Author Topic: The cost of having a vagina  (Read 23643 times)

Spork

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Re: The cost of having a vagina
« Reply #50 on: September 05, 2013, 08:23:59 AM »
I'd love for my husband to get a vasectomy, but he is still on the fence about having another kid. I'm 100% on the side of NOT having another kid, so I don't think it's fair for me to ask him to get one in the event I'm gone and he finds someone else.

I, on the other hand, am considering getting my tubes tied. 1 and done for me.

For what it's worth: vasectomies are much less invasive and are just such a "not a big deal" thing.   I don't mean to imply having tubes tied is super dangerous, but... vasectomies are just so quick and easy.  Mine was 5 minutes from start to finish -- and that includes hello's, how-do-you-do's, hand washing, etc.  If you can get past the numbing shots (2 of them, obviously) -- you're done.  (And yes, the local anesthetic does hurt for about 1 second.)

smalllife

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Re: The cost of having a vagina
« Reply #51 on: September 05, 2013, 09:09:05 AM »
I'd love for my husband to get a vasectomy, but he is still on the fence about having another kid. I'm 100% on the side of NOT having another kid, so I don't think it's fair for me to ask him to get one in the event I'm gone and he finds someone else.

I, on the other hand, am considering getting my tubes tied. 1 and done for me.

For what it's worth: vasectomies are much less invasive and are just such a "not a big deal" thing.   I don't mean to imply having tubes tied is super dangerous, but... vasectomies are just so quick and easy. 

Spork, the point was that it was unfair to ask a man who is unsure whether he wants more kids to cut off that possibility.  Even though it is vastly easier, cheaper, and less invasive to get a vasectomy than getting your tubes tied (the costs of a vagina . . . surgery is no cost due to new law but you still have a 3-5 day recovery period from the traditional surgery), that is a personal decision and should not be undertaken simply because of a partner's wishes. 

Jamesqf

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Re: The cost of having a vagina
« Reply #52 on: September 05, 2013, 11:49:27 AM »
Should also point out that a man getting a vasectomy does not keep a woman from getting pregnant.  So in the case where the woman is sure she does not want (more) children, but the man is uncertain, it would not seem to be an appropriate choice.

Anatidae V

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Re: The cost of having a vagina
« Reply #53 on: October 08, 2013, 06:08:51 AM »
Oh the joys! From my very first experience of what this area of my body could do - it was HELL. Later I learned there were some nice things that could happen in this area...

My costs (Australia):
Contraceptive Pill: ~$80/3months (control of hormones and contraception, this may be dropped later; if so, switch to condoms, which is price of sex minus babies, not cost of being of the female gender)
Direct-period-costs: I use pads, works out at ~$15/month, thinking of trying some reusable soft cottony ones... only ones I've found to date are from the US. I don't spend anything on pain relief, but I used to use Ponstan, Neurofen, Panadol... whatever I thought was working. Pain decreased as age increased.
Preventive medical (Pelvic and Pap): Got my first one a couple of months ago, slightly later than I should have at 24yo, and got sent to a Physiotherapist. Not sure about cost, but prior to my rebate it was $320.
Misc. medical issues: I guess the physio counts here. Nothing yet due to health insurance, but should be around $50/month, I think, for the next 6 months...
Hair removal: I like mine. I shave my legs about once a week... but I like how they feel. I'd guess $5 per month.

I like my toilet paper papery and recycled. Working on eliminating paper from the kitchen, though.

Norrie

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Re: The cost of having a vagina
« Reply #54 on: October 08, 2013, 08:32:51 AM »
I'm happy to pay for the joys of owning a vagina. Much like my car, it may depreciate in value, but I'm still enjoying the hell out of it while it runs.

Birth control: husband had a vasectomy a year and a half ago. Before that, we charted/pulled out for 12+ years with no unplanned pregnancies.
Pads and tampons:  Will gladly pay for these.
PMS relief:  Two Motrin, a heatable pillow, orange juice, chocolate, and a nap.
Condoms:  None, but these are available for free all over the place. University campuses, HIV projects, etc.
Pubic Hair Removal:  I keep things nice and tidy with a good pair of grooming scissors. I don't know anyone that pays to deal with their public hair. Wait, one girl that I work with had it laser removed, I believe. Aside from that, we all just tidy things ourselves. 
Toilet Paper: Northern Quilted. I'll give up my firstborn child before I give this up.


Zoe

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Re: The cost of having a vagina
« Reply #55 on: October 08, 2013, 10:52:33 AM »
I'm going to wait until I'm 30 (end of this year) to start finding a doc to do my tubal to hopefully avoid all that garbage.

milla

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Re: The cost of having a vagina
« Reply #56 on: October 08, 2013, 02:03:31 PM »
IUD- $10/month ($600 one time fee, lasts 5 years, 10 if you get the copper one but I don't know how much it costs)
Diva Cup - $2/month (buy on Amazon for $25- supposed to last one year but usually lasts longer)
Electric trimmer- $25 at Costco.
Menstrual cramps- never had any.

