Does anyone else get irritated when people refer to The Birth Control Pill as simply "birth control?" When anything that prevents conception is actually "birth control"

Contributor: tami tami
I don't usually talk about birth control but if I do I refer to it as the pill or condoms or whatever type
10/17/2012
Contributor: VanillaFreeSex VanillaFreeSex
guilty. good point though, very true. i'll work on that
10/17/2012
Contributor: sweetpea12 sweetpea12
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
There are more than a dozen forms of well known, well used Birth Control. It irritates the hell out of me when people say, "I can't use birth control." Or "I'm on birth control." And I ask, "What kind are you ... more
I just say the pill
10/19/2012
Contributor: Gluesnffr Gluesnffr
yea it bothers me at times
10/23/2012
Contributor: Gdom Gdom
Context is part of usage. If someone says "I'm on birth control" and contextual clues indicate that they're referring to the pill, then they mean the pill. There's not really a problem with using generic language and allowing context or common practice (in this case, because "birth control" is so frequently used by others to refer to the pill, it's acceptable and, more importantly, predictable usage) to inform the specific meaning.

Of course, if the person genuinely thinks that the pill is the only method of preventing conception, then you have a serious problem in terms of information. But I don't think that's generally the case. Even if they don't think of condoms or IUDs as "birth control" (in their heads, they might just think of condoms as "condoms" and nothing else), they understand their common function all the same and that's good enough.
10/23/2012
Contributor: The Majikat The Majikat
not something ive experienced, but I understand how that could be irritating.
11/06/2012
Contributor: molly molly
I'm ok with shorthand, especially just in casual conversation!
11/19/2012
Contributor: pestilence pestilence
I don't care because it's almost always clear from context when someone's talking about hormonal birth control rather than other methods. "Birth control" as a phrase itself feels more like a polite euphemism than a straightforward descriptive term, so arguing about the strictness of its usage feels pretty silly to me.

Inserting someone's reasoning for their answer to the poll itself is pretty disingenuous. Of course I don't like my language to be unclear and confusing; I simply have reasons for disagreeing with the premise of your argument.
11/22/2012
Contributor: Istanbull Istanbull
Quote:
Originally posted by Aftertherain13
I don't really care how other people phrase it. Makes no difference in my life whatsoever.
Exactly. Who cares? There's far more important things in life to worry about.
11/23/2012
Contributor: Angelica Angelica
It doesn't make that much of a difference. Usually when people say "Im on birth control", in my experience that is synonymous with "I am on some form of hormonal birth control". Its not confusing and misrepresentative. If you want to know more simply ask "What kind?" and hopefully that person knows. The problem isn't this specific terminology but lack of knowledge if the person says they dont know anything about the different kinds or say, what brand/kind they are using.
11/23/2012
Contributor: Eve. Eve.
In casual conversation I can see "birth control" but with a dr?! "The pill" isn't enough when talking to your dr either.
"I can't remember the brand." I don't know what to say to that. You should know any & all meds your taking.
11/23/2012
Contributor: invisiblehat invisiblehat
It irritates me, too. I went to see a doctor for contraception. While the gynecologist didn't assume I wanted the pill, the nurse sure did, and looked surprised when I said I was actually most interested in an IUD.
11/23/2012
Contributor: TexasBrat TexasBrat
Quote:
Originally posted by Basalt
I understand your point however someone can't be "on" condoms, withdrawal, or sterilization. Therefore I assume they mean some sort of prescription chemical birth control, although it doesn't have to be a pill (could be an implant, ... more
Ditto
01/01/2013
Contributor: falalena falalena
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
There are more than a dozen forms of well known, well used Birth Control. It irritates the hell out of me when people say, "I can't use birth control." Or "I'm on birth control." And I ask, "What kind are you ... more
i agree that we should use birth control in a more generalized term, but based on how people talk i think of the pill when i hear "birth control." unfortunately, my dr. doesnt translate it that way and asked me if i used bc. i translated it to "the pill" and said no. needless to say, he freaked out but then i realized what he meant.
01/07/2013
Contributor: bratcat bratcat
When talking about forms of BC i always state that i am on a oral contraceptive/use condoms, but i know a lot of people assume when you say "birth control" they jump right to the conclusion of "oh so you're on the pill," which isnt the case. i do think t's important for younger people to know what all of their BC options are and that many can be used simultaneously.
01/27/2013
Contributor: butts butts
It drives me nuts! Use the proper names! :/
01/27/2013
Contributor: LoooveMonkey LoooveMonkey
Lots of people have no idea what an IUD is. People can be kind of misinformed about birth control methods. e_e
01/27/2013
Contributor: TexasBrat TexasBrat
Quote:
Originally posted by Zombirella
I don't see what the big deal is and why to get all worked up over it? Most people that I know refer to the pill as birth control and will say that, so what? I know what they mean, if I would have to know specifically, I would ask the person to ... more
Ditto. The Pill is the most common form of birth control, therefore that's usually what people mean. I'm not so picky that I'm going to correct them over a really common thing. Now, if they were my lover, and I asked, I'd want specifics (if I were a guy), but most guys think of The Pill as the only form of birth control for women. Overcomplicating it would probably bore them (no offense guys).
It's similar to saying "Can I have a Kleenex please?" Though I'm not a brand-name fanatic, I know that that person isn't asking for specifically a Kleenex, but a tissue. I'm not going to sound like a b*tch or coming across as I'm smarter by being overly anal about "verbage".
Let me add that my mom was an English teacher, and proper speaking has been ground into me, and I make kids ask "May I?" instead of "can I?" But being TOO anal is just plain rude IMHO.
Besides, what if the person you're talking to doesn't want to divulge which type of birth control they're using with you, so they just say "birth control"? So long as it's not your lover or their doctor/hospital, I see no reason to divulge specifics if someone doesn't want too.
01/30/2013
Contributor: TexasBrat TexasBrat
Quote:
Originally posted by TexasBrat
Ditto. The Pill is the most common form of birth control, therefore that's usually what people mean. I'm not so picky that I'm going to correct them over a really common thing. Now, if they were my lover, and I asked, I'd want ... more
I forgot to add that though this doesn't bother me, when you write letters, e-mails, or especially legal documents/forms for school, you should NEVER use "text talk". That to me is plain lazy!!!!
01/30/2013
Contributor: Toy Fiend Toy Fiend
I always say Mirena when discussing my IUD.
01/30/2013