Birth Control?

[Eilan]

From this side of 40 I'm skeptical of any birth control. We presently use condoms and are very careful to store them appropriately and watch expiration dates.

And a vasectomy is out of the question because?

 

[pplwatching]

And a vasectomy is out of the question because?

Because we want more children, just not today.

 

[Moleculor]

Uhm, perhaps I should mention this, but just because both of you are virgins doesn't mean you're STD free. HIV, HPV, and others can be passed on from mother to child during birth. Considering 80% of all sexually active people have been exposed to HPV, there is a slight chance one or both of you have a strain. (Not that a condom'll stop HPV, but hey, just thought I'd mention it.)

 

[AngelicAnguish]

Well I'll share my personal experiences:

Birth Control Pill for 6 years
Pros - worked like a charm, lessened cramps, shortened menstration

Cons - Remembering to take the pill at the same time each day, took a bit to adjust too (minor moodiness in the start and slight weight gain) though I stayed on the same pill and within 3 months all was good.

** note, my mother however was someone who they could never find a pill that worked well with her body. Some would make her bleed, others would cause her to feel ill, in the end after trying and trying she finally gave up on them.

Rythm Method -
Pros - can't think of any really good ones
Cons - Don't get caught up in the moment or whamo - baby number 1 for me.

Condoms 10 months:
Pros - mmm... no mess
Cons - They can break thus baby number 2 for me

In the end the Pill worked the best for me, though I had decided to go off of it for some insane reason.

If I needed to use birth control now I would probably opt for the Patch. I'm too afraid of an IUD (this said after having two kids! LOL).

Lucky for me hubby got the big V!

Good luck in your choice, hopefully you find something that works well for you.

 

[bertrande]

I was with a married woman once and she had her tubes tied. already ahd three kids, didn't want more. I think that is a little more than you want.

My advice, if you want 100% safe, not gonna get preggo, then there is only one thing..............no sex. Condoms fail, the pill fails, nothing is 100% but no intercourse. Personally, that sucks, so condoms for me.

I hope that wasn't oversharing.

I have 3 kids and have had my tubes clamped - Am so paranoid of being in the one in a million chance of it/them coming unclamped that I take the pill as well at the moment....

....helps to regulate my cycle too.

 

[HuberKun]

Hey, pplwatching, this could be a completely stupid question...when did you have problems with your wife's IUD? Im still really interested in this method, I know the risks (Im a reasearcher so I usually look up everything I can to be sure and THEN I talk to people). I know IUDs have gotten a lot more reliable in the recent years and they are starting to make a comeback in America.

Again, my biggest two concerns with the IUDs are cost and getting it checked once a year while in Japan or whatever. Plus, they are hesitant in my neck of the woods to put one in a 22, childless woman. I dont want to kill my chances at fertility, but I thikn every BC method (besides FAM or Condoms) has some sort of risk for infertility (the pill rendered my aunt unable to have children).

Anyways, I just was wondering WHEN you had the problems with the IUDs.

Oh, and for everyone else...this is a really stupid question...but how do you buy condoms? Beyond the go to the store and pick up the box answer too. I mean, what kind? How do you figure sizez? What types are the best? Etc etc...I have NO idea and I DONT want to have to ask teh walmart pharmacist >.<

 

[HuberKun]

I have 3 kids and have had my tubes clamped - Am so paranoid of being in the one in a million chance of it/them coming unclamped that I take the pill as well at the moment....

....helps to regulate my cycle too.

I have a REALLY annoying friend who was a one in a million baby. His sibs were all in their younger 20s when he came around. His mom had her tubes tied but he was here anyways...just to help make you more paranoid.

Heh...sorry >.<

 

[Lynxie]

First of all, I've gotta say how impressed I am with the extent of the research and thought you and your boyfriend have put into this decision, HK. It's a huge step to take in your lives, and too many people don't bother to think about the risks and consequences.

