If you still need proof that the war on contraception in Washington is officially out of control, you may not have heard Rick Santorum's Republican backer Foster Freiss talking about his take on birth control. He told MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell: "You know, back in my days, they used Bayer Aspirin for contraception. The gals put it between their knees, and it wasn’t that costly." Jaw-dropping ... to say the least.
Freiss has since apologized, remarking that not even his wife was happy with the remark, but the damage has been done. The completely out-to-lunch comment typified the right's blase, dismissive attitude toward birth control. It's enough to make you wonder: What other pre-1960 birth control old wives' tales "methods" would they prefer women use? A few ideas ...
- Pass gas, pass on pregnancy! Believe it or not, for years, rumor had it that if you went to the bathroom immediately after sex and passed gas or went #2, you wouldn't have to worry about your man's semen making it to the end zone. Rrrright.
- Urinating right after sex. The thought that urination prevents pregnancy has withstood the test of time, but it's a major myth!
- Have sex in the bath/pool/lake. Contrary to popular (teen) belief, doing it underwater won't inhibit sperm from journeying to the fallopian tubes!
- Douche with soda. Ouch! If anything, squirting high fructose corn syrup or aspartame up there just sounds like a recipe for a terrible infection. And even regular douches are of no help, as after ejaculation, the sperm enter the cervix and are out of reach of any douching solution.
- Have sex during your period. As all teens should be told in their basic sex ed courses, you can start ovulating by the end of your period if you have a short cycle. Plus, sperm can survive up to five or six days after sex, so ... getting it on while surfing the crimson wave has never been an insurance that you won't conceive.
- Jump up and down after sex. This may help you burn some extra calories, but it won't work as birth control.
- Practicing the Birth Control Kama Sutra. Sorry, but while having sex in the standing up or "woman on top" positions may be fun, it's no safeguard for fertilization!
- Avoid climax, avoid conception. This one seems like the cruelest of all old wives' tales ... created by some selfish guy! 1. Who in their right mind would want to have sex only to pass on having an orgasm? 2. A basic biology lesson is all you need to know that this is a kooky lie.
Clearly, we need better access to real contraception, so that we never ever return to a time when women were encourage to buy into myths like the above or Freiss's "aspirin trick."
What's the craziest old wives' tale to prevent pregnancy you've ever heard?
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Comments 14
Some of these are hilarious. And its sad that people believe it to be true.
Maybe I'm just under sensitive about the whole thing (I do lean right after all), but I didn't take Mr. Friess's comment to be as much of an "offensive example of how the Right view birth control" then it was an old stick in the mud telling girls to keep their legs shut. I don't know if he is actually old, but it does sound like something my 83 year old grandmother would say. Actually, I have heard her say something similar, and she has voted religiously for democrats all of her life.
The list of old wives tales are pretty funny, though. And a little scary. After all, I remember when I was really young - maybe just started my period or a little afterward - I actually wondered about some of these. All it took was a basic understanding of how the body works to figure out the validity of these.
Because Heaven forbid a woman *not* have sex on the couple of days that she's fertile if she doesn't want to get pregnant. Or... Heaven forbid she actually buy the contraceptives herself.
Oh, and you forgot one... the "other side" of #8 - if HE doesn't climax, you're safe. Nope, not in all cases.
You said, "Clearly, we need better access to real contraception, so that we never ever return to a time when women were encourage to buy into myths like the above or Freiss's "aspirin trick."
They sell condoms on every street corner. I think thats pretty easy access.
Kevin, condoms are great- if you can get the guy to wear one! Women SHOULD NOT have to rely on men for contraception. Obviously condoms should be used for STD prevention, but at the very least, a woman should have the right to protect herself from the lifetime consequences of unwanted pregnancy. Hate to say it, but you're a guy, and haven't thought that comment through.
Ponychaser- The point is that many women can't afford the contraceptives. And most methods to tell when you're fertile are pretty fallible, whether that's due to poor math skills or the fact that our bodies are biological not mechanical doesn't change the fact that the rhythm method is responsible for almost as many pregnancies as pulling out...really I think that one should be included on the wives tale list above!
Kevin- Condoms break, slip off, tear, spill when a man pulls out etc...two forms of contraceptive is really the best way to go. And, while I've never had this problem, there are plenty of women who can't tell that the guy isn't wearing one. Some selfish pricks will tell a woman they're wearing one when they aren't because they don't like how it feels. A woman should be able to make the decision for herself and not depend on the guy. Next time try thinking of yourself as the one stuck with a kid for forever because of someone elses mistake/lie instead of the one that can get of scott free if the lady doesn't take have the means to take him to court BEFORE you comment on the level of control a woman should have.
As to condoms, if a woman cannot trust her partner to leave it on, she should not have sex at that point in the relationship.
But the issue is not contraception. The issue is compelling institutions that find any form other than abstinence immoral to provide the service that provides it.
The message is that if you are not going to keep your legs closed, providing contraception is your responsibilty. Not someone elses.