Birth Control: What You Need to Know

Being a teen means making decisions about a lot of things, from what sport you play to whether you want to go to college. But one of the toughest decisions that a lot of teens face is whether to have sex. If teens decide to have sex, it means they must also take responsibility to protect themselves from unplanned pregnancy.

Over the course of one year, 85 out of 100 women and teens will become pregnant if they have sex without using some type of birth control. In addition to preventing unwanted pregnancies, teens who have sex must protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

For those having sex, condoms must always be used every time to protect against STDs.

The most effective method of birth control is abstinence, which means no sexual intercourse. Abstinence is the only absolute way that teens will not have to deal with pregnancy or STDs.

For teens who do choose to have sex, there are many effective birth control methods to choose from. Check the articles below to learn some important information about these methods, as well as some popular ones that aren't as effective or as safe as you might have thought.

Remember, abstinence (the decision to not have sex) is the only method that always prevents pregnancy and STDs.

• Abstinence
• Birth Control Pill
• Cervical Cap
• Condom
• Depo-Provera
• Diaphragm
• Douching
• Emergency Contraception (Morning-After Pill)
• IUD
• Rhythm Method
• Spermicide
• Withdrawal

###