I really don't know anything about IUDs, but I have had plenty of experience with the pill and condoms. As Erika pointed out, Planned Parenthood is probably your best bet if you want to get a year's supply of pills before you move abroad. PP is a wonderful organization, and can give you a pelvic exam, answer your questions about sex and birth control, and they allow you to purchase as much as 12 months worth of birth control pills at a discounted rate (sometimes as much as 1/2 the price you'd pay going through normal insurance and pharmacies).

However, it can take some experimenting to find a pill (or ring or patch, as the case may be) that works for your body. I was on Ortho Tri-cyclen for 5 years without any problems, but stopped taking it when I moved, ran out of my prescription, and didn't have access to a doctor or clinic. A year later I moved again and got myself back on the same pill. My body decided it didn't like it anymore... I bled for two months straight, so I stopped taking it. I've now been on Lo-Ogestrel for one month, and so far things seem to be going well. My periods are highly irregular, so I take the pill to regulate my cycle as much as I do to prevent pregnancy. I'm on my period now for the first time in 4 months (which equals 2 home pregnancy tests & 1 blood test at the doc's to ease my fears), and I'm praying that I stay regular.

You're already aware that birth control pills aren't totally effective. You should also know that the pill isn't fully effective for at least 1 month, even when you follow the directions exactly. With my irregular cycle, my doctor recommended that I use a backup method for two months before resorting to the pill as my sole method of birth control.

As a backup, my husband and I use condoms. Just like with the pill, it can take some experimentation to find which condoms work best for you and your boyfriend. You may want to consider buying an assortment of condoms to take with you, and then order more based on which ones you like. Websites like Condomania and Condomdepot offer sampler packs for such purposes.

There are other backup methods that can reduce your risk of pregnancy as well. This website discusses the various options available in detail. It's also very important to remember that the effectiveness statistics you read about do not take human error into account. What I like about the website that I linked is that it lists the effectiveness for both perfect use and typical use of each method.

As much as I was put off by pplwatching's attack-style post, he did offer some excellent advice for you to think about. Having heterosexual sex is a big deal. It's primary biological function is to create offspring, and it works really, really well. When he says that you need to be prepared to deal with pregnancy if you're going to start having sex, he's right. There's always a risk that it could happen. However, it does sound like you and your boyfriend are well aware of this. Having good communication now is the first step ensuring a happy and safe love life with your partner. And, as Erika pointed out, exploring the sexual side of your relationship prior to committing yourselves to marriage will help you determine your needs and compatibility. While marriage isn't totally about sex it does play an important role, and living together should also help you learn more about each other's daily habits, as well.

 

[bertrande]

I have a REALLY annoying friend who was a one in a million baby. His sibs were all in their younger 20s when he came around. His mom had her tubes tied but he was here anyways...just to help make you more paranoid.

Heh...sorry >.<

Thank god the man in my life has had a vasectomy......

....I knew I wasn't being paraniod for nothing

 

[My Own Way]

My issue was with statements like "You really can't go wrong" and general misinformation, not with the advice.

Just to defend SweetErika because I think she's a very knowledgeable poster as well as from what I can tell a very genuinely sweet and caring person to all people on these boards, I think what she probably meant by that statement is that by making an informed, educated, and heartfelt decision about when the right time is for you personally to have sex, as well as considering all the contraceptive options, then you can't go wrong. Not that you can't go wrong by having sex or you can't go wrong by the type of birth control you chose to use.

As for the original question. I can't really add anything else. I think that you're doing the right thing Huberkun that you're trying to gather all the information you can. Your best bet is to talk to your doctor about options overseas, they may or may not be able to help you but I would think they would be the most knowledgeable place to turn too. I do know, from living overseas myself, actually in Japan, granted I was 13 so no birth control then or anything, but there are a lot of American facilities over there in the form of American recreational clubs and all that. They may have websites or something that could point you in the right direction. I do know that I did see and american doctor over there so they do exist. Good Luck!

 

[pplwatching]

when did you have problems with your wife's IUD?

