IUD is the short form of Intra Uterine Device. It is one of the most effective and safer birth control methods. It is a small and flexible T shaped device, normally made of plastic and having a thread that hangs down into the upper part of the vagina. It is placed inside a woman’s uterine cavity through her vagina to prevent pregnancy.

How does it work?

It prevents pregnancy by stopping sperms from contacting with an egg. There are two types of IUD. One is Copper IUD and another is Progesterone IUD. But copper-bearing IUDs are widely used. Copper IUD works effectively for about 10 years and after that it must be replaced. Likewise, hormonal IUDs (progestin-releasing IUDs) must be replaced every 5 years.

Effectiveness

If it is placed and maintained properly, its effectiveness rate is more than 99%. It is very rare that an accidental pregnancy occur while using an IUD. It is pertinent to mention here that only a trained doctor or nurse can insert and remove the IUD.

Care for IUD

Only thing you have to care is to check the string inside the vagina. At the time of your menstrual period, you can check the thread by inserting a clean finger into your vagina. If you do not feel the thread or IUD itself, it means the IUD is not in the right place. At this moment you must consult your doctor or the clinic where you have got the IUD fitted. It is recommended that you should have yearly check up by your doctor. However once the IUD is fitted you can exercise, swim and have sexual intercourse right away.

Advantages

• It starts working immediately.

• It is very effective birth control method.

• Once it is fitted, you need not to do any daily attention, like, taking pills etc.

• If you want your doctor can remove the IUD at any time.

• Your sexual life will not be affected any way. It is very private to you. Even your partner cannot feel it.

• It is not expensive.

• It is long lasting. Once it is fitted it can work for more than 5 years.

• No restriction of age. Women of the age of 20 years and more can use it.

Disadvantages

• IUD does not give you protection against AIDS or any sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

• You cannot place the IUD by yourself. It requires a trained doctor or nurse.

• While inserting IUD uterus can be injured but it is very rare.

• After insertion of IUD you may feel backache or cramps for some time.

• It may tend to cause heavy menstrual bleeding.

Points to remember

• If you have more than one sexual partner, you have greater chance to be infected while using IUD. These infections can be more serious as IUD does not protect you from STDs.

• If you are pregnant, you should not use IUD.

• If you miss your menstrual period, you must consult your doctor.

Overall, if an IUD is inserted and maintained properly, it can certainly be a very effective method of birth control.

Find more information visit: http://www.keepcondom.com/articles/birth-control/what-is-iud.htm

Spermicides are one of the best birth control methods. It comes in the form of gel, cream, foam, film and suppositories. All the spermicides are similar in work but only thing is the amount of chemical (Nonoxynol-9) that contain, which may vary from 1% to 5%.

Function

Spermicides prevent pregnancy by killing or immobilizing sperms. It also blocks the ways so as to sperm cannot reach the eggs. It contains chemicals (Nonoxynol-9) that make the sperms nonfunctional. At the some extent Spermicides give you protection from some sexually transmitted infections but it is highly recommended that you should use condoms to protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Types of Spermicides

It is available in the form of creams, jellies, foam, vaginal contraceptive film and suppositories.

CREAMS AND JELLIES

They can be inserted into vagina with the help of an applicator. Creams are in opaque while jellies appear to be clear. It is immediately effective and can be used with condoms.

FOAMS

It is like shaving cream. It comes in can. You must shake the can well before use. It is also used with the help of an applicator. First fill the applicator with foam and insert the applicator into vagina about 2 to 3 inches (The product must reach to the cervix to be effective). Push the end of the applicator to squirt the spermicides out. It is effective immediately.

SUPPOSITORIES

Suppositories come in the form of capsules. It is inserted into the vagina and pushed up to the cervix. It dissolves in the vagina when placed. It becomes effective only after 20 minutes.

VAGINAL CONTRACEPTIVE FILM (VCF)

It comes in thin squares. To use it, you first fold this film to half, insert it with the help of your finger into vagina and push up to cervix. Do this with dry finger unless the film will stick to your finger and you will not be able to place this film in the correct place. It dissolves over the cervix after insertion and it also becomes effective only 15-20 minutes.

Advantages

• You can purchase it without a prescription of doctor.

• It is easily available in superstores and drug stores.

• Since it also acts like lubricants, it increases pleasure during intercourse.

• It does affect future fertility.

• You may enjoy insertion of spermicides into vagina as foreplay.