Am I the only one who thinks 72 condoms a year is not enough?

ace1224

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Re: The cost of having a vagina
« Reply #57 on: October 09, 2013, 07:06:45 AM »
IUD- $10/month ($600 one time fee, lasts 5 years, 10 if you get the copper one but I don't know how much it costs)
Diva Cup - $2/month (buy on Amazon for $25- supposed to last one year but usually lasts longer)
Electric trimmer- $25 at Costco.
Menstrual cramps- never had any.

Am I the only one who thinks 72 condoms a year is not enough?

its not at all lol.

ch12

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Re: The cost of having a vagina
« Reply #58 on: November 02, 2013, 08:35:55 PM »
Pulling out, charting ovulation periods
These are about as safe as driving without a seatbelt.

I think the larger costs have to do with makeup/clothing expectations and salary inequity.

This is what I thought this thread was about when I clicked. I think THIS is a much greater cost for a lot of vagina owners.

+1 - so much.
Birth control:  There are many other methods of bc besides the pill, and that are safer than your body than pumping it full of hormones.  Condom, diaphragm, sponge, pulling out, charting ovulation periods, abstinence, etc.  Each has its own risk level, but they can be combined.

There's a whole discussion about who should buy condoms above which I'm not linking and apparently there's a stigma for girls having them. Girls think that guys will think that they are a "slut." While there's a social cost associated with sluttiness, if a guy who is sleeping with you thinks that of you, you might want to rethink your screening process.

You know what causes more embarrassment for a longer time? A oops baby.

I'm on board with charting and am really careful about that window of time when I'm ovulating. I wouldn't trust a guy to pull out - I guess I'm just too much of a risk averse control freak to leave something like that up to someone else.

Am I the only one who thinks 72 condoms a year is not enough?

its not at all lol.
It looks like I'm not the only one who thinks that abstinence should be taken off the list of viable birth control, though many conservative states tell teenagers that it's the only one.
« Last Edit: November 03, 2013, 05:07:09 AM by ch12 »

rocketman48097

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Re: The cost of having a vagina
« Reply #59 on: November 06, 2013, 03:42:37 PM »
"charting" can work if done correctly but "pulling out" is not a method at all.

Due to pre-siemen, you WILL still get pregnant if you are in your fertile period.  Please do not mention this as a "birth control" method.  Abstinence obviously works. 

frpeebles

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Re: The cost of having a vagina
« Reply #60 on: November 06, 2013, 05:57:50 PM »
If the figures are to be believed the pull out method would seem to be half as effective as a condom while both are far inferior to IUDs or the pill (assuming perfect use). Personally I roll with condom + pull out.

Quote from: Wikipedia
It has been suggested that the pre-ejaculate ("Cowper's fluid") emitted by the penis prior to ejaculation normally contains spermatozoa (sperm cells), which would compromise the effectiveness of the method.[10][11] However, several small studies[12][13][14][15] have failed to find any viable sperm in the fluid.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coitus_interruptus#Effects

cbgg

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Re: The cost of having a vagina
« Reply #61 on: November 06, 2013, 06:10:57 PM »
Birth control:  Assuming you do want a hormonal method, an IUD is ~$300 for 5 years.  For me this was free via my work medical plan.

Pads and tampons:  Progesterone only birth control = no periods.  However, prior I used a Diva cup.  $30 for 5+ years. 

PMS relief:  Progesterone only birth control = no problem.

Condoms:  Marriage works well to cut down this cost.

Medical exams: Covered by provincial medical plan.

Pubic Hair Removal:  ~$300/year which I realize is extremely optional.

Toilet Paper: There is nothing on god's green earth that could get me to stop using toilet paper.  Toilet paper is one the best inventions in the history of mankind.  I say this as an avid camper who often does not have access to toilet paper.  I also say this in hyperbole.  But seriously, I will pay whatever I must to get toilet paper.

So for me the actual out of pocket costs are only for toilet paper and waxing (which is so optional that I don't consider it a cost of ownership).  No complaints here, I'll keep it.
« Last Edit: November 06, 2013, 06:18:09 PM by cbgg »

sunflower_yellow

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Re: The cost of having a vagina
« Reply #62 on: November 06, 2013, 06:36:59 PM »
Toilet Paper: There is nothing on god's green earth that could get me to stop using toilet paper.  Toilet paper is one the best inventions in the history of mankind.  I say this as an avid camper who often does not have access to toilet paper.  I also say this in hyperbole.  But seriously, I will pay whatever I must to get toilet paper.

