Contraception/Birth Control
As a teenage guy or young man, you may be thinking about what it means to be involved in a sexual relationship. There are things you need to think about before you decide to have sex, including whether this is the right person and the right time in your life. If you do decide to have sex, you need to think about how to protect yourself from getting a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD), and how to prevent pregnancy. Read on to find out what type of contraception is best for you and your partner.
You should talk to your parents, guardian, a trusted adult, or your health care provider if you are thinking about having sex. It's a good idea to discuss your choices and concerns so you can make good decisions.
What types of contraception are there?
There are many different types of contraception that vary in how well they prevent pregnancy, how much they cost, how easy they are to use, and whether they protect against STDs. Using two types of contraceptive methods, such as condoms and birth control pills, increases protection against both STDs and pregnancy. Males use some types of contraception and females use other types. If you are having a sexual relationship, it is good to know about both types. Whatever type of contraception one of you uses can have an effect on the health of both people. Together, you and your partner should figure out the best choices for the two of you.
If you have sex (intercourse), you are always at risk for STDs and causing pregnancy. But if you practice safer sex with only one partner (who is uninfected and has no other sexual partners) and you make good decisions about contraception, you can greatly lower these risks.
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Updated 2/5/2008
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