's on the pill (or whatever). It doesn't spoil the mood for me. Although if it's not there, I also don't care, b/c I figure it's fiction, escapism, etc.

In an sf or fantasy setting or historical or whatever, I wouldn't expect it.

Sounds like what I'd done in a few of my stories. The pill or condoms are mentioned in passing (one story right before the man was ready to come during unprotected sex), but I don't make them a focal point. Some people tend to be uncomfortable about discussing them.

I've seen guys wear condoms in some adult films, but I guess it's right to assume it's more of a safe sex thing than prevention of pregnancy.

 

[bashfullyshameless]

I tend to write in fantasy/sci-fi, and safe sex is usually something that I quickly address by dispensing with the need ("Poof! Magic uterus!" or something). Of course, I tend to find the sex in erotica unrealistic to begin with--everyone's SO sexy, and has ASTOUNDING endurance, etc.--so I like having that fantasy/sci-fi backdrop to justify the fact that every character is Captain WonderFuck.

That said, in realistic stories I think it's always worth addressing, because it's one of those issues of suspension of disbelief. I have seen commenters complain about it, though, even when I thought it was done subtly and well. One story here on Lit ("The Charming Wife," I think...?) was all in first person from the woman's perspective, and she made one mention of hearing the tearing of a foil packet, and that was it, and I thought, "Yay! Safe sex in four words!" aaaand then I saw readers complain that it ruined their mood.

I've always been of the belief that any man who doesn't care enough to wear a condom doesn't deserve to be with the woman, so I don't have a lot of sympathy. Yes, going without the condom can be more fun, but it doesn't make THAT goddamn much of a difference, y'know?

 

[jeninflorida]

Since some have thrown out questions about other aspects featured in stories (anal sex, double penetration, bisexual, just to name a few), how does the majority feel about birth control being mentioned?

I'd gotten a few negative comments on a couple of my older stories from a few years ago, so I wondering what other writers thought about the mention of birth control pills or the use of condoms.

well my two cents is that fiction is a aids free world and there are no side effects from the pill...and no pms. I would think that most people would assume the character was on the pill unless you talked about the character trying to become preggers

 

[Stella_Omega]

Captain WonderFuck FTW!

 

[Weird Harold]

I'd gotten a few negative comments on a couple of my older stories from a few years ago, so I wondering what other writers thought about the mention of birth control pills or the use of condoms.

If birth control or condoms are relevant to the story, mention them. If they're not relevant to the story, leave them out. The more important to the story, the more emphasis you can put on them, and vice versa.

It seems to me that the lack of birth control/condoms is more likely to be important to the story than the presence thereof. Having to interrupt or limit an assignation because they ran out of/forgot condoms, or the risk/promise of pregnancy, are common situations where the presence or absence of birth control or condoms is relevant to the story.

What will cause reader complaints is a misplaced attempt at public service in breaking the flow of the story to make it obvious that your characters are responsible about safe sex. Most of the time, preaching belongs in a pulpit, not fiction.

 

[3113]

Birth control no, Condoms yes

I don't think that BC needs to be mentioned because it would be stupid for women in erotica to be having such sex (casual, often with a stranger, and sometimes with more than one stranger) without being on some form of birth control--unless they were thoughtless or really after having a baby rather than just sex, which is a whole other story. So, I think the birth control can be taken for granted. Most women don't mention it when they get hot and heavy with a guy, nor do most guys ask. The assumption is that the woman wouldn't engage in such activities if she could get pregnant, and/or wasn't on the pill and needed to break away to insert a diaphragm.

Condoms are a whole other story. They're disease prevention. I pretty much always have condoms when it comes to gay males as I figure it would be irresponsible of me not to given the AIDS epidemic that wiped out so much of the gay male community in the 80's. So my gay males use condoms unless they've been together for a while and (one presumes) have been tested.

I'm more lax with my heterosexual romances (which, I know, is hypocritical), but I have put condoms in quite a few. It really takes no effort to write, "He gloved up and plunged in." One doesn't need to dwell on it--and one shouldn't. It can be mentioned without interrupting the hotness or action, I believe.

*Just to add: one of the best gay male stories I ever read was about a man who was deeply into latex--that was his kink--and gets the sexual encounter of his dreams when he hooks up with an ultra cautious young man who insists on condom use, etc. Cute story about a serious issue.

 

[mynameisben]

If birth control or condoms are relevant to the story, mention them. If they're not relevant to the story, leave them out. The more important to the story, the more emphasis you can put on them, and vice versa.

It seems to me that the lack of birth control/condoms is more likely to be important to the story than the presence thereof. Having to interrupt or limit an assignation because they ran out of/forgot condoms, or the risk/promise of pregnancy, are common situations where the presence or absence of birth control or condoms is relevant to the story.

What will cause reader complaints is a misplaced attempt at public service in breaking the flow of the story to make it obvious that your characters are responsible about safe sex. Most of the time, preaching belongs in a pulpit, not fiction.

"I want you, darling. I need you. Take me. Now!" Shauna demanded. She was so excited by him, she was visibly shaking.