So for me the actual out of pocket costs are only for toilet paper and waxing (which is so optional that I don't consider it a cost of ownership).  No complaints here, I'll keep it.

So at the risk of becoming known as "that lady who doesn't use toilet paper"...  and of derailing this thread with a comment that applies to all humans, regardless of whether they have a vagina...

Story time.  One time my husband and I were camping and I realized I had forgotten the TP.  He used leaves, but I had remembered hearing that somewhere in the world, people used water to clean themselves.  I gave it a try.  And you know what?  It really wasn't too bad!

Fast forward a few months, and we're on an extended trip in Southeast and South Asia.  It's like a bajillion degrees there, I'm sweating like crazy, if I wipe with paper it's just going to fall apart because there is sweat literally dripping down my legs and abdomen.  Wiping with TP would just feel so... unsanitary.  Like I'm just mushing up feces and urine and sweat.  So I gave the water thing a try.  First time it splashed all over, I had no idea how to clean myself.  Second time it started making sense.  And then it just became normal (I was there for ~4ish months).

I now live in the USA, and while I use TP at work and at my friends' houses... I don't use it at home.  Just a large cup of water and a small hand towel to blot dry any spills, then washing my hands well with soap every time I use the bathroom.  Without going into too much detail and grossing y'all out - what you feel about NOT using TP is what I feel about using it.  It's SO unsanitary - you're basically smearing feces all over your rear end!!  I feel significantly fresher and cleaner when I am actually cleaning myself off down there.  The skin down there feels healthier, too (I notice a difference if I'm traveling and use TP for an extended period of time).

I don't do this for frugality reasons - strictly hygiene, and also personal preference.  But it does have the added benefit that we buy a 12-pack of toilet paper maybe twice a year, and most of that gets used when we host guests at our place.

P.S. I'll give a +1 for ladies using a pee rag in the backcountry.

FrugalInTheBigSky

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Re: The cost of having a vagina
« Reply #63 on: November 07, 2013, 06:36:41 PM »
"I'm surprised that some guy hasn't already said he'd be happy to share vagina operating costs in exchange for using it. Or did I just say it?"

This reply cracked me up. I needed a good laugh out loud after a long day at work...
I am pleased to report removing BC from my budget and the bother of going to the pharmacy 12x a year, the doctor, etc. My partner's vasectomy last Dec was a great Xmas gift...

suzanneseale

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Re: The cost of having a vagina
« Reply #64 on: November 17, 2013, 09:01:16 PM »
I am 53, single, no kids. I discovered the devices called divacup and now a variety of others. Cost? I got the free sample disposable ones that seem to last forever and never need to be disposed. $5 per 3 years. Still use mini pads with the divacup because there are accidents for about $12/year.

Toilet paper? After traveling in southeast asia and japan and now see more people walking or biking, I feel we here in the US will start to realize there are other methods besides massive use of toilet paper. So I made a bidet out of garden spray parts that cost $5.

Birth control? Diaphram is the cheapest. Buy it once, it's like a Divacup, add spermacide and you only pay when you use it. Cost $12/year.

I used to go for Mammograms but since I was fine and then dropped my health insurance and only pay the penalty, the cost is $200/yr for all healthcare except dental.

Shaved legs? Though I don't shave as often as I used to when I was younger, I do have to buy razor blades. $6/year.

Bras? Yes, one ever 2 years at $30/bra. Other clothes are necessary in a way though. Like fitting in. The shoes, some fashionable things. $400/yr.

So, though it hasn't always been this way, I now spend almost no money on being a woman.



Bikes in a dress

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Re: The cost of having a vagina
« Reply #65 on: November 17, 2013, 09:39:37 PM »
I just wanted to point out that condoms are far more effective than many people think.  With "typical use," they are 85% effective.  With "perfect use," they are 98% effective.  http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/416#references

They are really not that difficult to use.  "Some of the most frequent mistakes include putting a condom on partway through intercourse or taking it off before intercourse is over, failing to leave space at the tip of the condom for semen, and failing to look for damage before use."  http://www.livescience.com/18660-common-condom-mistakes.html

Maybe these things are difficult if it's the first few times the couple is having sex.  But really, people who analyze their monthly expenses with a razor-tooth comb should be able to put on a condom properly.

Personally, hormonal birth control made me completely disinterested in sex, and charting doesn't work because I'm most interested when I'm ovulating.  And my uterus is too small for an IUD.  So condoms have been our main option, and they've worked well.  They cost $6.50 for 12 name-brand Trojan condoms on Amazon Subscribe and Save. 

Before we were married, we split the cost of any birth control we used 50/50, including my pills.  Now we just pay out of our joint account.