You can always get pregnant if you have sex. There are ways to lessen this risk but if you are going to be having sex, you need to use protection.

The most universal method of contraception is the condom. They protect you against pregnancy and diseases and require very little planning.

Myths

Myths are commonly used as ways to get girls (and guys!) into bed. This article is so you know which ones are purely nonsense so you can protect yourself against pregnancy and STD's.

"Its your first time!"

You can still get pregnant even if it is your first time. If sperm comes into contact with your vagina, then you have a chance of becoming pregnant. Never take the risk and always use protection.

"If we do it standing up..."

The position which you use is irrelevant when it comes to pregnancy. You have the same chance of getting pregnant if you have unprotected sex standing up, sitting down, lying on your back, or on your head.

"You can't get pregnant from anal sex!"

Believe it or not, it is completely possible to get pregnant from anal sex. Sperm dribbles and it can dribble down from your anus into your vagina. Not only can unprotected anal sex get you pregnant, but the anal region harbours all sorts of nasty bacteria and there's nothing they like better than the uncovered, vulnerable head of a penis to congregate on.

"Don't you love/trust me?"

If this question is posed at you by a guy wanting some sex, then don't fall for it. the fact that you love/trust them is nothing to do with whether you are ready to have sex. You may wish to consummate your love with him/her at another time, but don't fall for this old trick. It's low and if they really love/trust you back, they wouldn't be trying to pressure you into having sex before you feel that you are ready.

"If we use a mars bar wrapper and a rubber band. it's just the same as a condom!"

A mars bar wrapper and a rubber band is no substitute for proper protection. You might as well have unprotected sex and save yourself the discomfort if you risk using this method! Use a real condom instead, you can usually get them for free from your family planning clinic so there's no excuse.

"You are on your period!"

You can get pregnant at just about any time in your cycle. Predicting a safe time in the month using temperature, discharge and counting days is about 60% effective if you can do this correctly. To make sure that you don't get pregnant you must always use condoms.

"Your periods haven't started yet, that means your stuff isn't working yet"

On the contrary, your periods can start at anytime and so you must always use protection if you are going to have sex. A girl can't predict when she's going to start and I've heard of a number of cases where the girl has had sex before she started her periods and she managed to get pregnant because they were only a few days away! About 2 weeks before you begin your first period (or any period) is your most fertile time and so taking this risk is asking for trouble!

"It's okay if I don't cum inside you"

When a guy gets excited, something called "pre-cum" gathers at the head of his penis. Pre-cum and lubrication contain sperm too, however in fewer numbers. It's usually there before he even enters you since it rises when he gets an erection. Never let him inside you if he isn't covered up with a condom to prevent any sperm from entering you.

"Let me just see what it feels like inside you/rubbing against it"

As above, don't let him inside (or near) your genital area if he isn't covered up with a condom. Pre-cum is dangerous stuff and girls get pregnant from it. It only takes one sperm cell to get you pregnant and there are billions of sperm in one tiny drop of semen.

"I don't like condoms, they lessen the sensitivity"

Condoms are designed so that sensitivity is the utmost priority. Never let him inside you without some protection! If he really won't use condoms, then visit your doctor/family planning clinic to ask about other types of contraception.

"My balls will turn blue and drop off if I don't have sex"

A guy's balls could turn blue due to the rush of blood to the erectile tissue when he has an erection. This is not harmful and as his erection goes away, his balls will turn back to their normal colour. The condition is called "blue balls" and does not mean that they have to have sex if it happens.

"You can get pregnant if you use the same toilet seat as a man did"

You can't get pregnant from using the same toilet seat as a man. Men don't let out sperm when they urinate, this is thanks to a clever little gland called the "prostate gland" which controls which liquid comes out of his penis (he won't urinate inside you when he comes either).

"You can catch STD's from using the same toilet seat/cutlery as someone with one"

This isn't true. You can only catch an STD from direct contact with their bodily fluids (sperm, blood etc). Herpes is one that can be passed on through kissing though. I must also mention here: if you kiss someone with HIV/AIDS, the chances of you contracting the disease off them is very small since not much of the virus is contained in their saliva (even though it is a bodily fluid). Tests have shown that it would take BUCKETLOADS of a carrier's saliva to infect you, so don't worry.

"If we use two condoms, we have less chance of getting pregnant"

Two condoms at once is something which would cause the condoms to break FAR more easily due to the friction. If you are worried that you are going to be too "rough" during sex, use extra strength condoms with spermicidal lubrication inside of them.

