A provider I met recently told me something that kind of surprised and shocked me.  

I don't think it's far fetched, however I would imagine that they use different types of protection.  Like sponges and condoms or different combos but I think the main is condoms.

The last time I got on the pill, I gained about 20lbs and my libido decreased drastically.  

I made the decision long ago to not have children. I actually am hoping to have them snipped, seared, and burned lol.  

The pill, the Nuvaring, etc. can and do mess with women's libido and body function. I had a girlfriend once who was on the pill... she could not get wet at all. She finally went off it and it took like 2 months to return to normal. Another ex went on the Nuvaring and it basically eliminated any desire she had to have sex

I have the copper IUD too....I don't like it either but I feel better knowing i have a long term reliable BC.

Well said.

That's one good thing about us old guys - we are probably mostly shooting blanks.

Why do you say that?  My cousin's husband is 63 and they just had a baby (she's 44).  I think men are fertile their entire lives.

In all of the years I've worked and appointments I've taken I only had a condom break once. In my personal life that junk gets wrapped up.  I don't want or even want the chance of kids right now. That 2% is most likely people not properly using them. Women here are pros we know how to use them, right side, pull high enough up on the shaft, enough room at the end and a good amount of lube. Do you know women really only have a two day window per month that they ovulate? Most women are familiar with their ovulation because they are either trying to get pregnant or not so if your on ovulation day take a day off .  
My being on or not on the pill only effects clients if they are looking to get away with full BB service. STD can still be transmitted skin to skin from pubic areas or mouth, I'm amazed at how many men don't seem to know this .

Those 2% are people who don't know how to properly use them . There is a correct way to put on, ample amount of space , and lube!

I haven't read the other replies through, but I'll add my two cents in as a provider and as a health care worker. It is really going to be a different decision for each woman. For some women 'the pill' simply isn't a good fit. It either makes them ill or gain weight, or loose their libido, or like myself, they may be high risk for breast cancer, and estrogen based birth control increases that risk. Fortunately there are lots of options out there now.  

If you don't like the copper one, you may want to try the Mirena. It's a progesterone based hormone IUD, that is good for five years. I love mine! I no longer have periods at all, and don't have to worry about the side effects of estrogen based contraceptives. Not everyone looses their menstrual cycle, but most women do, and I don't miss mine at all If you have any questions, don't hesitate to PM me. I am a healthcare worker and a provider, so I have a unique view on things, and am happy to help where I can. xo

Ob-gyn suggested her son might want to take up swimming. Some pretty determined swimmers in his gene pool. Even though I have been fixed and wear a condom, I always wonder when I send quality time with her at lifestyle parties.
 

Never had a scare or anything. As women we must protect ourself and I believe birth control is bad for women. If a mistake happen with the pill will just pop a plan b you can take one up to three day after your accident. Use condoms promise they are very safe for stds and pregnancy.

Just wondering why you would go through potentially needing to take a plan b? That's not good for you either and has very high doses of hormones.the copper IUD has no hormones and you still continue to have your cycle there fore its natural and 98% effective.... IMO that seems much safer...just using condom is asking to get pregnant...

Just to clarify - my question was not just about the pill, but do the ladies use a secondary form of protection (an IUD for example).  

Over time, the copper effects the hormones as well. It has also caused a lot of people serious weight gain. I think I'm past that point, as it's been 3 years, so the weight is finally melting off.  

I've still still have no issues to anything. I've been on some kind of contraception since I became sexually active at about 14.5 (pushing 26 now) and i've experience no crazy side effects and I'm happy to still be baby-free as well.  
I would like to think there's a contraception out there for just about everyone .... taken as prescribed and with proper & regular use of condoms the chances of failure are extremely small. The vast majority of the friends of mine who did get pregnant failed to take their bc properly and/or failed to use condoms around that time.

....really hard to get in my area if you've had no children yet.  
I'm really sure I don't want kids but maybe docs hope i'll change my mind.  
Progestin-only pills (for the most part) or Depo shot and proper use of condoms have been great at keeping me child-free for 11+ yrs (might take another 11 before they let me get the procedure).

Exactly!

Mirena plus condoms. Baby free......

Condom use and the pull-out/rhythm method are basically the same when it comes to pregnancy, according to a few different studies that have been done over the years. With typical use (note that "perfect use" produces entirely different numbers) over a period of 10 years, 86 out of 100 women will experience an unwanted/accidental pregnancy with using condoms only. The pull-out method renders 92 out of those 100 women pregnant in that same 10-year period*.

Good analysis

I also only rely on condoms because aside from going in for a hysterectomy which I have heard KILLS a woman's sex drive completely, I don't qualify to take anything else.

A man's sperm is still just as able to cause pregnancy up till the day they die.  However what does happen is that their swimmers can become less and less mobile as they grow older, usually having to do with many unhealthy habits they have throughout their lives.  So there you go

My secondary if there were a break would be plan B however I have not had any issues to where I would need it.  I just can't take anything else.  So I try to be as preemtive as possible.  Oh and NO no one gets in there without a baggie....  Even in my personal, I have no need for any of that

thanks for the heads up.

they reduce libido.  I had this issue when I was younger, and its a well-documented side-effect.

Who got pregnant by a client and a broken condom. She neglected to get the morning after pill and ended up keeping the baby. She wanted to tell the client, I urged her not to, she never did, and life goes on. I think as providers, it's our responsibility to make sure shit like this doesn't happen. The "it takes two" doesn't apply in this situation. The man does not know you personally, he's paying you for a service, one that he's confident that shit like this doesn't happen.  

Some women are super-fertile, and get pregnant just buying a jar of pickles. Others, not so much. For some women, an emergency contraceptive for the rare condom slip/break is preferable to daily exposure to hormonal medication.  

I prefer to use a combination of birth control such as the sponge and a condom.  When I was on the pill it definitely affected my sex drive in a negative way.