Preventing Teen Pregnancy

While much of the talk about teen pregnancy comes in the form of abstinence only education - abstaining from sex certainly prevents pregnancy - the reality is that not all teens are going to abstain. Parents who want their children to avoid pregnancy should talk with their kids about sex, conception and birth control; they should also help their teens set life goals, pursue their interests and become well-rounded.

If you are a teen and your parents haven’t been comfortable with the sex talk, it’s important to know a few things about birth control.

Birth Control Methods

Condoms

Condoms are, for many teens and adults, a common birth control method because they are easy to get. Condoms are typically made of latex or plastic, come in a variety of styles and colors and may or may not have a spermicidal lubricant that further helps to prevent pregnancy.

Condoms are worn over the penis and collect sperm and ejaculated fluids; because the sperm doesn’t enter the vagina, it cannot fertilize the egg and therefore, pregnancy can be prevented. An additional benefit to using condoms is that it can reduce the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (because of this, it’s important to use condoms with other birth control methods as well).

Birth Control Pills

Birth control pills are hormones that women and sexually active teenage girls take that keep a woman’s ovaries from releasing an egg. If the ovaries don’t release an egg, there isn’t an egg to be fertilized by sperm and therefore pregnancy is prevented. Birth control pills also help to prevent pregnancy by thickening the secretions from a woman’s cervix which also helps to block sperm and prevent fertilization of the egg.

Diaphragm

A diaphragm is, in effect, a latex dome that is inserted into the vagina to cover the cervix; this blocks the opening of the uterus and prevents the sperm from fertilizing the egg. Diaphragms are far more effective when used as directed and in combination with a spermicidal cream or gel.

Birth Control Implant

The birth control implant is a small plastic rod that is injected into a woman’s upper arm. Once in place, a birth control implant releases progestin, a hormone that prevents the release of the egg.

Birth Control Patch

The birth control patch works in much the same way as the pill except that rather than taking a pill every day, women wear a thin, plastic patch on the skin for three weeks out of each month - using a new patch every seven days. The hormones that are released while wearing the birth control patch keep the ovaries from releasing the egg, and that prevents fertilization and pregnancy.

Intrauterine Device (IUD)

IUDs help to prevent pregnancy by affecting the way that sperm move; this prevents sperm from joining with and fertilizing the woman’s egg.

Spermicide

Spermicides are chemicals that stop sperm from moving; they are always used with a diaphragm and cervical cap, and are often used with condoms and other birth control methods to increase the effectiveness. Spermicide creams, foams, gels, suppositories and films are available.

Reliability of Birth Control Methods

Obviously, there are going to be some birth control methods that are more reliable than others. By using birth control effectively every time, most women will find a greater benefit. Below is a breakdown of the reliability of the above mentioned birth control methods:

  • Condoms: If condoms are used correctly, it is estimated that they are 98% effective at preventing pregnancy.
  • Birth Control Pills: If always used as directed, birth control pills are 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.
  • Diaphragms: If always used correctly, diaphragms are 94% effective at preventing pregnancy.
  • Birth Control Implant: Women who use the birth control implant have found that it is over 99% effective (less than one out of 100 women will become pregnant with the birth control implant).
  • Birth Control Patch:The birth control patch is nearly as effective as the birth control implant when used as directed.
  • Intrauterine Device (IUD): IUDs are an extremely effective way of preventing pregnancy.
  • Spermicides: Spermicides are effective for preventing pregnancy when used with other birth control methods; when women use only spermicides for birth control, the effectiveness is only about 85%.

In other words, while there are effective tools to help prevent pregnancy the only way to be 100% certain that you will not get pregnant is to abstain from having sex.