Disadvantage

• It does not give you full protection against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like AIDS/HIV.

• Your partner can feel a bad taste during oral sex.

• You may feel some genital irritation.

• You must use it for every sexual intercourse.

Although Spermicides are very effective as a birth control measure, you must take a decision which type of spermicides suits both you and your partner. You must follow the instruction on the product label.

Find more information visit: http://www.keepcondom.com/articles/birth-control/spermicides.htm

A Menopause Pregnancy - Seriously! I Never Thought it Was Possible

Menopause pregnancy. Can it happen? Does it happen? What happens when it happens? Well, is does happen more than you may realize but there are answers!Menopause pregnancy is something that very few women even think about but the chance of pregnancy during menopause is a very real possibility. There are many women out there who will testify to that fact.The chance of getting pregnant during menopause is usually at it height during the early stages that a women actually enters menopause. This early stage can actually last for 12 consecutive months on average and is one of many menopause signs and symptoms.The problem occurs when menopause bleeding stops or becomes very intermittent. Many women believe that when their cycles become few and far between that the possibility of pregnancy vanishes like their youth.Unfortunately, this irregularity in the menstrual cycle is just that, an irregularity. Just because menopausal bleeding has stopped does not mean that ovulation has. This is where the misconception…no pun intended…takes place.The time of greatest vulnerability is called perimenopause which is the actual onset of menopause itself. Ovarian production slows down and periods become irregular, often for months.The actual cessation of ovulation can take several years to complete. This false sense of security is what actually leads many a women to quite taking or using birth control methods that otherwise would keep an unwanted pregnancy from occurring.Menopause can be and is an extremely difficult time in almost all women’s lives. The very thought of complicating all that with an unexpected pregnancy makes even that difficult situation even worse.It’s not easy to have a child when we get older not to mention having a child in which no preparation has been made or foreseen. Depending on the personal situation some will decide on keeping the child while other may seek to end the pregnancy.The main thing to remember is that until you are absolutely positive that you have actually entered menopause, do not stop whatever birth control methods you employ.You can get a simple blood test known as FSH or follicle stimulating hormone to diagnose whether or not you are actually in menopause.Prevention is the best medicine but knowledge is even better!

Teen Pregnancy Causes, Detection and Prevention
by Bertil Hjert

Teen pregnancy can be defined as an underage or teenage girl with the ages of 13-19 becoming pregnant.

When a teenaged girl get a boyfriend and she fells seriously in love, they may go far to make their new found relationship a success and happy experience.

A lot of teenagers tend to have sex with their partner just because they think that this can make their lover continue with the relationship. What they dont understand is that if the boy loves her truly and with whole heart, he would not consider sex as a priority.

Birth control methods can fail even when used correctly. Experts mean that teens likely do not use birth control methods properly, which leads that they may fail and cause a teen pregnancy to occur.

Girls will be pregnant while involved in long-term dating relationships. Some girls become pregnant after hooking up, and some girls after a rape situation.

Teenagers have a lot of hormones and biased desires. However, these can be easily prevented and controlled prior to performing intercourse. You must make sure that your teenaged son or daughter understands that it is a big issue to have intercourse without protection.

Make him or her understand that there are several consequences of this including early pregnancy which can be life threatening for the girl.

Another common cause of teen pregnancy is that a teen is afraid of telling that they want to use a condom. They may not be able to beak the barrier of communication. It may also be possible that the partner does not want to take protection method.

1) There are several ways to avoid this:

Make sure that you use contraception each time you have sex.

Take a pregnancy test as soon as possible because not contraception is 100% effective.

Take a home test as soon as your period is missed.

Take another test if the test shows negative and you still dont get periods.

Remember that the sooner you find that you are gravid, the better for you.

Unplanned pregnancy, especially by teens can cause a lot of embarrassment, shock, pain and grief to the person who is carrying the baby. Hence it is important to take support of your trusted friend, professionals and family. You may also take help of your boy friend in this case if he is willing to!

B) The unplanned pregnancy can be scary and confusing. Here are some emotions you my face in the beginning:

A sudden excitement, Happiness

Confusion, Uncertain, Ambivalence

Fear, Worry

Regret, Resentment,

Anger, Frustration

However, it is a natural response to think about and want to protect the baby that is growing inside you. Also it is very natural to be scared and confused about how to deal with this new situation.