This was a little over 2 & 1/2 years ago. My wife's OBGYN told us that IUDs had gotten better, but I wish she had told us exactly what happens when they fail. Most women don't have a normal pregnacy. The way it fails is more important than the failure rate, IMHO.

When we were told that our pregnancy might be ectopic, I got on the web and found a lot of horror stories about IUDs resulting in ectopic pregnancies and I found other people with other complications, not the least of which is that removing the IUD increases the chances of a miscarriage but leaving it in has its own risks. There is a huge emotional burden in making those kinds of decisions. Its one thing to prevent a pregnancy, it's another to have to make decisions that might kill your child once it's happened. I doubt that we'd have gone with the IUD if I'd read those experiences first.

As if that weren't enough ... There are other reasons that I don't care for statistical failure rates, and with making decisions based on them. A surgical procedure with less than a 2% failure rate left me completely deaf in one ear. I knew the risks when I had the procedure, and in fact my surgeon had performed it over 1700 times with no problems. What I didn't know until afterward was that no one knows why those in the 2% failure group become deaf as a result of the surgury. Statistics hide a great deal of information and finding that information takes a lot of work. Sometimes figuring out the right question is the problem.

I don't think my post(s) were "attack-style". Passionate, maybe, but I guess that's in the eye of the reader.

 

[pplwatching]

how do you buy condoms? Beyond the go to the store and pick up the box answer too. I mean, what kind? How do you figure sizez? What types are the best? Etc etc...I have NO idea and I DONT want to have to ask teh walmart pharmacist >.<

Size is pure trial and error. Even in my size, different brands fit differently. You could probably ship him a few boxes and and ask him which fit before you travel. Might make for an interesting phone conversation anyway.

Consumer reports rates condoms. This web site may be useful : http://www.consumerreports.org/main...R<>folder_id=551075&ASSORTMENT<>ast_id=333141

 

[SweetErika]

This line of thinking bothers me. First, marriage is about a lot more than just sex. I've heard a lot more horror stories about money management, respect, trust, and parenting issues than I have issues about sex. That issue really doesn't have much to do with her posting, so I'll leave it at that.

Marriage is about a lot more than just sex? Really?

Of course it is! I gave a personal opinion that sex is an important part of a marriage/LTR, and nowhere did I assert that it was the ONLY or MOST IMPORTANT factor for most people, including me. I guess I take it on faith that no one here is ignorant enough to misinterpret my post as, "marriage is all about sex" because I've found most (especially HT) members to be highly intelligent, insightful, and capable of seeing intent.

Saying that she really can't go wrong is grossly misleading. She's obviously thought a lot about this, but she has to always remember that sex is first and foremost about making babies. The fact that it's a lot of fun is secondary. So here we go into off-topic unsolicited advice. What's critically important here is that an unexpected pregnancy could be a catastrophy. The mistake here lies in the assumption that birth control efficacy has any relationship to that fact.

To clarify for you and anyone else (though it sounds like they've got a good grasp on things), I didn't mean there aren't problems with having sex, I meant when you wait until you both feel ready, love eachother, make a carefully considered decision, and do everything you can to keep yourselves safe, you probably won't regret your decision to take this step.

Regarding "unsolicited advice," I remember making the big decisions to have sex and taking measures to protect myself. Birth control was a large part of it, but so was the emotional aspect. I would have appreciated hearing the opinions and experiences of others, solicited or not. Huber is an adult, and has obviously thought about this a lot...she's free to read or completely ignore what people (including me) say.

Pplwatching, it seems you're not really trying to understand what people actually mean and/or are being unnecessarily contradictory. If something seems outrageous to you, you could just as easily ask for clarification as put a 'WRONG' label on it. Had you tried that, you would have saved lots of time pointing out what you saw as inconsistencies and really crazy statements. I don't always communicate as well as I could, but I get the impression that just about everyone understands what I say and mean. So I guess I'm left wondering why you're having so much trouble, but would be happy to clarify for you if necessary in the future. If you're just contradicting everyone for fun and to make yourself feel superior, you may want to find another forum where that's appreciated.

