Contraception Health Article

Contraception

Contraception (birth control) is the prevention of conception (pregnancy).

In the United States, 60% of boys and 50% of girls between the ages of 15 and 19 are sexually active, yet only half of these adolescents use contraception the first time they have intercourse. Approximately one million adolescent girls become pregnant in this country each year, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are becoming more prevalent. Because sexual exploration will be a fact of life for many adolescents, knowledgeable adults should be available to discuss contraceptive alternatives with them before such exploration begins.

Male condom

Condoms are inexpensive and easy to obtain. Because the condom is the only known way to reduce the spread of STDs (including AIDS), a condom should always be used during sexual intercourse, even when another contraceptive method is used. For contraceptive purposes, a condom alone should never be relied on for protection against pregnancy. For adolescents who use condoms alone, the odds of becoming pregnant within a year are one in five.

Female condom

The female condom, a new form of contraception, is less effective than the male condom at preventing pregnancy and STD infection. Like the male condom, the female condom can be easily obtained in pharmacies.