Here you can only make a choice to either continue or terminate the pregnancy. The decision should be based on what you want and the health care professional in charge decides for you.

Prior to continuing when you are still a teenager, you must understand that you may require to face a lot of problems. You may have to tolerate both emotional and physical torment. An immediate effect is how the growing baby changes a teenager’s body as well as changes in her lifestyle.

These problems include, health complications, social pressures emotional problems. Teen pregnancy can be very risky to unborn babies. The baby may be under weight and under nourished due to lack of prenatal care. There is also a risk of life to the mother in most of the cases of teen pregnancy.

Do not act in haste when you are in a relationship. Act wisely.

Of Birth Control and Unwanted Pregnancies

Married for eight years, Robert and Tanya Maxwell had their hands full trying to raise six children. As devout Catholics, the couple were constrained to follow the teachings of their church. In 1968, Pope Paul VI issued an encyclical letter entitled Humanae Vitae which stated that, “…it is always wrong to use contraception to prevent new human beings from coming into existence.” The couple were active in the Catholic lay community and vowed to follow the doctrines of their church. Of their six children, the first three offspring were “intentional” or were conceived with full intent on resulting in pregnancy. They really wanted to only have three children. However, the fourth up to sixth child could be considered “an accident” brought by the heat of passion. While they remained thankful for having six children, each of whom they saw as a blessing from God, they could not help but feel overwhelmed. Having a big family has really taken a toll on their marriage, time, and finances. After some deliberation, the couple decided to adopt birth control methods or family planning. Definitely, the rhythm method was not appropriate for them. For the sake of the entire family’s well being, the couple decided to be more open-minded about family planning. Even if Mrs. Maxwell was not so keen on trying methods that were not approved by the Church, she realized that their conservative views got them to into trouble in terms of their family’s finances. Ben and Laura, on the other hand, are from from being conservatives. They got married right after their high school graduation. Laura, who was only 18 at the time she got married, got pregnant soon after tying the knot with Ben. The couple underwent sex education in school and said that they always practiced safe, protected sex. Still, life sprang a surprise on them. Roger and Lisa Cooper, unlike the first two couples, had a honeymoon baby. But after starting a new business, they agreed that they would wait to try for the next baby after about two years. They made it a condition to achieve success in their business first so that they would be more financially prepared to have a second baby. But after a few short months after her first baby’s birthday, Mrs. Cooper found out that she was pregnant with twins!A lot of couples are concerned about the size of their family as a response to the need to be more financially and emotionally prepared for the challenges of having a large brood of children. For that reason, contraception has become a serious and necessary issue for many couples. But even with all the advances in science and medicine, many are still surprised and overwhelmed by unplanned marriages. The reason for this is simply the lack of information about methods of contraception and family planning. Here are a list of practical and effective methods of contraception that all married couples should be informed about:1. Th Pill – It is still the most widely accepted birth control method. It is a drug that contains estrogen and progesterone — hormones that change how the body works and prevents pregnancy. The birth control pill suppresses ovulation and thickens the cervical mucus around the cervix, making it difficult for sperm to reach the uterus to fertilize the egg cells. Some studies show that the use of these so-called combination pills helps lower the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer. However, scientific evidence also shows that the use of the pill also increases risk for cervical and liver cancer. The side effects associated with the pill varies from one woman to another. Some of the possible side effects include nausea, spotting between periods, depression, weigh gain, among others. The pill is not recommended for those who are diabetic, women with high blood pressure, and smokers who are over 35 years old. The pill is generally marked as 99% effective as a birth control method.2. The Condom - A thin latex rubber sheath that fits over the erect penis and bars the sperm from entry into the cervix. It is inexpensive, convenient, and widely available. The main advantage of using a condom is that it can protect the user from contracting sexually transmitted disease including HIV and AID. However, the most common complaint about the condom is that some men find it uncomfortable and that it lessens sexual pleasure. 3. Injectable Contraceptive - Injectable contraceptives contain the hormone called Medroxy Progestorone Acetate and prevents ovulation for three months. This method can be used by breastfeeding mothers and offers the woman both privacy and ease. However, the injectable offers no protection against STDs and the effects of the shot are not immediately reversible once you have been injected.4. Norplant – This method involves the surgical insertion of six matchstick-sized rods in the underside of the upper arm. These rods release a low-dose hormone called levonogrestrel which thickens the cervical mucus, thins the lining of the womb, and inhibits ovulation for as long as five years. The drawback is that some women experienced skin irritation, headaches, dizziness, acne, weight gain, hair loss and nausea. What contraception is right for you? The right answer can really come only from you and your partner.Talk to your health care professional about safe and proven birth control methods. Always remember its best to use some form of birth control method rather than leaving everything to chance. Every couple should be responsible enough to practice safe sex and prevent unwanted pregnancy.

