Seeking guidance on tricky slipped condom issues.
October 20, 2013 1:11 PM Subscribe
Is this a job for the morning after pill? Details inside.
My boyfriend and I had a slipped condom incident yesterday. He didn't finish in me; he seemed to notice it had slipped soon after the fact, and we were able to pull it out of me. I'm wondering, though, whether I should still take the morning after pill.
Facts: he hadn't come before the incident, so anything that got into me was likely just pre-cum. However, I'm at my most fertile right now. We spent some time looking at the internet, trying to decide if this was a significant risk. He was of the mind that the costs of taking the morning after pill outweighed the benefits in this case, and I felt the same way. But I have lingering fears. I don't want us to have to deal with an unplanned pregnancy right now. If I weren't at peak fertility right at this moment I wouldn't be so worried.
I've never had to deal with this sort of situation before and really appreciate any guidance you can give me, MeFites. Thank you.
My boyfriend and I had a slipped condom incident yesterday. He didn't finish in me; he seemed to notice it had slipped soon after the fact, and we were able to pull it out of me. I'm wondering, though, whether I should still take the morning after pill.
Facts: he hadn't come before the incident, so anything that got into me was likely just pre-cum. However, I'm at my most fertile right now. We spent some time looking at the internet, trying to decide if this was a significant risk. He was of the mind that the costs of taking the morning after pill outweighed the benefits in this case, and I felt the same way. But I have lingering fears. I don't want us to have to deal with an unplanned pregnancy right now. If I weren't at peak fertility right at this moment I wouldn't be so worried.
I've never had to deal with this sort of situation before and really appreciate any guidance you can give me, MeFites. Thank you.
Seconding the above. If you have to ask, it's worth the Plan B, and the sooner the better.
Now available without a prescription!
posted by ivan ivanych samovar at 1:18 PM on October 20, 2013 [3 favorites]
Now available without a prescription!
posted by ivan ivanych samovar at 1:18 PM on October 20, 2013 [3 favorites]
By "costs," do you mean the monetary cost of the pill, or potential health risks? Because emergency contraception is super-duper safe. There are a lot of misconceptions (heh) surrounding it, none of which have any factual basis. And it is absolutely not an abortion pill - if you're already pregnant by some chance, it won't do anything.
Some women get nausea, but that's about it as far as side effects go. I had zero side effects.
Go ahead and get it. You have nothing to fear from taking EC.
posted by Metroid Baby at 1:19 PM on October 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
Some women get nausea, but that's about it as far as side effects go. I had zero side effects.
Go ahead and get it. You have nothing to fear from taking EC.
posted by Metroid Baby at 1:19 PM on October 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
I really don't think you have to worry, since he didn't ejaculate. But. I personally would take the morning-after pill, just to save myself from being anxious and obsessing about it for the next two weeks. Given that you're worried enough to post a question about it, I think you should do the same.
posted by leitmotif at 1:21 PM on October 20, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by leitmotif at 1:21 PM on October 20, 2013 [3 favorites]
I agree with leimotif, I've taken it twice, in similar circumstances.It gives me craaaazy mood swings, but a few days of crazy was way easier than dealing with the alternative. I'd take it if you're worried, and keep in mind that there can be side effects... he needs to be ready to be patient, buy crackers and ginger ale, draw you a bath, etc.
I also had late periods with PlanB, but that also could have been stress.
posted by jrobin276 at 1:29 PM on October 20, 2013 [2 favorites]
I also had late periods with PlanB, but that also could have been stress.
posted by jrobin276 at 1:29 PM on October 20, 2013 [2 favorites]
I would take the pill, just because the potential costs of an unwanted pregnancy are much higher than the costs of taking the pill. Especially because you are at peak fertility right now.
posted by barnoley at 1:29 PM on October 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by barnoley at 1:29 PM on October 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
I would take the morning after pill.
