Contraception
Although you don’t need to know about contraception until you are sexually active, it is important for you to know that it exists and that this is how couples in a sexual relationship prevent pregnancy.
As you get older, your SPHE class in school will give you more information about the different methods of contraception or you could also ask your parents about it.
What is contraception?
Contraception is used by a couple in a sexual relationship to prevent a pregnancy. The most common methods are condoms and the pill. Condoms also protect against most sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
What’s a condom?
A condom is a sheath usually made from latex which is placed on the erect penis prior to any sexual contact in order to prevent pregnancy and also to reduce the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Condoms are the best known protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
What makes condoms ineffective?
Condoms are very effective at preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Sometimes they don’t work because people don’t use them properly; they don’t put them on properly, they don’t put them on in time or they don’t remove them on time.
What is the pill?
The pill is a tablet which a woman takes to prevent a pregnancy. If it is taken correctly – as directed by the doctor – or as written on the packaging - it is very effective at preventing pregnancy. It does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
What makes the pill ineffective?
If a woman takes antibiotics, has vomited or has very severe diarrhoea the pill might not work. Also, if a woman forgets to take the pill every day it may not work.
What are the chances that a woman will get pregnant if the couple use contraception?
If a couple use contraception correctly every time they have sex it can be over 99% effective in preventing pregnancy.
What is emergency contraception?
Emergency contraception (also known as EC or "morning after pill") is a tablet that a woman takes if she has had sex but thinks that the method of contraception she used failed (if she missed a pill or if the condom split) or if the couple did not use a method of contraception. It needs to be prescribed by a doctor and can be taken up to 72 hours after sex, but it is most effective if it is used within the first 24 hours after sex.
Most unplanned pregnancies result from unprotected sex or not using contraception properly.
Abstinence from close/intimate sexual contact is the only way to give yourself 100% protection against unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