"Yes, my love. But first, allow me to pull on my 19 mil latex condom, which is thin enough to provide the intimacy we both demand, while strong enough to prevent the transmission of STDs and reduce the chance of unwanted pregnancy with 95% effectiveness whenever it is used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. But more than that, Shauna, it is the socially, morally, and economically responsible thing to do."

"Oh, Ben! You really do love me!"

 

[lovecraft68]

Erotica is porn in words. Therefore people expect the escape from reality.

Everyone rides bareback, every woman swallows, every guy is hung, guys cum inside and no one gets pregnant, women will take it ass to mouth, etc....

To me when a story mentions the pill or condoms or anything "real" it takes away the enjoyment. I'm an adult and know that in r/l I'm using a condom and if its in her ass she don't want it anywhere near her mouth. But that is the point of erotica and for that matter any fiction, escapism.

The only time I deviated was in my long swb series. I had the sister unable to get pregnant because she was molested as a young girl and the brother had a vas at 18 so he would never make "another like him"

The only reason I did that however, was to add to their brokenness and the general tragic feeling of the storyline.

 

[cricketmuse]

Yes, but when watching porn (which admittedly isn't often), when the guy pulls out after looking bored for 20 minutes and frantically jacks off in the girl's face it takes away the enjoyment for me. I'd rather fantasize about a guy taking a seconds to put on protection and finishing inside. As stated, it's all fantasy so clean-up is a snap!


I personally have no objections to the mention of condoms or birth control in stories. Then again I read a lot of non-con stories and the guy taking a break to put a raincoat on makes no sense, so I'd say it also depends on what kind of story you're writing. In those stories there's generally no threat of DNA testing afterwards.

 

[RodenAddison]

well my two cents is that fiction is a aids free world and there are no side effects from the pill...and no pms. I would think that most people would assume the character was on the pill unless you talked about the character trying to become preggers

I agree. It's about putting forward an idea and making a story out of it. I don't tend to go into details about whether their socks are argyle or two tone either. People are welcome to read into the story whatever they like - and often do.

 

[mcguinness]

I don't worry about fictional characters getting diseases, and I don't want lessons in safe sex from my erotica.

 

[lovecraft68]

I don't worry about fictional characters getting diseases, and I don't want lessons in safe sex from my erotica.

Well said! I mean what's next? A woman actually having her period?

Oh, well wait a minute that could work in the fetish section.

 

[mcguinness]

Well said! I mean what's next? A woman actually having her period?

Oh, well wait a minute that could work in the fetish section.

And unless pregnancy's the point of the story, I don't see how that's an issue either.

"Oh man, the part where she told him she was going to have a baby and he called her a slut and broke up with her and she cried herself to sleep for a week -- that was so hot, I jerked it twice!*" If only that poor girl had used an imaginary condom! Well I think we've all learned a Valuable Lesson today, erotica readers!

*...come to think of it that's probably someone's fetish too.

 

[Stella_Omega]

*...come to think of it that's probably someone's fetish too.

It is. You probably don't want to know.

 

[fuckwaffle]

Escape from reality...except in the Loving Wives category.

After reading the umpteenth comment in LW about how the reader making the coment hopes the cheating, slut wife get AIDS or Pregnant or worse, although the only thing worse I could imagine would be to have to have sex with the dumbass making the comment, I must assume that the readers of LW stories need reality. Therefore, all women must use birth control even if the male uses a condom, just in case the condom breaks...except for that faction that wants the wife to get pregnant.

So if you writing in LW everyone must use BC unless the woman is trying to get pregnant.

 

[bbw4youngercocks1]

Well said! I mean what's next? A woman actually having her period?

Oh, well wait a minute that could work in the fetish section.

There are some people who are actually into things like that. As I like to say, whatever floats their boats.

 

[PennLady]

And so once again I think we have proved that some people like it, some hate it and some don't care. A breakthrough!

 

[lovecraft68]

There are some people who are actually into things like that. As I like to say, whatever floats their boats.

That's very true. Although I have to say out of all the fetishes, scat is pretty damn nasty.

 

[PennLady]

Well said! I mean what's next? A woman actually having her period?

Oh, well wait a minute that could work in the fetish section.

Works in nonhuman, too, especially with vampires.

 

[lovecraft68]

Works in nonhuman, too, especially with vampires.

True, I just never consider non human erotic. I separate my monsters from my sex.

If we're going to keep going though, there are some really hardcore BDSM types that are into blood play.

I really think at that level there are mental issues, but that's just my opinion.

 

[PennLady]

True, I just never consider non human erotic. I separate my monsters from my sex.

If we're going to keep going though, there are some really hardcore BDSM types that are into blood play.

I really think at that level there are mental issues, but that's just my opinion.

Yeah, I'd find that pretty skeevy myself. At least with vampires, you can understand the attraction.

 

[lovecraft68]

Yeah, I'd find that pretty skeevy myself. At least with vampires, you can understand the attraction.

Well yeah, I mean they gotta eat right?