I'm not sure what the "costs" of it are that you are thinking of, but $30 and some nausea are worth my peace of mind.
posted by inertia at 1:37 PM on October 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm not sure what the "costs" of it are that you are thinking of, but $30 and some nausea are worth my peace of mind.
posted by inertia at 1:37 PM on October 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
I took Plan B in just such a situation, at twice the current cost and significantly more of a pain in the ass to get ahold of back in the day. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. It was so worth it not to spend the following couple of weeks worrying, then buying a pregnancy test just to be sure, etc.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 1:45 PM on October 20, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 1:45 PM on October 20, 2013 [3 favorites]
Take it.
I'm someone who has a pretty sensitive system (especially with regard to nausea/etc.) and the times I've taken it, I had no side effects I noticed (maybe some stomachache-ish stuff but that honestly could've just been stress). There's really not a good reason to not take it.
posted by darksong at 1:57 PM on October 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm someone who has a pretty sensitive system (especially with regard to nausea/etc.) and the times I've taken it, I had no side effects I noticed (maybe some stomachache-ish stuff but that honestly could've just been stress). There's really not a good reason to not take it.
posted by darksong at 1:57 PM on October 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
nthing, same situation, took pill, NOTHING happened except a normal period.
posted by skbw at 1:58 PM on October 20, 2013
posted by skbw at 1:58 PM on October 20, 2013
He was of the mind that the costs of taking the morning after pill outweighed the benefits in this case
Plan B is $30. An abortion averages $450. Giving birth to a child costs $18,000. Raising a child costs $241,080. The math on this is really, really, really easy.
posted by DarlingBri at 1:59 PM on October 20, 2013 [16 favorites]
Plan B is $30. An abortion averages $450. Giving birth to a child costs $18,000. Raising a child costs $241,080. The math on this is really, really, really easy.
posted by DarlingBri at 1:59 PM on October 20, 2013 [16 favorites]
It's ultimately your call.
The risks are so slight and the benefits are so much. This is exactly why the Plan B pill exists.
posted by RainyJay at 2:19 PM on October 20, 2013
The risks are so slight and the benefits are so much. This is exactly why the Plan B pill exists.
posted by RainyJay at 2:19 PM on October 20, 2013
Some women get nausea, but that's about it as far as side effects go. I had zero side effects.
I had awful side effects. I'm very sensitive to HBC. If you have the same effects from HBC, Plan B could possibly make you sick and depressed for a week.
But possibly not. It's up to you.
posted by discopolo at 2:20 PM on October 20, 2013
I had awful side effects. I'm very sensitive to HBC. If you have the same effects from HBC, Plan B could possibly make you sick and depressed for a week.
But possibly not. It's up to you.
posted by discopolo at 2:20 PM on October 20, 2013
(Also, call Planned Parenthood for guidance instead or talk to a pharmacist. People who aren't pharmacists give out anecdotal data like it's hard data, and pharmacists are more knowledgeable about the likelihood of side effects for your particular case.)
posted by discopolo at 2:23 PM on October 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by discopolo at 2:23 PM on October 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
In your mind, are you trading off the minor inconvenience of Plan B vs. the major inconvenience of possibly having an abortion in a few weeks? Or are you trading off the minor inconvenience of Plan B vs. the life-altering massively huge decision to raise a child?
If it's the former, well, there's an argument to be made for the math on that one, but there's still a fairly solid non-zero chance of pregnancy here. If it's the latter, there's really no question at all that if you can't afford $30 a bit of minor inconvenience you are so far from being in any kind of position to have a baby come into your life that to risk it is beyond irresponsible.
posted by jacquilynne at 2:24 PM on October 20, 2013
If it's the former, well, there's an argument to be made for the math on that one, but there's still a fairly solid non-zero chance of pregnancy here. If it's the latter, there's really no question at all that if you can't afford $30 a bit of minor inconvenience you are so far from being in any kind of position to have a baby come into your life that to risk it is beyond irresponsible.
posted by jacquilynne at 2:24 PM on October 20, 2013
Giving birth to a child costs $18,000.
This is a conservative figure. It easily could be much more, from my personal experience.
nthing take the pill. Worth every penny.
posted by furnace.heart at 2:25 PM on October 20, 2013
This is a conservative figure. It easily could be much more, from my personal experience.
nthing take the pill. Worth every penny.
posted by furnace.heart at 2:25 PM on October 20, 2013
Take the pill. This is one of the situations that this pill was developed for.
posted by sm1tten at 2:38 PM on October 20, 2013
posted by sm1tten at 2:38 PM on October 20, 2013
I spent 45 dollars on diapers this week because my 2 year old dumped the existing case into a full bathtub. So right there I'm in the red.
