Enjoy The Things You Love – Lessen The Risk
Sex is a natural and beautiful thing. What’s not beautiful? Putting yourself or others in unnecessary risk of STDs and unwanted pregnancies. Below we’ll go over safe sex, general information on STDs, and just some basics to discuss
Choosing Contraceptives
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Communication
When it comes to choosing contraceptives, there are a few things you’re going to want to consider: Do you want something short term or long term? Do you want something that just prevents pregnancy or also prevents STIs?How important is ease of use? Do you have any medical conditions or hormonal sensitivities? Once you’ve figured those things out it will be a lot easier to figure out which method of contraceptive is best for you
Examples: Condoms (external/ internal), dental dams, diaphragms
Pros: STI protection (condoms), no hormones, available without prescription
Cons: Must be used correctly every time, can break or slip
Examples: Pills, patch, vaginal ring, shot (Depo-Provera)
Pros: Highly effective with perfect use, can regulate periods, reduce acne or cramps
Cons: No STI protection, side effects (nausea, mood changes), must remember daily/weekly/ monthly
Examples: IUDs (hormonal or copper), arm implant (Nexplanon)
Pros: “Set it and forget it,” highly effective for years
Cons: Requires a procedure to insert/remove, may cause irregular bleeding, no STI protection
Examples: Plan B, Ella, copper IUD
Use: After unprotected sex or contraceptive failure
Timing: Most effective the sooner it’s used
Examples: Tracking cycle, pulling out
Pros: No medical intervention
Cons: High failure rates, no STI protection, requires discipline and good knowledge of cycle
(I personally don’t recommend this)
Barrier Methods
There are two kinds of condoms – one goes over the penis, and the other (the internal condom) goes inside the vagina or anus. Condoms provide protection from both pregnancy and STIs.
How do they work?
Condoms work as a barrier, by keeping semen (cum) and pre-cum out of the vagina or anus. That barrier also helps prevent contact with semen, fluids from the vagina and anus, and skin-to-skin contact that can spread STIs
How well do they work?
Condoms are good at preventing pregnancy as long as you use them every time you have sex. 15-21 out of 100 condom users become pregnant each year. Condoms can work even better if you use a new one correctly every time you have sex. That means putting on a condom before there’s any skin-to-skin genital contact and keeping it on until you’re done having sex. You can also use condoms with another birth control method for extra protection from pregnancy
What are the benefits?
— They are cheap and easy to get (you don’t need a prescription)
– They protect you and your partners from STIs
– Condoms can add extra pregnancy protection when used with another birth control method
– They can help the penis stay hard for longer
– Putting on condoms can be fun foreplay
What are the disadvantages and side effects?
– Some people are allergic to latex, so they need to use condoms that are made of polyurethane, polyisoprene, or nitrile
– You need to have one with you every time you have sex
Depo-Provera (The Shot)
The shot uses hormone progestin and is very good at preventing pregnancy. You need to get a shot every 3 months (12-13 weeks)
How does it work?
The shot contains the hormone progestin and works by preventing ovulation (when an egg leaves your ovaries) and thickening the mucus on your cervix so sperm can’t get to an egg
How effective is it?
The shot is very good at preventing pregnancy, About 6 out of 100 shot users become pregnant each year. The shot works best when you get it on time, so it’s important to remember when it’s time for your next one.
What are the advantages?
– Each shot lasts for 3 months (up to 15 weeks)
– You only have to remember to get a shot 4 times a year
– It’s private – nobody knows you’re using the shot unless you tell them
– You may have irregular bleeding (spotting) or not get your period at all
What are the disadvantages and side effects?
– You have to remember to get your shot every 3 months for it to work
– You may have irregular bleeding or longer, heavier periods
– You may have temporary bone thinning while using the shot
– Once you stop the shot it could take up to 10 months to get pregnant
– The shotes not protect against sexually transmitted infections
The Pill
Birth control pills come in a pack and you take one pill every day. There are two types of birth control pills – combination pills and progestin-only pills
Combination pills contain the hormones estrogen and progestin whereas Progestin-only pills do not contain any estrogen
How does it work?
