S-E-X: it's that three-letter word that can be fun to do and can feel great. But there's another three-letter word that people sometimes forget about when they want to have sex: K-I-D. That's right, baby! For heterosexual couples, pregnancy is possible if they don't use effective birth control every time they have vaginal intercourse and certain other kinds of sex play. What is effective birth control? Birth control is effective when it keeps sperm from joining an egg and causing a pregnancy.
Think you're ready to have kids? "No way — at least, not right now," said Mike, a 16-year-old from Ocean City, MD. If you want to be like Mike, then we've got some options to help you prevent having a K-I-D if you're having S-E-X.
The only 100 percent effective way to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections is abstinence — that means not having any type of sex play with your partner. But not everyone chooses to be abstinent. Some people choose to have outercourse. Outercourse is sex play without vaginal intercourse, such as body rubbing, mutual masturbation, and oral sex. And if sperm isn't spilled in the vagina or on the vulva, it's nearly 100 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. Many people enjoy the advantages of outercourse. It has no medical or hormonal side effects and it can prolong sex play and enhance orgasm.
But many people find it hard to abstain from vaginal intercourse. There are two types of contraception recommended for teens to keep sperm and egg from joining: barriers and hormonal methods.
The barrier method puts a physical wall between sperm and egg so they can't join. Examples of the barrier methods that are available in the U.S. include
condom — A sheath made of thin latex or plastic that covers the penis to keep sperm from joining egg.
female condom — A polyurethane sheath with a flexible ring at each end that is inserted deep into the vagina. It collects pre-ejaculate and semen to keep sperm from entering the vagina.
diaphragms and caps — Diaphragms and FemCap are cups/caps coated with spermicide and placed inside the vagina to cover the cervix and keep sperm from joining egg.
Most barrier methods have a low risk of failure to prevent pregnancy — that is, if they're used correctly. However, only the condom and female condom protect against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
Couples that decide to use hormonal methods have several different choices. U.S. teens can choose from these methods:
The Pill — Oral contraceptives contain hormones that work in different ways. A clinician will prescribe the right pill for patients. Pills need to be taken once a day and a pack is completed every month.
The Ring (Nuva Ring) — The ring is a soft, flexible hormone-releasing ring that a woman inserts deep inside her vagina. The ring is kept in place for three weeks in a row and then removed for a ring-free week - three weeks in, one week out.
The Patch (Ortho Evra) — The patch is a thin hormone-releasing patch that is applied to the body once a week for three weeks. During the fourth week no patch is applied and menstruation occurs. The patch should be applied on the same day of the week for three consecutive weeks.
There are currently no hormonal birth control methods available for use by men. And no hormonal method protects against infections — partners must use a condom while using a hormonal method to protect against infection.
Some birth control methods are NOT recommended for teens — for example, withdrawal or "pulling out," and the "rhythm method." Both withdrawal and the rhythm method require planning and trust, which young couples can't always count on, and both methods have relatively high rates of failure.
There's a lot more to know about the different methods of birth control. If you're unsure about what type of birth control is best for you and your partner, consult your clinician or make an appointment at a Planned Parenthood clinic near you by calling 1-800-230-PLAN.
Updated March 2004.
Sexuality and relationship info you can trust from Planned Parenthood® Federation of America
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