1) Anya Alvarez, a 23-year-old woman, discovered during a hookup that her potential new boyfriend Eric had secretly removed her NuvaRing birth control and taken off his condom without her consent during sex. 2) She felt shocked, humiliated, and violated by Eric's actions. While she tested negative for STDs, she realized Eric had put her health at risk without her knowledge or permission. 3) After sharing her story online, Anya received messages from many other women who had experienced their partners secretly removing or sabotaging birth control during sex as well. She began advocating for legislation making birth control sabotage illegal.

1. had happened; they too were horri­
fied. I contacted an attorney, a family
Twenty-three-year-old Anya Alvarez friend, to see ifI could take legal
action. I'd agreed to safe sex, not
w as hookinguI~ with aJ2gtential new
unprotected sex. The more I thought
BF when he pulled a move
about it, the more it seemed like this
was a form of assault or fraud that
so ho~gthat she's d~tennined
shouldn't go unpunished.
to make it illegal.
The attorney said that because I
did consent, I couldn't press
As told to Ji Hyun Lee charges. If I'd gotten an STD or
pregnant, then I might have a case
against him for negligence. But
there is no law against what he said
when it came to sex. I was careful was called birth-control sabotage.
second date with Eric", about unwanted pregnancies There should be, I thought.
were heating up. We'd and STDs, which is why I insisted
night at a pub near the a guy wear a condom even though
ity of Washington, where I
Eric, clean-cut with
I always used my NuvaRing.
How could I not have noticed in
NOT AN
, attended the same the moment? I felt so humiliated SOLATED CASE
During the next hour or so, and used. A few weeks later, I chronicled my
having fun and knew we Days later, I sent him an e-mail experiences on a Facebookpage. I
istry. Eventually, we telling him how angry I was. His couldn't be the only person this has
back to his apartment. response: "It's not that big a deal. happened to...and I wasn't. I
there, it was clear that our I've done it before to other girls. You received dozens of responses from
would happen. I asked won't get pregnant." women whose partner also secretly
put on a condom, and he I tried to wrap my head around removed the condom or other birth
one and rolled it on in front why he did it. I'd heard of women control they were using. I even got
I always wore my NuvaRing, having unsafe sex to trap guys into messages from men who agreed
extra protection. fatherhood, but Eric didn't want me that this was really screwed up.
m ind at ease, I was able to to get pregnant-it was like he got Starting a dialogue was a
enjoy the action. Then I opened my off on the risks ofunsafe sex plus turning point. After graduation, I
eyes and glanced down...and saw the fact that I was clueless about it. began writing about birth-control
my NuvaRing on the floor. Maybe he didn't like the feel of the sabotage, making the case that it's
How weird, I recall thinking. I condom. Whatever the reason, he a violation similar to sexual
assumed it had fallen out, and I put me and other women he'd done assault, and guys who do it put a
pushed Eric's body away to retrieve this to in danger. woman's health at risk. It's been
it. I asked him ifhe had realized it The following week, I went to my two years since that night with
was on the floor, and that's when I campus health center and got tested Eric, and since then, there has been
noticed he wasn't wearing his for a range ofSTDs. I also took a an uptick in advocacy groups
condom. I looked at him, puzzled. pregnancy test. Luckily, I was spreading the word. I'm not sure
"I took out your NuvaRing," he negative on all fronts. when, but I'm hopeful that soon
said bluntly. He also copped to Physically, I was fine, but legislators will realize just how
whipping off his condom while my emotionally, I was still rattled. I dangerous it is. •
eyes were closed. talked to my girlfriends about what 'Name has been changed.
"Excuse me?" I replied, stunned.
He didn't answer. I'm pretty outspo­
ken, but this left me speechless. I
should have asked him why he did
it, but at the time, I felt so creeped
out. I just wanted to get away from
him, so I put on my clothes and left.
SHOCKED AND
VIOLATED
Back at my apartment, I felt anger,
embarrassment, and powerless­
ness. I'd always been take-charge
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June 2012 I COSMOPOLITAN 187