The pill works by thickening the mucus in your cervix, stopping sperm from reaching an egg. The pill also works by preventing ovulation (when an egg is released from the ovaries). There re many brands of pills, but they all work the same way to prevent pregnancy.
How effective is it?
The pill is very good at preventing pregnancy. About 9 out of 100 pill users become pregnant each year. The better you are about taking your pill every day and starting your pill packs on time, the better the pill will work.
What are the benefits?
– It can help with PMS symptoms, including cramps
– It may help with acne
– It makes your periods lighter and more regular
– It protects against cancer of the uterus and ovaries
– You can get pregnant right away after you stop taking it
What are the disadvantages and side effects?
– You have to remember to take a pill every day and refill your pill packs on time
– You may have spotting or bleeding between periods, sore breasts, or headaches for the first 2-3 months of taking the pill
– The pill does not protect against STIs
The Ring
The Ring is a small, flexible, hormone releasing ring that you put inside your vagina. When the hormones are all gone, you take out your old ring and replace it with a new one.
How does it work?
The ring releases the hormones estrogen and progestin. It works by thickening the mucus in your cervix, stopping sperm from reaching an egg. The ring also works by preventing ovulation (when an egg is released from the ovaries)
How effective is it?
The ring is very good at preventing pregnancy. About 9 out of 100 ring users become pregnant each year. The ring works even better if you remember to put it in on time.
What are the benefits?
– It can help with PMS symptoms, including cramps
– It may help with acne
– It makes your periods lighter and more regular
– It protects against cancer of the uterus and ovaries
– You can get pregnant right away after you stop taking it
What are the disadvantages and side effects?
– You have to remember to take out your old ring and replace it in time
– You may have spotting or bleeding between periods, sore breasts, or headaches for the first 2-3 months of taking the pill
– The ring does not protect against STIs
The Patch
The birth control patch is a thin, hormone-releasing piece of plastic that sticks to your skin like a band aid. It comes in packs of 3, and you wear a patch for 1 week (7 days), then take it off and put a new patch on
How does it work?
The patch releases the hormones estrogen and progestin. The patch works by thickening the mucus in your cervix, stopping sperm from reaching an egg. The patch also works by preventing ovulation (when an egg is released from the ovaries
How effective is it?
The patch is very good at preventing pregnancy. About 9 out of 100 patch users become pregnant each year. Remember to replace it on time each week.
What are the benefits?
– It can help with PMS symptoms, including cramps
– It may help with acne
– It makes your periods lighter and more regular
– It protects against cancer of the uterus and ovaries
– You can get pregnant right away after you stop taking it
What are the disadvantages and side effects?
– You have to remember to change your patch each week and get new patches on time
– You may have spotting or bleeding between periods, sore breasts, or headaches for the first 2-3 months of using the patch
– The patch does not protect against STIs
The IUD (Intrauterine Device)
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The Implant (Nexplanon)
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Vestibulum efficitur consequat urna sed suscipit u mauris
Donec id dictum tellus. Proin ut tincidunt nunc. Nunc volutpat, magna ornare eleifend feugiat, sem tellus varius ex, dignissim euismod purus urna et magna. Nullam eu massa mi. Vivamus ac rhoncus sit amet felis vel turpis vehicula dapibus.
Vestibulum efficitur consequat urna sed suscipit u mauris
Donec id dictum tellus. Proin ut tincidunt nunc. Nunc volutpat, magna ornare eleifend feugiat, sem tellus varius ex, dignissim euismod purus urna et magna. Nullam eu massa mi. Vivamus ac rhoncus sit amet felis vel turpis vehicula dapibus.
Vestibulum efficitur consequat urna sed suscipit u mauris
Donec id dictum tellus. Proin ut tincidunt nunc. Nunc volutpat, magna ornare eleifend feugiat, sem tellus varius ex, dignissim euismod purus urna et magna. Nullam eu massa mi. Vivamus ac rhoncus sit amet felis vel turpis vehicula dapibus.