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Women's
Health > Birth Control
There are many methods of birth control and some are
more effective than others but birth control is
highly dependent on consistency. The most common
forms of birth control are as follows: continuous
abstinence, male condoms, oral contraceptive (the
pill), the mini-pill, female condoms, depo-provera
(injection once every 12 weeks), diaphragm,
contraceptive sponge, the patch, surgical
sterilization and emergency contraception.
The birth control method that you choose should take
into account: how often you have sex, the number of
sexual partners you have, if you want children, your
health status, potential side effects, and comfort
level using the method and how well each method
works at preventing pregnancy. (Keep in mind that
most birth control methods such as the pill will not
protect you against HIV or any other sexually
transmitted diseases like herpes, gonorrhea and
Chlamydia.
Each day thousands of people across the globe ask
this question: Is withdrawal a good method of birth
control? Withdrawal is not the most effective birth
control method and it works much better when the
male condom is used. Withdrawal is when a man takes
his penis out of a woman’s vagina (pulls out) before
he ejaculates. The reason for this is so that it
will stop sperm from going to the egg. “Pulling out”
can be hard for man to do and it takes a lot of self
control.
When you use withdrawal, you can also be at risk
getting pregnant BEFORE the man pulls out. When a
man’s penis first becomes erect, there can be fluid
called pre-ejaculate fluid on the tip of the penis
that has sperm in it. This sperm can get a woman
pregnant. Withdrawal also does not protect you from
STDs or HIV
Again, the only 100% method to prevent pregnancy is
constant abstinence. If you’d like to learn more
about the various birth control methods available
consult with your family doctor.
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