Just to defend SweetErika because I think she's a very knowledgeable poster as well as from what I can tell a very genuinely sweet and caring person to all people on these boards, I think what she probably meant by that statement is that by making an informed, educated, and heartfelt decision about when the right time is for you personally to have sex, as well as considering all the contraceptive options, then you can't go wrong. Not that you can't go wrong by having sex or you can't go wrong by the type of birth control you chose to use.

I was too tired to respond last night, so thank you. That's EXACTLY what I meant, and you said it very well.

 

[pplwatching]

SweetErika,

I never wrote, or even implied that I can see, the majority of what you've said (E.g. "nowhere did I assert that it was the ONLY or MOST IMPORTANT factor for most people"). Saying that marriage was about more than sex was just one point in an open dialogue with many points, but you seem to have focused on it as some sort of attack on your character. I assure you that if it was, I wouldn't have gone to the trouble of bring up points unrelated to marriage/sex.

You, and others, have read a lot more into what I wrote than what I intended and given your premise that I read too much into things, your most recent post is most certainly the pot calling the kettle black.

Marriage is about a lot more than just sex? Really?

Of course it is! I gave a personal opinion that sex is an important part of a marriage/LTR, and nowhere did I assert that it was the ONLY or MOST IMPORTANT factor for most people, including me. I guess I take it on faith that no one here is ignorant enough to misinterpret my post as, "marriage is all about sex" because I've found most (especially HT) members to be highly intelligent, insightful, and capable of seeing intent.


To clarify for you and anyone else (though it sounds like they've got a good grasp on things), I didn't mean there aren't problems with having sex, I meant when you wait until you both feel ready, love eachother, make a carefully considered decision, and do everything you can to keep yourselves safe, you probably won't regret your decision to take this step.

Regarding "unsolicited advice," I remember making the big decisions to have sex and taking measures to protect myself. Birth control was a large part of it, but so was the emotional aspect. I would have appreciated hearing the opinions and experiences of others, solicited or not. Huber is an adult, and has obviously thought about this a lot...she's free to read or completely ignore what people (including me) say.

Pplwatching, it seems you're not really trying to understand what people actually mean and/or are being unnecessarily contradictory. If something seems outrageous to you, you could just as easily ask for clarification as put a 'WRONG' label on it. Had you tried that, you would have saved lots of time pointing out what you saw as inconsistencies and really crazy statements. I don't always communicate as well as I could, but I get the impression that just about everyone understands what I say and mean. So I guess I'm left wondering why you're having so much trouble, but would be happy to clarify for you if necessary in the future. If you're just contradicting everyone for fun and to make yourself feel superior, you may want to find another forum where that's appreciated.


I was too tired to respond last night, so thank you. That's EXACTLY what I meant, and you said it very well.

 

[SweetErika]

SweetErika,

I never wrote, or even implied that I can see, the majority of what you've said (E.g. "nowhere did I assert that it was the ONLY or MOST IMPORTANT factor for most people"). Saying that marriage was about more than sex was just one point in an open dialogue with many points, but you seem to have focused on it as some sort of attack on your character. I assure you that if it was, I wouldn't have gone to the trouble of bring up points unrelated to marriage/sex.

You, and others, have read a lot more into what I wrote than what I intended and given your premise that I read too much into things, your most recent post is most certainly the pot calling the kettle black.

I apologize if I and many others misunderstood your intent, and didn't mean to imply you read into things. It's just that you seemed to be misinterpreting and creating issues where there was actually a lot of agreement.

When a lot of people have misunderstood me, I've found it helpful to assess why and do what I change my style so it happens less often. I see some things I can do to be more clear in the future. So perhaps this is a good learning experience for both of us.

 

[h_i_s]

Add the extra cramping from the IUD and we give it two thumbs down.