"If you go to the toilet afterwards, all the sperm will be flushed out of you"

This is a load of nonsense. Your reproductive and urinary organs are not connected in any way. It might help you to get to orgasm faster if you have an empty bladder (since the vagina is situated near to your bladder) as the muscles will be more relaxed. Other than that, going to the toilet won't affect where the sperm is at all!

"If you take some of my birth control pills, you won't get pregnant"

Never EVER take someone else's birth control pills. For starters, they need them.1 Another thing is that they are not designed for preventing a pregnancy in someone they were not prescribed for. Taking too many birth control pills is going to do nothing but make you REALLY sick. Go and see your doctor/local Planned Parenthood clinic for some Emergency Contraception Pills which are designed differently to birth control pills.

"You can get pregnant from masturbation"

Masturbation is a solitary act. A woman cannot get pregnant unless sperm comes into contact with her vagina. A woman does not produce sperm, therefore a pregnancy cannot occur. Enjoy yourselves! :)

"You can get pregnant from oral sex"

You cannot get pregnant from performing oral sex (fellatio/blow job) on a guy because your womb and stomach are not connected in any way. You can only get pregnant if sperm enters your vagina.

"You can't catch STD's from oral sex"

You CAN catch STD's from oral sex, both on guys and girls. You must always use a condom when performing oral sex on a guy because sperm (and the genitals) carry STD's. When performing oral sex on a girl who you don't know the sexual history of, you must use a dental dam. This can be made from cutting a small square out of a condom.

Protection

Abstinence - Effectiveness: 100%
Abstinence is the ONLY method which is 100% effective. Abstinence is when you choose not to have sex. People who remain abstinent may wish to save their virginity for marriage or when they feel ready.

Sterilization - Effectiveness: 99.9%
Sterilization is certainly a method which I would HIGHLY recommend AGAINST at a young age. Men and women who are satisfied they do not want any more children (because they already have too many or enough to cope with) are the ones who have themselves sterilized. It is almost impossible to reverse and the decision to be sterilized is a very difficult one.

Barrier Methods - These methods create a barrier between the sperm and your egg.

Condoms - Effectiveness: 98-99% (if used correctly)
You can get condoms free from your family planning clinic or doctor or purchase them in drugstores. They are very easy to use, but you must pay CLOSE attention to how you put them on. Read the instructions on the boxes.

NOTE: If you are allergic to latex (very rare incident) you can get lambskin ones from your chemist but these tend to perforate easier which makes them less effective in some cases. You can buy all sorts of condoms, Durex is one of the most popular brands across the world, but each country has their own manufactured brand. Never use a condom which doesn't carry a Kite mark. (A little picture of a Kite). You can get flavoured condoms too, never use these for penetrative sex unless it is clearly stated that you can. If you choose to have anal sex, you must always use super-strong condoms. These are less likely to tear against the friction of your bum as your bum doesn't produce it's own natural lubrication. Please note that anal sex is illegal in many countries and so to do this is at your own risk.

Cervical Cap (Diaphragm) - Effectiveness: about 90-95%
This is a small rubber "cap" covered with spermicide. It is inserted into the vagina up to 3 hours before sex (saves fumbling with it at the crucial moment!) and acts as a barrier against the sperm trying to enter the cervix. You need to get one fitted specially so that it is a comfy fit by your gynecologist or doctor. Each woman is different and so they can't just give out "one size fits all" caps. The ones you can buy in drug stores MAY work for you, but it's always best to get one custom fitted.

Female condom (Femidom) - Effectiveness: about 98% (when used correctly)
The female condom is a relatively new method of contraception and can be quite expensive as they are still a bit rare. It is shaped like a tube, a hole in one end and a barrier at the other. It is made of polyurethane and is fairly simple to use. The cons of this method would be that you have to ensure you get the penis inside the "tube" and make sure that it doesn't go into your vagina.

Hormonal Methods - These methods all contain hormones. The most common hormone used in these is progesterone (the female hormone which controls your periods and development).

Combination Pill - Effectiveness: 98-99%
The combination pill is available through your doctor or family planning clinic on prescription. It can be up to 98-99% effective if used correctly but this is really not the best method of contraception for girls under 20. Under 20, girls are very fertile and so I would recommend using condoms as a backup method if you are going to go on the pill. For the combination pill you need to take a pill at the same time every day and then stop taking them when you begin your period (or take the placebo pills aka sugar pills) and then start taking them again when your period finishes. They have pro's like regulating your periods, reducing period pain, decrease in acne, and providing good contraceptive protection. The downside is you need to remember to take the pill every day or you won't be protected. You can make up for missing a pill by taking two on the following day (as the directions state) but you should use condoms when you have sex thereafter to be safe.