How to Educate Yourself on Sexual Protection

One of the most needed yet often readily ignored needs in todays world is educating yourself on birth control and safe sex. There are so many options out there, and a lot of misinformation to be confused by; but thanks to the internet you can research many of these things in the comfort and privacy of your own home.

Back in the early days you learned about contraceptives from your doctor or nurse practitioner, yet because of the internet a lot of the information about birth control has been made widely available for people to look up without the embarrassment of having to ask such questions to a doctor. You can now research what kind of contraceptives are available for you to use and the pros and cons of each.

Traditionally youll find that women are the ones who are usually deciding what kind of contraceptive will be good for them to use when theyre considering a relationship with someone or planning to be sexually active. Its important to explore all the options for contraceptives that are out there because not many people sit down to look at the pros and cons of different birth control methods. Its important to read the details of each method to understand how its used and to understand what is involved with each option. Getting your initial information online will make it easier to talk to a health professional about ones sexual health and to take it seriously when it comes down to talking with your partner about using contraceptives.

Contraceptives are a topic that should be discussed with a health care professional so that you can be comfortable in using the contraceptive method thats found appropriate. The more you educate yourself, the more you get to know your body when it comes to safe sex. Going to a search engine online can give you some means to look out there at all the contraceptive methods that are currently on the market. There are also links to many different educational and non-profit sites.

The FDA is currently releasing new types of birth control and improving current methods approved for the market. New methods of birth control are making safe sex more elaborate, and offering more potent protection against pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. Educating ones self about contraceptives is important considering the constant stream of ads that appear on television, magazines, and online; with all these ads for pills and devices, and how heavily they market these products. Some products encourage people to call the 800 numbers that are provided for them to get more information on the contraceptive product featured and to even check it out online for those who have internet access in their home to read more into it in private. It is always advised to read the fine print on each product and not take it at face value.

Understanding the various methods of contraceptives out there should be an important factor in relationships because many couples want to be intimate with each other, however they choose to express their feelings. This is why many health practitioners are actually working with younger people about educating themselves with all the options of birth control and contraceptive methods out there so theyre not walking out there without some kind of education on what is there for them to use.

Educating yourself is the best means of practicing safe sex, instead of going out there blindfolded and ending up exposing oneself to the plethora of sexually transmitted diseases.

For more information visit: How to Educate Yourself on Sexual Protection

Emergency contraception (EC) is not the substitute for regular birth control methods or abortion but, in fact, is the “emergency” option for women to avoid pregnancy after contraception failure, sexual assault or unprotected intercourse. Emergency contraception, specially Progestin-only birth control pills like Plan B, are advised to women seeking immediate action to avoid pregnancy. Such pills are advised to rape victims and sexually assaulted women as well.

Emergency contraception pills are also known as “morning-after”, “EC” or “Postcoital Contraception” in medical terms. However, “morning-after” doesn’t mean that emergency contraception pills to be taken in the morning. It should be taken as prescribed.

Types of emergency contraception methods :

These are available in broadly three ways whereas two methods are in pill form and another is device known as intrauterine device. Two types of pills are progestin-only like Plan B and usual combined birth control pills (progestin and estrogen). Intrauterine device is also used as emergency contraception and suggested to women who are allergic to progestin or estrogen based pills. IUD as widely called is small, T shaped plastic device with a string attached to the end. It is inserted through cervix and placed in the uterus to prevent pregnancy. A small string hangs down from IUD into the upper part of the vagina.

How Emergency contraception pills work?

Like other birth control pills, EC works by stopping ovulation (i.e release of eggs) and preventing sperm to meet with eggs for fertilization, hence there is no pregnancy.

When to take Emergency contraception?

EC must be taken as soon as the unprotected intercourse has occurred. Progestin-only pills like Plan B contraceptive pills are available in two tablets. One pill must be taken immediately followed by next with 12 hours apart. Though EC pills can be taken upto 5 days i.e 120 hours, however, Progestin-only pills like Plan B are effective for upto 3 days i.e 72 hours.