While i DO AGREE that the IUD should not be a concideration for anyone who wants children (or more children) ....... an IUD is my #1 choice (as a woman who is DONE having children ... and not interested in permanent sterilization / surgical procedures).

IUDs have their risks just as with any form of BC. NOT ALL IUDS can cause an eptopic pregnancy. They are not the only reason why eptopic pregnancies occur (they also occur with the pill, condoms etc ect too... or even with NO form of birth control). And, not everyone suffers increased cramping as a result of having an UID inserted ...... i have actually been relieved of much of severe menstrual cramping for the first time in my life since having the CopperT IUD inserted over 3 years ago. It works TWO ways:

1. stops fertilization by preventing sperm from making their way up through the uterus into the fallopian tubes
2. prevent the fertilized egg from implanting in the lining of the uterus

Copper T IUD (Intrauterine Device) - An IUD is a small device that is shaped in the form of a "T." Your health care provider places it inside the uterus. The arms of the Copper T IUD contain some copper, which stops fertilization by preventing sperm from making their way up through the uterus into the fallopian tubes. If fertilization does occur, the IUD would prevent the fertilized egg from implanting in the lining of the uterus. The Copper T IUD can stay in your uterus for up to 10 years. It does not protect against STDs or HIV. This IUD is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.

ALL IUDS DO NOT WORK THE SAME WAY IN PREVENTING PREGNANCY.

Some like it .... some don't. Some have good experiences .... some don't. Just as with any form of birth control........

 

[h_i_s]

........... Anways, there are two problems. The main one is he is in Japan and I am moving there in about 6 weeks. We can both speak Japanese, but probably not enough to go to teh doctors and get birth control and their condoms are...well..its not recomended that americans use them for various reasons.

I would really like to get some safer form of birth control (I have no issues with STDs since we are both virgins, its not even an issue...we are disease free). Like the pill or a implant...my biggest desire, however is an IUD. I know there risks and have researched a lot about them. They have gotten a lot better the past couple of decades and its one of the best forms (plus, it lasts for ten years, woo!). Unfortunately, I am a 22 year old who has never had a kid and some doctors wont put in an IUD in someone like me. They are also super expensive.

What would be your recommendations for me? I would like something simple, and something that I can get in Japan and would go into effect within 6 weeks. I know you can get birth control pills for like 9 months and bring them to Japan and then maybe have someone mail them too you after that. But what about the other options. I just need to ask SOMEONE because I am so completely unknowledgable about this matter.

The cost of an IUD is a one shot deal ... and compared to the cost of the pill over a ten year period ................... the IUD is actually a cheaper option. They have come a LONG way ........ and are STILL not an option for anyone who has their heart set on being able to have children.



Huberkun ... look at all of your options of course, but .... perhaps it would be more convenient for you to concider something more portable that does not require constant refills of prescriptions? Here's a few examples that may seem more suited to your needs.

Diaphragm or Cervical Cap - These are barrier methods of birth control, where the sperm are blocked from reaching the egg. The diaphragm is shaped like a shallow latex cup. The cervical cap is a thimble-shaped latex cup. Both come in different sizes and you need a health care provider to "fit" you for one. Before sexual intercourse, you use them with spermicide (to block or kill sperm) and place them up inside your vagina to cover your cervix (the opening to your womb). You can buy spermicide gel or foam at a drug store. Spermicide will also help protect you from the STDs gonorrhea and chlamydia if they have nonoxynol-9 in them. Some women can be sensitive to nonoxynol-9 and need to use spermicides that do not contain it. The diaphragm is 80 to 94% effective at preventing pregnancy. The cervical cap is 80 to 90% effective at preventing pregnancy for women who have not had a child, and 60 to 80% for women who have had a child. Requires a visit with your health care provider for proper fitting.

The Patch (Ortho Evra) -This is a skin patch worn on the lower abdomen, buttocks, or upper body. It releases the hormones progestin and estrogen into the bloodstream. You put on a new patch once a week for three weeks, then do not wear a patch during the fourth week in order to have a menstrual period. The patch is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy, but appears to be less effective in women who weigh more than 198 pounds. It does not protect against STDs or HIV. The Food and Drug Administration approved this method in 2001. You will need to visit your health care provider for a prescription and to make sure you are not having problems.

