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.

• You can get pregnant the first time you have sex
• You can get pregnant if you hardly ever have sex
• You can pregnant if you have sex during your period
• You can get pregnant without having an orgasm (coming)
• You can get pregnant if the boy withdraws (pulls his penis out before he comes)
• You can get pregnant if you have sex in any position, including standing up
• You can get pregnant 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.

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

Get clued up about contraception

The time to learn about contraception is before you start having sex. It’s your responsibility as a sexually active adult to know how to avoid an unwanted pregnancy.

All methods have advantages and disadvantages. Your GP or family planning clinic will help you decide which is best for you. For example, if you are not good at remembering to take pills, the injection might suit you better.

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 family planning clinics, some GPs, Bodyzone and some youth centres. 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.
Contraceptive pill	Contraceptive pills use hormones to stop ovulation. They are 99% effective if you remember to take them every day. There may be side effects.
Contraceptive injections	Contraceptive injections also use hormones. You have one every 8 or 12 weeks depending on the type. There may be side effects.
Emergency contraception	Emergency contraception (the "morning after pill") works for up to 72 hours after intercourse. The earlier you take it the better. Available from a family planning clinic, GP, Bodyzone or Wellsafe. Pharmacists sell it to ages 16+. It is very effective and safe.

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.

How to get contraception

You can get free, confidential advice about contraception at any age, and 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, family planning clinic, Wellsafe 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 side effects mean that a type of contraception is not suitable for certain women. If you have problems, go back to your GP or family planning clinic and ask for a different sort of contraception.

Emergency Contraception

Emergency contraception (also called the "morning after pill" or EHC) works by stopping conception (getting pregnant). It can be taken up to 72 hours after you have had sex. The earlier you take it the better it works.

You can get emergency contraception from lots of places, including:

• Your doctor, or another GP Surgery
• Some School Bodyzone/ Drop-in Clinics
• Any Sexual Health Clinic (GUM) or Family Planning Clinic
• Any pharmacy displaying the 72 hours logo

If you are a young woman under 18, you can get contraception free of charge from some Oxfordshire Chemists (also called pharmacists -- Boots is the most famous brand). Look for the ones displaying the 72 hours logo (left).

You can also buy Emergency Contraception over the counter from a Chemist if you are over 16.

Oxfordshire Chemists supplying free Emergency Contraception to young women

List last updated 3 April 2007

Lloyds Pharmacy	19 Bury Street	Abingdon	OX14 4QT
Boots the Chemist	27 Bury Street	Abingdon	OX14 3QT
Rowlands Pharmacy	58 Orchard Way	Banbury	OX16 0EN
Cross Chemist	12-14 West Bar	Banbury	OX16 9RR
Knights Pharmacy	2 Burchester Place, Grimsbury	Banbury	OX16 7WT
Jessica’s Pharmacy	Hardwick Shopping Centre, Ferriston	Banbury	OX16 7XE
Sainsbury’s Pharmacy	642 Oxford Road	Banbury	OX16 9XA
Boots the Chemist	33-35 Sheep Street	Bicester	OX26 6JJ
Cooks Chemist	The Old Barn, Coker Close	Bicester	OX26 6AE
Jardines Pharmacy	2 Nightingale Place, Langford Village	Bicester	OX26 6XX
Broadshires Pharmacy	Broadshires Way	Carterton	OX18 1JA
Chalgrove Pharmacy	60 High Street	Chalgrove	OX44 7SS
Rowlands	1 The Pound	Cholsey	OX10 9NS
Bretts Pharmacy	11-12 Millbrook Square	Grove	OX12 7JZ
Boots Pharmacy	5-7 Bell Street	Henley	RG9 2BA
Lloyds Pharmacy	25 Oxford Road	Kidlington	OX5 2BP
Rowlands Pharmacy	17 Ivy Close, Off Hollow Way	Oxford	OX4 2NB
Jenners Pharmacy	236-238 Cowley Road	Oxford	OX4 1UH
Lloyds Pharmacy	Blackbird Leys Health Centre	Oxford	OX4 7EX
The Leys Pharmacy (in Spar)	Spar, Dunnock Way	Oxford	OX4 7EX
Smiths Chemist	172 Kennington Road	Oxford	OX1 5PG
Boots The Chemist	6-8 Cornmarket Street	Oxford	OX1 3HL
Barton Pharmacy	6 Underhill Circus, Barton	Oxford	OX3 9LU
Bliep Pharmacy	190 Abingdon Road	Oxford	OX1 4RA
The Woodlands Pharmacy	Botley Road	Oxford	OX2 0BU
Sainsbury Pharmacy	Heyford Hill, Cowley	Oxford	OX4 4XR
Boots Chemist	151a Cowley Road	Oxford	OX4 1JJ
Rowlands Pharmacy	57 Osler Road, Headington	Oxford	OX3 9BH
Lloyds Pharmacy	1 Woodstock Road	Oxford	OX2 6HA
Boots the Chemist	221 Banbury Road	Oxford	OX2 7HO
Llloyds Pharmacy	3-4 The Square, West Way, Botley	Oxford	OX2 9LH
Boots the Chemist	7-8 Market Place	Wallingford	OX10 0EG
Lloyds Pharmacy	20-21 Market Place	Wallingford	OX10 0AD
Boots the Chemist	50-51 Market Place	Wantage	OX12 8AW
Lloyds Pharmacy	The Health Centre, Mably Way	Wantage	OX12 9BN
Moss Pharmacy	3 Edington Square, Deer Park	Witney	OX28 5YT
Rowlands Pharmacy	Nuffield Health Centre, Welch Way	Witney	OX28 6JQ
Lloyds Pharmacy	24-26 High Street	Witney	OX28 6HB
Boots	2-8 High Street	Witney	OX28 6HA
Woodstock Pharmacy	24 High Street	Woodstock	OX20 1TF

There is also a printable full list of Pharmacies in Oxfordshire currently offering EHC to young women, with opening times and phone numbers. Download it here. (Word, 75K)

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)

Experience

On my first visit to the Alec Turnbull clinic I saw Carrie, the nurse. She was friendly and explained everything. She said she would not write to my doctor if I didn’t want her to. I didn’t have to give my name and address, but I didn’t mind because they said they wouldn’t write home. She asked a lot of questions about my health and my family to make sure that if I went on the pill I wouldn’t have dangerous side effects. Then I saw the doctor. I was glad it was a lady doctor. She gave me the pills and told me how to take them and when. She said I could ring or come back if I had any problems. If you are thinking about going to a Family Planning Clinic, don’t worry. Everyone is nice to you. I thought they might tell me to take all my clothes off, but all you have is a blood pressure test and they weigh you. – Rebecca