Seriously though, the potential sickness is the only viable cost worth worrying about, and something to consider if you're very intolerant of Hormonal Birth Control. But this situation is what plan-b was made for, it is precisely why it is so named.
posted by French Fry at 2:44 PM on October 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
Seriously though, the potential sickness is the only viable cost worth worrying about, and something to consider if you're very intolerant of Hormonal Birth Control. But this situation is what plan-b was made for, it is precisely why it is so named.
posted by French Fry at 2:44 PM on October 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
You know what the answer to your question is - if you don't want to have a baby then you go and get an inexpensive pill with potentially mild side effects to cover your bases.
But if there's some part of you that maybe wants to have a baby and there's some part of him that maybe wants to have a baby and you're both not sure where you're at in your relationship with one another...well, then it becomes a question on the green.
It is highly unlikely that you would be pregnant, but both of your behaviour seems to suggest to me that you're indirectly telling each other that you're at least considering it on some level as an option that you would go ahead with.
posted by heyjude at 2:44 PM on October 20, 2013
But if there's some part of you that maybe wants to have a baby and there's some part of him that maybe wants to have a baby and you're both not sure where you're at in your relationship with one another...well, then it becomes a question on the green.
It is highly unlikely that you would be pregnant, but both of your behaviour seems to suggest to me that you're indirectly telling each other that you're at least considering it on some level as an option that you would go ahead with.
posted by heyjude at 2:44 PM on October 20, 2013
Oh my. Yes, take it. I work in the reproductive health field, and would recommend you take EC asap.
posted by Stewriffic at 3:21 PM on October 20, 2013
posted by Stewriffic at 3:21 PM on October 20, 2013
If you've ever considered having an IUD fitted, remember that the hormonal IUD can be used as emergency contraception. If you have one fitted now, you will prevent pregnancy and also safeguard yourself against other accidents.
posted by Acheman at 3:48 PM on October 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Acheman at 3:48 PM on October 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
Congratulations, you're pregnant! Now... How did that make you feel? If you're excited, forget about Plan B. If I just gave you a heart attack (sorry about that) go get the pill pronto, because if it was your peak fertility time, yes it is a significant risk. I have my 3 month old daughter in my lap as (much loved but ahead of schedule) proof.
posted by Jubey at 3:50 PM on October 20, 2013
posted by Jubey at 3:50 PM on October 20, 2013
Take it ASAP, the sooner you do, the more effective it is.
posted by deinemutti at 4:22 PM on October 20, 2013
posted by deinemutti at 4:22 PM on October 20, 2013
For what it's worth, not everyone has bad Plan B side effects. I've taken it twice, once at 18 and once a decade later, and to only an hour of mild nausea and a slightly earlier period the following week. It's so easy to get ahold of, so much simpler than being pregnant and having to make decisions about your future from that position (rather than now--while you're only worrying about pregnancy rather than actually pregnant) that you should do it for that reason alone. It's absolutely more effective the sooner taken; go to the pharmacy now if you can.
posted by tapir-whorf at 4:24 PM on October 20, 2013
posted by tapir-whorf at 4:24 PM on October 20, 2013
I'd say the peace of mind alone is worth the $30 and possible few days of hormonal imbalance/spotting.
posted by likeatoaster at 8:19 AM on October 21, 2013
posted by likeatoaster at 8:19 AM on October 21, 2013
My son (a planned pregnancy) was conceived in an encounter where my husband did not actually, er, finish inside of me. So, the chances of this ending in a pregnancy is absolutely not zero. Taking the pill now is much easier than terminating a pregnancy later on.
posted by anastasiav at 8:49 AM on October 21, 2013
posted by anastasiav at 8:49 AM on October 21, 2013
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The cost of the morning after pill is $30 and maybe some stomach cramps. The benefit is not dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. I'd take it in a heartbeat.
posted by donajo at 1:15 PM on October 20, 2013 [24 favorites]