[emm92]

Hello Ladies, im in need of some help please

I am thinking about becoming sexually active. But before any of that happens, i want to protected from any unwanted suprises haha

I pretty much have no idea of what contraceptive options there are at the moment, besides the Pill (but i heard that there are like 3 types of Pills? :s Help!)

So can i please have some help as to what options there is for contraception and the pro's and con's of them!

Thanks very much in advance

[Ashlee T.]

So...first I would suggest doing lots of google research. You'll see lots of threads about this here and hopefully get lots of good opinions. Here are some things to do some research on:

Birth Control Pills (hormonal)
Depo Provera (hormonal)
IUD's (some hormonal, some not)
Diaphragms (non-hormonal)
Cervical Cap (non-hormonal)

I was on the pill for 10 years, and I can't say enough bad things about it. I try everything I can to discourage young women from getting on it. I'm now going to discuss with my doctor the option of a cervical cap at my next visit. Cervical Cap and a condom, and I would feel pretty safe.

[kira]

There are dozens of types of pill and everyone reacts differently to all of them so it can take some trial and error to find which one works for you. Personally if it weren't for the slight drop in sex drive I'd still be taking birth control pills despite my husband having had a vasectomy because of all the benefits I've gotten from them. However the pill should be your secondary concern. Unless you are in a solid relationship where you can trust your partner and have both been tested for STD's you should be using condoms. There are both male and female condoms. All other barrier methods still allow fluids to come in contact with your body or his and could spread an std.

[kygirl]

Everyone else has already given you pretty sound advice. I've been on the pill for about 9 years and it definitely messes with your body a bit...decreased sex drive, weight gain, mood swings can all happen and sometimes you have to try different types of pills to see which one works best for you. You also have to be consistent in taking your pill every single day which is hard for some people. There are also side effects like blood clots to be aware of. They don't happen to a huge percentage of people, but def a possibility. The older I get the more I want to figure out a different option... Also until you are in a monogamous relationship and know for a FACT that your partner is as well, you need to use condoms with the pill.

Spermicide might be something else you might want to look into as well. You need to go in and get checked out by a gynecologist (if you haven't already) and they can also tell you about the many options available out there.

[emm92]

Thanks for the replys everyone! Much appreciated

[Curious6]

Depending on your age and your comfort with the idea, there's also the possibility of an IUD. They've gotten a bad rap in the US, but about 10% of women worldwide use them. If you're under 20, I'd suggest not getting one, as your uterus may not be large enough yet. However, if you are over 20, then a definite possibility is the combination of an IUD and a condom.
IUDs work very well to protect someone from pregnancy and last 5 years (Mirena - Hormonal) and 10 years (Paragard- Copper). They don't protect against STDs, so a condom is necessary unless you have a steady partner. If you're a UK resident, then there will be different and more various IUD options to choose from.

I hope you figure everything out.