Birth Control Methods for Teenagers

For sexually active teens, birth control methods are particularly important and not only for preventing pregnancy. Sexually transmitted diseases pose an equally serious problem from which the teenagers need to guard against. The best way to guard against these problems is of course abstinence. This is the only method that is 100 percent effective with no expense involved. If you and your partner can commit to it, there is nothing like it.

Common Birth Control Methods for Teenagers

• Contraceptive Pills – Sexually active teenagers can take to contraceptive pills to avoid the unwanted and unwarranted pregnancy. You will need to get these prescribed by your health care provider. The birth control pills also have some other benefits such as reducing menstrual cramps, prevention from some types of cancers and respite from painful periods.  The flip side is that these do not prevent sexually transmitted infections and the impact of these pills has been linked to some side-effects such as heart attack and stroke, although the chances are very low.
• Condoms – Condom is an over-the-counter birth control mechanism, the use of which is the most effective in preventing sexually transmitted diseases after abstinence. It is one of the barrier methods of contraception. If used correctly, condoms’ success rate is 98 percent in preventing pregnancy. Even if there is some mistake in using it, the success rate is on the higher side, i.e. 85 percent. The flip side of using a condom is that you need to wear it after being aroused, which can prove to be a dampener. This is why many men do not prefer using it.
• Intrauterine device – It is a device that is implanted in the uterus and one does not need to be worn at the time of the intercourse. There are two types – with our without hormones. No need to get used to a daily routine (as is the case with contraceptive pills) when using this method of contraception. The complications of using this device is that only a clinician can insert and remove it and it poses serious health risks such as uterine perforation and pelvic inflammatory disease .
• Diaphragm or Cervical Cap – These need to be inserted into your body 24 to 48 hours before an intercourse. These are very useful for women who cannot take hormonal contraception pills for any reason. The flip side is that everyone is not comfortable with it and needs to be kept in place for 6 to 8 hours after sex, even if one wants to get rid of it.

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