The Hormonal Vaginal Contraceptive Ring (NuvaRing) - The NuvaRing is a ring that releases the hormones progestin and estrogen. You squeeze the ring between your thumb and index finger and insert it into your vagina. You wear the ring for three weeks, take it out for the week that you have your period, and then put in a new ring. The ring is 98 to 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. The Food and Drug Administration approved this method in 2001. You will need to visit your health care provider for a prescription and to make sure you are not having problems.

 

[h_i_s]

When we were told that our pregnancy might be ectopic, I got on the web and found a lot of horror stories about IUDs resulting in ectopic pregnancies and I found other people with other complications, not the least of which is that removing the IUD increases the chances of a miscarriage but leaving it in has its own risks.

You truely were NOT informed of these risks and you didn't SUE??

Health professionals are bound by law to dispurse literature detailing the possible risks associated in having any IUD inserted, as well as to provide 'How to Care For' and 'How to Check for and Recognize Complications' & 'Risks Associated With' literature to ALL patients receiving an IUD.

I received my IUD in 2002, and the guidelines are federal (FDA) standard .... more time (about 45 minutes) was spent in explaining ALL of this information to me by my OBGYN ... than the time it took to actually insert the device (10-15 minutes).

 

[h_i_s]

I could be wrong, but I was under the impression that some IUD's do prevent fertilization by causing the cervical mucus to thicken. Some of them release hormones.

There are different types of IUDs. There is also the IUS. They each work a bit differently.




Copper T IUD (Intrauterine Device) - An IUD is a small device that is shaped in the form of a "T." Your health care provider places it inside the uterus. The arms of the Copper T IUD contain some copper, which stops fertilization by preventing sperm from making their way up through the uterus into the fallopian tubes. If fertilization does occur, the IUD would prevent the fertilized egg from implanting in the lining of the uterus. The Copper T IUD can stay in your uterus for up to 10 years. It does not protect against STDs or HIV. This IUD is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. Requires visits with your health care provider to have it inserted and to make sure you are not having any problems. Not all health care providers insert IUDs.

Progestasert IUD (Intrauterine Device) -This IUD is a small plastic T- shaped device that is placed inside the uterus by a health care provider. It contains the hormone progesterone, the same hormone produced by a woman's ovaries during the monthly menstrual cycle. The progesterone causes the cervical mucus to thicken so sperm cannot reach the egg, and so that a fertilized egg cannot successfully implant into the lining of the uterus. The Progestasert IUD can stay in your uterus for one year. This IUD is 98% effective at preventing pregnancy. Requires visits with your health care provider to have it inserted and to make sure you are not having any problems. Not all health care providers insert IUDs.

Intrauterine System or IUS (Mirena) - The IUS is a small T-shaped device like the IUD and is placed inside the uterus by a health care provider. It releases a small amount of a hormone each day to keep you from getting pregnant. The IUS stays in your uterus for up to five years. It does not protect against STDs or HIV. The IUS is 99% effective. The Food and Drug Administration approved this method in December 2000. Requires visits with your health care provider to make sure you are not having any problems. Not all health care providers insert the IUS.

 

[pplwatching]

You truely were NOT informed of these risks and you didn't SUE??

I didn't say that I wasn't informed of the risks. I said that if I had read the real life experiences of what happens when an IUD fails, we probably wouldn't have chosen it.

For the record, our ultrasound showed that we were not ectopic. My wife carried the baby for a while and then miscarried. When the IUD was removed we were told that it was still correctly in place. We do not know if our decision to remove the IUD killed our 3rd child, if leaving it in would have killed our 3rd child, or if our 3rd child would have died as an embreyo anyway. When you are ready to carry that kind of responsibility and memory around, then you're ready for an IUD. That's not preaching, it's just a hard lesson that we learned. We were unprepared for what we went through because we never talked about 'what will we do if/when it happens to us'.

