Preventing pregnancy

Some people believe there are methods for preventing pregnancy without using contraception. You may hear about these methods from friends, both boys and girls. Some people may even claim they've tried them out. Don't believe them.

You can get pregnant:

• The first time you have sex
• If you hardly ever have sex
• From any close genital contact between a man and a woman
• If you have sex during your period
• Without having an orgasm (coming)
• If the boy withdraws (pulls his penis out before he comes)
• If you have sex in any position, including standing up
• If you douche (wash inside) afterwards

Only using a reliable form of contraception as advised by your GP, or a doctor at a Sexual Health Clinic or another Health Worker, e.g. an adviser at a Bodyzone, will provide any useful protection against pregnancy

Crucial: Even with contraception, accidents can happen. The only absolutely foolproof way to prevent pregnancy is to not have sex at all.

Key link: See the Talk Choice website for contraceptive choices, contraception myths, and easy ways to talk to your doctor.

Get clued up about contraception

The time to learn about contraception is before you start having sex.

All methods have advantages and disadvantages. Your GP or Contraception & Sexual Health (C&SH) Clinic will help you decide which is best for you.

Condoms, although widely available and very effective when used properly, offer slightly lower protection than hormonal methods like the contraceptive injection. If you're using condoms as your main contraception, you also need to know how to get emergency contraception, in case the condom splits or falls off.

Male Condoms	Male condoms are widely available and protect against STIs and pregnancy. Make sure you know how to put on and remove a condom properly. Practice in private. You can get free condoms from C&SH clinics, GPs, Bodyzone and through the Safety Card scheme. Condoms with the BSI Kitemark or European CE mark have passed strength and reliability tests. Always use water-based lubricants. Oily ones weaken the latex and can cause the condom to break. Follow the instructions on the packet.
Contraceptive pill	Contraceptive pills use hormones to stop ovulation. They are 99% effective if you remember to take them every day. Your GP or C&SH clinic will help you decide which pill is best for you. There may be side effects, and some types of pill are unsuitable for women with certain health issues.
Long acting reversable contraception	Hormonal implants rest just under the skin on the inner side of the arm – they are very discreet’. They use hormones to stop ovulation. IUS (interuterine Systems) contain a hormone and IUDs (interuterine devices), non hormonal (also called coils) rest inside the uterus (womb) and prevent conception. The contraceptive injection is a dose of hormones given every 12 to 13 weeks by injection. All of these may cause side effects, and some methods may be unsuitable for younger women, or women with certain health issues.
Other methods of Contraception	There are other contraceptive methods, make sure you talk to your health practitioner about what is right for you and your lifestyle. Some methods may be unsuitable for younger women, or women with certain health issues.

You can find out more about contraceptives and sex from these helplines:

• Brook Helpline 0800 0185 023 advice about sex and contraception for people under 25 (9am-5pm Mon-Fri)
• Sexwise Helpline 0800 28 29 30 advice about sex for people under 18 (7am-midnight)

Crucial: only a condom protects against STIs like HIV. If you're uncertain about your partner's sexual health, you should use a condom even if you use another form of contraception to prevent pregnancy. Whatever anyone else tells you, using a condom with a new or casual partner is normal.

Crucial: If your main contraception fails, you can still use Emergency Hormonal Contraception to prevent conception up to 72 hours after having sex.

How to get contraception

You can get free, confidential advice about contraception at any age. If you need contraception, and are aware of the issues involved, there should be no problem sorting it out. Here’s how:

1. Visit your GP (Doctor), Contraception & Sexual Health clinic, or Bodyzone for free, confidential advice. Don’t be embarrassed. Most people need contraception, and doctors get asked about it all the time.
   
2. The health practitioner will ask questions to make sure you understand what is being said. Depending on your age and situation, they may ask if you would like to consult your parents or partner. You can say no.
   
3. Ask about the pros and cons of each method of contraception, including potential side effects.
   
4. When you've decided, make sure you know how to use the contraception properly, how to renew your contraception, and what to do if your contraception fails.

Crucial: Sometimes contraception can cause bad side effects. If you have problems, go back to your GP or C&SH clinic and ask for a different sort of contraception.

When to use emergency contraception

Emergency contraception (also called the "morning after pill" or EHC) can be taken up to 72 hours after you have had sex. If you main contraception has failed (e.g. a condom coming off, or splitting) you should get emergency contraception.

• Where to get Emergency contraception in Oxfordshire

Experience

I got pregnant at 15 and had my child at 16. Although I knew about the risks of unprotected sex, I thought that we would be safe. It was something that happened to other people who had sex all the time, not people like me. We had only done it a few times and I was going to get contraception. I love being a mum but if I am honest I wish that I had waited until I was older. Sometimes it is really hard and tiring especially when I don’t feel my best and my daughter gets ill. – Young Mum, 16, Oxford