I’ve been taking low-dose birth control pills to relieve menstrual pain since before I started papa-katsu, but my papa told me, “A pill is a pill, right? It’s contraceptive, isn’t it? You’ll be fine without protection.”

I’m Fuu, a column writer. Going without a condom feels so good that some men lose all reason and will try to do it that way, whether it’s papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan) or not. From now on, don’t tell men that you’re on the pill—just insist that they use a condom every time. Of course, don’t forget that some men are rational enough to use condoms from the start because they don’t want to catch anything.

Speaking from a woman’s perspective: First of all, it’s unreasonable to expect men to fully understand the purpose and effects of the pill. It’s wrong to demand that of them. That said, why did you tell him you were taking the pill? He probably misunderstood it as you saying that it was okay to have sex without protection. Also, you asked people for their opinions, so those last two lines were unnecessary. Even when you’re saying the same thing, there’s a way to phrase it politely. Marika

Maezawa from the CEO’s office here as well. > “This medication isn’t being prescribed for contraceptive purposes, so please make sure you use proper contraception.” I looked it up and found that even low-dose pills covered by insurance are said to have contraceptive effects. There are broadly two types of low-dose pills: OC and LEP. Both are made with the female hormones estrogen and progesterone, and apparently there isn’t a major difference in their ingredients or dosage. If anything, LEP—the type covered by insurance—contains less estrogen, but it’s still considered to be about as effective as OC for contraception. OC may be called low-dose pills, oral contraceptives, or birth-control pills. They’re pills intended for contraception and aren’t covered by insurance. LEP may be called ultra-low-dose pills or medication for menstrual disorders. They’re covered by insurance when used to prevent or treat conditions such as dysmenorrhea or endometriosis. It’s possible that the doctor is prescribing the insurance-covered low-dose pill, LEP, which may explain the comment. Since LEP isn’t prescribed specifically for contraception, the doctor may be saying that OC would be preferable if that’s the purpose. That said, I also found that when someone takes a low-dose pill for dysmenorrhea or a similar condition, it’s reasonable to consider it as providing contraceptive protection as well.

This is Nana Ayase ♡ You probably won’t get pregnant, but you can still catch an STI. The man just wants to have sex without a condom. And since he does that with everyone, he may have an STI.

I’m Kazu, a male member. I understood that when taken correctly, low-dose birth control pills are more effective at preventing pregnancy than condoms. I even Googled it just to be sure, and that’s what the explanations say. The fact that a woman is taking the pill may be a basis for her saying she’s okay with having sex without a condom. But I don’t think a man can use “She’s on the pill, so it should be okay to go without a condom” as his justification. I believe the medication’s effectiveness and the nature of the relationship are separate matters.