My point is simply that knowing the risks and knowing what it's like to be the one in however many percent who gets to deal with it are completely different, and I'll stand by that no matter how many times people quote the failure rate. You can learn from our experience or not as you choose.

 

[dollface007]

HuberKun,
I'm just curious as to where you got the idea that you shouldn't use condoms you buy in Japan. Condoms are the most common form of birth control in Japan (which is highly unusual worldwide, I might add) and it's not like Japan is a 3rd world country. It doesn't seem logical on the surface, but you've obviously researched it more than I have. Of course abortion is much more socially acceptable in Japan than in the U.S., so they might be okay with crappy condoms. Let me know!

 

[Tele2047]

It's just that japanese condoms are sized for um, japanese penises, which traditionally (or at least, stereotypically) are smaller than western penises

 

[HuberKun]

HuberKun,
I'm just curious as to where you got the idea that you shouldn't use condoms you buy in Japan. Condoms are the most common form of birth control in Japan (which is highly unusual worldwide, I might add) and it's not like Japan is a 3rd world country. It doesn't seem logical on the surface, but you've obviously researched it more than I have. Of course abortion is much more socially acceptable in Japan than in the U.S., so they might be okay with crappy condoms. Let me know!

Well, there is that stereotype that westerners have larger penises and from what I have read about personal experience from many of my 'moving to japan' messageboards, the guys always say to bring your own. There is something about the way they fit. Im not convinced that westerners have biggers dicks that asian people (could be a lot of grandstanding about it, ya know?) But I think there is a fitting issue that makes it harder to find ones that fit.

But this is only from what I have been told. And usually from guys so I dont know how much is them trying to pretend they have an enormous foreigner penis. Heh.

 

[Pyro Paul]

Well, there is that stereotype that westerners have larger penises and from what I have read about personal experience from many of my 'moving to japan' messageboards, the guys always say to bring your own. There is something about the way they fit. Im not convinced that westerners have biggers dicks that asian people (could be a lot of grandstanding about it, ya know?) But I think there is a fitting issue that makes it harder to find ones that fit.

But this is only from what I have been told. And usually from guys so I dont know how much is them trying to pretend they have an enormous foreigner penis. Heh.

asian and pacific islanders have smaller penises than if you go east.

comidens oftn make fun of this fact. chineese, big brain, small penis. american/european medum brain, medum penis. afrca small brain big penis.

as odd and degreeding as that is, it is partly true (the penis part) and partly has to do with brains. in Nature, men are bigger in africa in order to compete with large preditors as well as producing larger amounts of testorone inorder to be as agressive as a preditor in primitive hunting. these 2 add size to a penis. as you go west, you become more 'civilized', in other words less exposed to nature. testostrone levels as well as the 'need' for a larger penis diminish slowly, so the size of it also shortens.

is this scientificly proven? no. could this possibly be right? sure, but with out total proof it cant be for sure.

if you dont wanna get pregnate its best to get birth control, im pretty sure that japanise have a steady control of that. if not... im not sure if they still have a military base there, but there used to be a navy/marine base there, and at the PX you could get all forms of contrceptives.... dont ask me how you could get on a military base and or to the PX.

something all the out of country bases are now set up... trying to stive the dispercial of desiease and getting troops out there to use protection.

 

[HuberKun]

Well, it looks like I shall be going to the health department early next week for a physical and a pelvic (probably a pap to be safe too). I would have preferred a women's clinc, but the earliest they had was the day before I leave. Heh...its what I get for waiting until the last minute.

Does anyone know anything about health center birth control? Im not sure how it works, but they dont give out perscriptions so I will eventually have to go through it again in Japan probably. BUT, since I waited so long, looks like thats my option. Im such a dummy.

Anyways...thanks for all teh advice and knowledge! I knew literotica would be a useful fount of information.