Contraceptives
I just want to start off by saying these sex pages were requested. I am happy to write about these topics but I do not want people to think badly of them, you only have to read them if you want to. For the record I am virgin, but just because you're a virgin doesn't mean you can't know about sex.
Contraceptives are things that stop you getting pregnant or STD's (sexually transmitted diseases). If you only know about the physical act of sex and not the biology behind it you need to read The Facts of Life section.
If you're going to have sex you must use contraceptives. I can't stress how important this is. Many girls think that they won't get pregnant but these are the same girls who end up being teenage mums. You should use at least two contraceptives as none are 100% effective, some guys may say you don't really need one but you shouldn't listen to this at all! They're being selfish and stupid, you probably know more about contraceptives than them so if they don't want to use one don't have sex with them! If you're going to have sex it's your responsibility to use protection.
I have given a brief description of popular contraceptives and if you're interested in them you can click the "read more" link which will take you to another detailed website which will have more information about that form of contraceptive.
Male Condom - 98% effective
A condom is a rubbery cover the man puts over his penis. Condoms catch the sperm and prevent it going into the woman's vagina. Condoms are one of the most popular type of contraceptives. They're easy to use, can be bought at any supermarket (at any age), and come in lots of different shapes, sizes, thicknesses, colours and even flavours. A condom is effective in preventing pregnancy and STD's if used correctly (see instructions in box) but still has a chance of breaking, some guys also complain that they don't want to use one because it lessens the feeling of having sex. Read more.
The Contraceptive Pill - 98% effective
The contraceptive pill, also called "the pill." It is a set of pills the women takes. The pill contains two hormones and stop the ovaries from releasing an egg each month. This means the sperm will have no egg to fertalise. The contraceptive pill comes in a tray of 28 pills, there is a pill for everyday of your cycle (you take one pill a day). The pills are often labelled with days of the week so you don't forget where you're up to. For the days of your period you take sugar pills, these are inactive pills that don't do anything, they're just useful so you don't get out of the habit of taking the your pills. The pill protects against pregnancy but not STD's and must be taken correctly! This means taking it everyday at around the same time. If you forget to take it even one day you are no longer protected and must use another contraceptive. You must use the pill for a whole cycle before you are protected against it. To get the pill you need to see your doctor for a prescription. This can be done with or without your parents, your doctor will run you through all other risks and how to take it correctly. The combined use of the pill and condoms is very effective and I highly recommend this if you're planning on having sex. Read more.
Fact: When you take the pill you always start your period on the same day of the week.
Depo Shot - 97-99% effective
The depo shot is an injection the woman can have to protect against pregnancy, it doesn't protect against STD's. The depo shot can be taken at your doctors. I'm not sure if there's a minimum age so you should ring up and ask first. The depo shot lasts three months, at which point you go back and get another one. It protects against pregnancy immediately after you have taken it and is great for girls who think they'll forget to take the pill every day. Read more.
Morning After Pill - 85-98% effective
The morning after pill should not be considered a form of contraception. It is an emergency contraceptive that you can turn to when all else fails. The morning after pill is a pill you take after having unprotected sex. For example maybe you were using a condom but it broke. The effectiveness depends on how long after having sex you take it. The pill works by preventing ovulation, but it mucks up your cycle for a month or two afterwards. You can purchase the morning after pill from most pharmacies without a doctors prescription at any age (this depends on your country). Read more.
These are the most popular type of contraceptives used, and the most likely to work for you! You should always have your own type of contraceptive, don't rely on your partner because what happens if they were relying on you? If a guy ever spins you the story of the "pull out method" don't listen to him. The pull out method is when a guy pulls out his penis from the vagina before ejaculating. This is not effective at all because sometimes a guy has a thing called pre-cum which is when he ejaculates a bit during sex to help lubricate the vagina. Guys may say they don't do this but they don't even know they're doing it themselves so always always always use a proper type of contraception!
Contraceptives are things that stop you getting pregnant or STD's (sexually transmitted diseases). If you only know about the physical act of sex and not the biology behind it you need to read The Facts of Life section.
If you're going to have sex you must use contraceptives. I can't stress how important this is. Many girls think that they won't get pregnant but these are the same girls who end up being teenage mums. You should use at least two contraceptives as none are 100% effective, some guys may say you don't really need one but you shouldn't listen to this at all! They're being selfish and stupid, you probably know more about contraceptives than them so if they don't want to use one don't have sex with them! If you're going to have sex it's your responsibility to use protection.
I have given a brief description of popular contraceptives and if you're interested in them you can click the "read more" link which will take you to another detailed website which will have more information about that form of contraceptive.
Male Condom - 98% effective
A condom is a rubbery cover the man puts over his penis. Condoms catch the sperm and prevent it going into the woman's vagina. Condoms are one of the most popular type of contraceptives. They're easy to use, can be bought at any supermarket (at any age), and come in lots of different shapes, sizes, thicknesses, colours and even flavours. A condom is effective in preventing pregnancy and STD's if used correctly (see instructions in box) but still has a chance of breaking, some guys also complain that they don't want to use one because it lessens the feeling of having sex. Read more.
The Contraceptive Pill - 98% effective
The contraceptive pill, also called "the pill." It is a set of pills the women takes. The pill contains two hormones and stop the ovaries from releasing an egg each month. This means the sperm will have no egg to fertalise. The contraceptive pill comes in a tray of 28 pills, there is a pill for everyday of your cycle (you take one pill a day). The pills are often labelled with days of the week so you don't forget where you're up to. For the days of your period you take sugar pills, these are inactive pills that don't do anything, they're just useful so you don't get out of the habit of taking the your pills. The pill protects against pregnancy but not STD's and must be taken correctly! This means taking it everyday at around the same time. If you forget to take it even one day you are no longer protected and must use another contraceptive. You must use the pill for a whole cycle before you are protected against it. To get the pill you need to see your doctor for a prescription. This can be done with or without your parents, your doctor will run you through all other risks and how to take it correctly. The combined use of the pill and condoms is very effective and I highly recommend this if you're planning on having sex. Read more.
Fact: When you take the pill you always start your period on the same day of the week.
Depo Shot - 97-99% effective
The depo shot is an injection the woman can have to protect against pregnancy, it doesn't protect against STD's. The depo shot can be taken at your doctors. I'm not sure if there's a minimum age so you should ring up and ask first. The depo shot lasts three months, at which point you go back and get another one. It protects against pregnancy immediately after you have taken it and is great for girls who think they'll forget to take the pill every day. Read more.
Morning After Pill - 85-98% effective
The morning after pill should not be considered a form of contraception. It is an emergency contraceptive that you can turn to when all else fails. The morning after pill is a pill you take after having unprotected sex. For example maybe you were using a condom but it broke. The effectiveness depends on how long after having sex you take it. The pill works by preventing ovulation, but it mucks up your cycle for a month or two afterwards. You can purchase the morning after pill from most pharmacies without a doctors prescription at any age (this depends on your country). Read more.
These are the most popular type of contraceptives used, and the most likely to work for you! You should always have your own type of contraceptive, don't rely on your partner because what happens if they were relying on you? If a guy ever spins you the story of the "pull out method" don't listen to him. The pull out method is when a guy pulls out his penis from the vagina before ejaculating. This is not effective at all because sometimes a guy has a thing called pre-cum which is when he ejaculates a bit during sex to help lubricate the vagina. Guys may say they don't do this but they don't even know they're doing it themselves so always always always use a proper type of contraception!