Its effectiveness after unprotected sex can be judged as below. - 95% effective if taken within 24 hours

- 85% effective if taken between 24 to 48 hours

- 58% effective between 49 to 72 hours

In case, more than 72 hours have passed of unprotected sex then it is highly recommended to use the IUD (intrauterine device) after consulting with your physician because after 72 hours, your contraceptive pills might be failed.

Who should seek Emergency contraception help :

Well, it is designed for emergency relief from getting pregnant. Women can take EC if

- contraception methods are failed like condom is broken or slipped off during intercourse, ring is removed or diaphragm, cap or any protection is removed.

- women think that she had intercourse during “ovulation days”. These are most crucial days as the chances of becoming pregnant are very high.

- women are sexually abused, raped or forced to go for unprotected intercourse.

Being the time sensitive, two important factors will determine the effectiveness of emergency contraception success and those are

- how soon woman takes it after the unprotected intercourse has occurred.

- if she has another unprotected intercourse in the same menstrual cycle.

The above article is for general information on emergency contraception requirements and should not be taken as medical advice. If it is so, please consult your doctor or physician for treatment purpose.

You may also visit at birth control pills and Plan B birth control to know more about the general information on emergency contraception and other birth control methods. The above article is for general information on emergency contraception and should not be taken as medical advice. If it is so, please consult your doctor or healthcare professional for treatment purpose.

I’ve heard condoms don’t really protect against pregnancy and STDs. So why bother using them?
%26ndash; David*

Condoms do help prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Each year, 85 out of 100 couples who have sex but don’t use any form of birth control get pregnant. That number drops to only 15 out of 100 when condoms are used. And no other method of birth control is as successful at protecting people against STDs as condoms.

Condoms are most effective at protecting against STDs like HIV/AIDS, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. Condoms can also protect against genital warts (HPV) and herpes, but are less effective against these because warts and herpes can show up in areas that are not covered by a condom.

The only way to be 100% sure that you won’t become pregnant or get an STD is to not have sex at all (called abstinence). But even couples who practice abstinence can benefit from learning about condoms. One study shows that a quarter of the couples who try to abstain from sex get pregnant in their first year together.

Condoms are easy to get and use. Anyone can walk into a drugstore and buy them. It’s a good idea to have a condom readily available because they’re a good birth control choice for people who haven’t planned ahead.

For more information, check out these articles:
Abstinence
About Birth Control: What You Need to Know
About Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
Birth Control Methods: How Well Do They Work?
Can a Girl Get Pregnant if She Has Sex During Her Period?
Condoms
Talking to Your Partner About Condoms

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: September 2006

Have a question? Email us.

Although we can’t reply personally, you may see your question posted to this page in the future. If you’re looking for medical advice, a diagnosis, or treatment, consult your doctor or other qualified medical professional. If this is an emergency, contact emergency services in your area.

*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.

Some birth control methods work better than others. The chart below compares how well different birth control methods work.

The most effective way to prevent pregnancy is document.write(defabstinence120)abstinence. However, within the first year of committing to abstinence, many couples become pregnant because they have sex anyway but don’t use protection. So it’s a good idea even for people who don’t plan to have sex to be informed about birth control.

Couples who do have sex need to use birth control properly and every time to prevent pregnancy. For example, the chart below shows that the birth control pill can be effective in preventing pregnancy. But if a girl forgets to take her birth control pills, then this is not an effective method for her. Condoms can be an effective way to prevent pregnancy, too. But if a guy forgets to use a condom or doesn’t use it correctly, then it’s not an effective way for him to prevent pregnancy.

For every 100 couples using each type of birth control, the chart shows how many of these couples will get pregnant within a year. The information shown is for all couples, not just teenage couples. Some birth control methods may be less effective for teen users. For example, teenage girls who use fertility awareness (also called the rhythm method) may have an even greater chance of getting pregnant than adult women because their bodies have not yet settled into a regular menstrual cycle.

We list the effectiveness of different birth control methods based on their typical use rates. Typical use refers to how the average person uses that method of birth control (compared to “perfect” use, which means no mistakes are made in using that method).