NOTE: The combination pill will not protect you against STD's (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) so if you don't know your partners sexual history, you need to make sure you use condoms.

Progesterone Only Pill (POP, mini-pill) - Effectiveness: 80%
This is the "mini-pill" not only because it is small, but because it contains less hormones than the combination pill. The mini pill provides about 80% protection for girls under 20 because they are super fertile and it lessens its effectiveness. You definitely need to use condoms with this pill and it really isn't the best option if you don't want to use condoms and don't want the hassle of remembering (or if you are forgetful!).

NOTE: As with the combination pill, the POP doesn't protect you against STD's so use condoms too.

Many people use something called the "Double Dutch" option. This is when you take the pill and use condoms as your backup. It can be almost 100% effective when used correctly and is recommended as one of the best contraceptive methods to teenagers.

Depo Provera (The Injection) - Effectiveness: 99.9%
Depo is an injectable contraceptive which I recommend. It is free through your doctor or family planning clinic and is completely hassle free! You get one injection every 11 or 12 weeks (depending on which one you have) which works out to 4 times a year. The injection itself takes 3 seconds and it virtually painless as it is administered in your hip or buttock. It is about the most effective method of contraception (abstinence is the only way to guarantee 100% against pregnancy) and less than 1 woman every year will get pregnant while using it. You can use depo while breastfeeding or if you smoke (unlike the pills which require blood tests and medical examinations). You may be required to take a pregnancy test if you have had unprotected sex in the last 9 months as depo could cause nasty things to happen if you are pregnant when you have the injection. Now, don't believe everything you read on the net and if you come across a website which is anti-depo, don't be scared away by it. Run any questions you have past your doctor and they'll be able to reassure you.

NOTE: As with the pills, it doesn't protect you against STD's so use condoms too if you are unsure of your partners history.

IUD - Effectiveness: about 98%
An IUD is a small contraption which is inserted into your womb through your cervix. It has two little strings hanging off it which you can check to make sure the IUD is still in place. It can be painful when it is first inserted and is mostly used by women during menopause to control heavy periods. As with all hormonal methods, there are some health risks involved, ask your doctor if you have any questions. There used to be horror stories surrounding them a few years ago, but they have improved quite a bit since then.

NOTE: As with the pills it doesn't protect you against STD's so use condoms too if you are unsure of your partners history.

Implant - Effectiveness: 98-99%
The implant is 4 little stick shaped devices which are inserted into your arm. They last for about 5 years and the operation to remove them can be a little difficult. They are about as effective as condoms or the pill and totally hassle free for 5 years!

NOTE: As with the pills it doesn't protect you against STD's and so use condoms too if you are unsure of your partners history.

Emergency Contraception - In the event you DO have unprotected sex or there is a problem with the method you used (for example: condom fell off, tore, or broke) then there are some things which can still prevent a pregnancy occurring. These methods should not be used as your main birth control since they can fail, they do not protect you against STD's and if used too frequently they can cause damage to your reproductive system.

Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECP) - Effectiveness: 75-85%
Emergency Contraceptive Pills (morning after pills) can be used up to 72 hours (three days) after unprotected sex, but the earlier they are used the better. Emergency contraceptive pills may contain estrogen and progestin or progestin alone. These are the same hormonal drugs contained in some birth control pills but at a different dose. When used for emergency contraception, these hormones interfere with ovulation to prevent a pregnancy. They may also change the lining of the uterus so a fertilized egg won't develop. These pills are not perfect, but they cut the risk of pregnancy by 75 to 85 percent. To get ECP, you must have a prescription. Visit your doctor or clinic as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse. Better still, request a prescription in advance, so it will be available if you need it. ECP is very safe. There is no evidence that these drugs cause harm to a pregnancy if they fail. You should not take the pills if you think you are already pregnant; they will not end a pregnancy that is already established. (Edited quote from Women's Health Matters)

IUS - Effectiveness: 99%
A post-coital IUD can also be inserted to prevent pregnancy. This can be done up five to seven days after unprotected sex. They work by releasing hormones and preventing a fertilized egg from sticking to the lining of your womb.