“Oh baby, I know we’re 3 months into TEOTWAWKI, and we have tons of stuff to do, wood to chop, a garden to weed, animal traps to set and clothes to mend, but seriously, baby - I need a little action.”
“Keep it in your pants, honey. There’s no birth control available, no doctor on call, and no hospital that’s staffed. So . . . no.”
“But Baaaaby!”
File this one under the “too much information” (TMI) category.
This is no laughing matter. WTSHTF, medical care in developed countries will quickly resemble care in third world countries - at the very best - likely worse.
Women never used to have a higher life expectancy than men until advances in medical care reduced the rate at which women die during child birth. Today’s statistics are that 1 in 1,800 women in developed countries will die from pregnancy/pregnancy-related reasons; 1 in 48 in third world countries.
The most common direct causes of maternal death are severe bleeding (25%), infection (15%), unsafe abortion (13%), eclampsia (pregnancy induced hypertension often accompanied by seizures, 12%) and obstructed labor (8%). Source: http://www.deathreference.com/Me-Nu/Mortality-Childbirth.html
This is serious business if a woman becomes pregnant in the post-apocalyptic world. How should you prevent unwanted pregnancy when over-the-counter birth control is not available?
Note: Ranger Man is NOT a doctor. Consult with your physician if you plan to employ any of these birth control methods.
Abstinence - This is a no-brainer. It’s 100% effective with no complications. There are other ways you and your partner can . . . well . . . you figure it out.
Standard Days Method - This method is fairly straightforward. The woman monitors her menstrual cycle in order to track days 8-19 when the woman is most fertile. Between days 1 and 7, it’s quite unlikely that a woman can become pregnant. During days 20-32 it’s also unlikely that a woman will become pregnant. This method is best used when the woman has a regular cycle that’s between 26 and 32 days. When this method is employed regularly and consistently, it’s been stated to have 95% effectiveness.
Rhythm Method - This was one of the first fertility methods widely practiced. I’m not covering it here, though. It’s too unreliable and post-TEOTWAWKI, you’ll want something reliable.
Basal Body Temperature Method - This method requires the woman to take her temperature every day first thing in the morning before she gets out of bed. When she ovulates, her temperature will increase anywhere from half a degree to a full degree and will remain elevated. When a sustained increase in temperature lasts for at least three days, ovulation is taking place. There is a 24-hour window during which time the egg can be fertilized, but sperm can survive inside a woman for up to seven days. This method, when used consistently and correctly, can be very effective. It requires a special thermometer, however.
Source: http://www.epigee.org/
For Ranger Man - and this is where the TMI comes in - this will no longer be an issue after today. Today is my personal Doomsday. Yes, yes, today I get the ole *snip* *snip*, the ole “Big V”, the ole “fire blanks”. Wish me luck. I’m going under the knife.
- Ranger Man
Don’t be caught unprepared WTSHTF! Gear up at Nitro now, because when you need it - it won’t be there.
12 responses so far ↓
1 GeologyJoe // Dec 20, 2007 at 8:55 am
You forget ‘withdrawal’, which i suppose falls under rhythm.
2 Sena // Dec 20, 2007 at 9:47 am
There are also several herbal ‘menstral regulators’ that can be used early in pregnancy. They need to be dosed with care and some have harsh and/or dangerous side-effects. Not good to employ without training as an herbalist, or under the guidance of one — but one ,amongst many reasons, to include natural/herbal medicine in your survival skill set.
3 Chris // Dec 20, 2007 at 10:23 am
An IUD would work or possibly a cervical cap or diaphragm.
Intra-Uterine Contraceptive Device - for birth control, inserted into the uterus by a gynecologist and is made of plastic and metal (usually copper). It prevents the fertilized female egg from settling in the uterine wall. The most common IUDs are Copper T and Lippes Loop.
If the IUD is inserted before the SHTF everything would be fine. A diaphragm or cervical cap could be used whenever.
I worked for Planned Parenthood for about 7 years so I pickup on some of this.
4 Half Elf // Dec 20, 2007 at 4:07 pm
I got snipped 11yrs ago, and everything still works great, but no worries. I already have 4 hooligans, and do not need anymore, nor could the world stand the carbon footprint of my tribe being any larger.
5 Commander Zero // Dec 20, 2007 at 8:44 pm
Oral sex works pretty reliably too.
6 Dick // Dec 21, 2007 at 1:14 am
“Oral sex works pretty reliably too.”
Ya that will be real wonderful when you have limited washing.
7 dccdmom // Dec 21, 2007 at 2:40 am
“Taking Charge of your Fertility” is a great book on natural family planning. I’d also recommend looking up unassisted childbirth in case of an Oops.
8 ryan // Dec 21, 2007 at 3:48 am
I have a friend who is a doctor and once meantioned that 9 months after a big 5 day power outage in Albiquerqe NW the birth rate went through the roof. No tv equals more old fashioned forms of amusement. In a grid down situation there will be none of the various electronic enterntainment devices many of us use to veg after work.
In the northern Hemisphere in the winter there is 12 or 13 hours of darkness a day. Fuel will minimal and there will not be alot of other stuff to do. This is a topic which is inherantly practicle if slightly in the TMI area. If men and women are in the same place the odds are someone is going to want/need some sort of attention. Having a few extra boxes of condoms is a short term situation. For a longer one cervical caps would be very useful for vaginal sex. I think either planning for a long term sustainable method of birth control or serious medical training in traditional birthing methods would be prudent.
9 fallout11 // Dec 21, 2007 at 8:51 am
+1 for getting snipped prior to SHTF. Had mine done about 3 years ago, no regrets.
Frozen peas help.
10 Mike in MN // Dec 22, 2007 at 9:03 pm
Quite informative.
One practice that doesn’t seem to be a good idea is anal sex, since that seems to be the African method having sex without worrying about babies, and seems tied to the AIDS epidemic there.
An episode of Wild West Tech on Brothal Tech on History Channel had one diary by a working girl say she used a silver coin as an improvised IUD. They didn’t say if she ever got pregnant while using it, and I’m certain a foreign body such as a coin could lead to a vaginal infection, so it’s an idea that I wouldn’t try without much more research.
11 Dragon // Feb 9, 2008 at 1:42 am
Native Americans did it 2 ways.
1.the woman put sand in her crotch to discourage attention. if you dont believe it,find a translation for Oglala.
2. Honey. doubles as a lubricant and a sperm trap. It also has therapeutic properties.
Honey also makes a damn fine wound dressing.
12 TEOTWAWKI Penis - to Snip or Not to Snip // Jul 26, 2008 at 5:02 am
[…] Lastly, on a somewhat related note, you can also read my past post on birth control in the post-apocalyptic world. […]
Leave a Comment