For us to consider a birth control method completely effective, no couples will become pregnant while using that method. Very effective means that between 1 and 2 out of 100 couples become pregnant while using that method. Effective means that 2 to 12 out of 100 couples become pregnant while using that method. Moderately effective means that 13 to 20 out of 100 couples become pregnant while using that method. Less effective means that 21 to 40 out of 100 couples become pregnant while using that method. And not effective means that more than 40 out of 100 couples become pregnant while using that method.

In addition to preventing pregnancy, abstinence and condoms provide some protection against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). However, most birth control methods do not provide much protection against STDs.

Method of Birth Control
How Many Couples Using This Method Will Get Pregnant in a Year?
How Well Does This Method Work in Preventing Pregnancy?
Can This Method Also Protect Against STDs?

Consistent Abstinence
None
Completely effective
Yes

Birth Control Patch (”The Patch”)
5 to 8 out of 100
Effective
No

Birth Control Pill (”The Pill”)
5 to 8 out of 100
Effective
No

Birth Control Ring (”The Ring”)
5 to 8 out of 100
Effective
No

Female Condom
21 out of 100
Less effective
Yes

Male Condom
15 out of 100
Moderately effective
Yes

Birth Control Shot
3 out of 100
Effective
No

Diaphragm
16 out of 100
Moderately effective
No

Emergency Contraception
1 to 2 out of 100
Very effective
No

IUD
Fewer than 1 out of 100
Very effective
No

Fertility Awareness
25 out of 100
Less effective
No

Spermicide
29 out of 100
Less effective
No

Withdrawal (”Pulling Out”)
27 out of 100
Less effective
No

Not Using Any Birth Control
85 out of 100
Not effective
No

Choosing a birth control method based on how well it works is important, but there are other things to keep in mind when choosing a form of birth control. These include:

how easy a particular birth control method is to use

how much a particular birth control method costs

whether a person has a health condition or is taking medication that will interfere with how well a particular birth control method works

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: March 2007 Printer-friendly versionEmail this article to a friendSend email to us

What Is It?

Abstinence is not having sex. A person who decides to practice abstinence has decided not to have sex.

How Does It Work?

If two people don’t have sex, then sperm can’t fertilize an egg and there’s no possibility of a pregnancy. Some forms of birth control depend on barriers that prevent the sperm from reaching the egg (such as condoms or diaphragms). Others interfere with the menstrual cycle (as birth control pills do). With abstinence, no barriers or pills are necessary because the person is not having sex.

You don’t have to be a virgin to practice abstinence. Sometimes people who have been having sex decide not to continue having sex. Even if a person has been having sex, he or she can still choose abstinence to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

How Well Does It Work?

Abstinence is 100% effective in preventing pregnancy. Although many birth control methods can have high rates of success if used properly, they can fail occasionally. Practicing abstinence ensures that a girl will not become pregnant because there is no opportunity for sperm to fertilize an egg.

Protection Against STDs

Abstinence protects people against STDs. Some STDs spread through oral-genital sex, anal sex, or even intimate skin-to-skin contact without actual penetration (genital warts and herpes can be spread this way). So only avoiding all types of intimate genital contact can prevent STDs. Avoiding all types of intimate genital contact %26mdash; including anal and oral sex %26mdash; is complete abstinence.

Only complete and consistent abstinence can totally prevent pregnancy and protect against STDs. Because a person does not have any type of intimate sexual contact when he or she practices complete abstinence, there is no risk of passing on a sexually transmitted infection.

Consistent abstinence means that someone practices abstinence all the time. Having sex even once means that the person risks getting an infection.

Abstinence does not prevent AIDS and hepatitis B infections that come from nonsexual activities like using contaminated needles for doing drugs, tattooing, or taking steroids.

How Do You Do It?

Not having sex may seem easy because it’s not doing anything. But peer pressure and things you see on TV and in the movies can make the decision to practice abstinence more difficult.

If it seems like everybody else is having sex, some people may feel they have to do it, too, just to be accepted. Don’t let kidding or pressure from friends, a girlfriend, a boyfriend, or even the media push you into something that’s not right for you. The truth is that most teens are not having sex.

A couple can still have a relationship without having sex. If you’ve made a decision not to have sex, it’s an important personal choice and the people who care about you should respect that.

You may have questions about making this choice or about other methods of birth control. Your doctor or nurse %26mdash; or an adult you trust, such as a parent, teacher, or counselor %26mdash; can help provide some answers.

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: February 2007
Originally reviewed by: George A. Macones, MD Printer-friendly versionEmail this article to a friendSend email to us