Arrggh! Not Just Yet!

Don’t worry – if you don’t want to be a Daddy/Mummy just yet, there are five ways to stop it.

Don’t have sex - abstinence
Put something in the sperm’s way – like condoms / the Cap / spermicide / IUD
Make sure the egg doesn’t work – the combined pill
Make it more difficult for the sperm to get through and make sure the egg doesn’t work – the progesterone-only pill
Don’t have sex when the woman is releasing an egg – the rhythm method
Also: withdrawal and sterilization
Emergency Contraception: Emgergency Contraception Pills

The ooops factor = percent of people who will get pregnant after using it correctly everyday for a year. In real life, it’s higher than the figures say because people don’t always use contraception right – the condom splits, you forget to take the pill, etc.

Condoms

AKA: Rubber, Sheath, Johnny, Durex, French Letter, Japanese Wrinkle

How it works

It’s a stretchy rubber tube, which unrolls over the bloke’s penis. The sperm all get caught in it and can’t swim anywhere.

Get condoms:

at the chemists
in gent’s loos
Brook Advisory Centres http://www.brook.org.uk - 0800 0185023 for your nearest
any family planning clinic
other young people’s clinics

The oops factor

Not bad – just 3% ooops factor, if it’s used the right way, and before the bloke has spilt any semen.

Pluses

Makes sex less messy.
You only use it when you have sex, not every day
Protects you from AIDS, chlamydia and other nasty sexual infections like herpes.
Also protects girls against cancer of the cervix.
Easy and cheap. Less than 75p each from if you buy them yourself. Or free from clinics like the Brook Centres http://www.brook.org.uk.
Lots of choice.

Minuses

They are slippery
Can split if your fingernails are sharp.
2-minute condom ‘breaks’ can be a turn-off. (not if she puts it on him, though).
Not too 'sensitive' but improving.
They don’t flush down the loo afterwards but try putting some lav paper down with them.

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Combined Pill

How it works

It’s got hormones in, which stop the egg from being released. You have to get it from the doctor's.

You have to get it from the doctor’s.

The oops factor

Very good – only 0.1% ooops factor. So long as you remember to pop one every day.

Pluses

It’s free.
No messing round when it comes to the big moment.
Lighter, more regular periods. Less cramps.
You might need a bigger bra!
Reduces risk of some cancers in ovary and uterus when you’re older
Some combined pills get rid of zits.

Minuses

You have to remember to take it whether you’re going to have sex or not.
No protection against AIDS, chlamydia, herpes etc.
Some women don’t like taking hormones.
A few women get headaches, get fatter and feel fed up.
Risk of blood clots and heart attacks if you smoke.
V. small risk of breast cancer (disappears 10 years after you come off it).

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Emergency Contraception Pills

How it works

Emergency contraception pills contain progesterone hormones, wich stop any fertilised egg from settling into the wall of the uterus(womb) and developing into a baby.

It is sometimes called the morning after pill-but in fact it works up to 72 hours-which is the same as 3 days after having unprotected sex.

The pills come in a pack and you need to take one as soon as possible after sex and then another twelve hours later.

Most girls get it from a family doctor (with a free prescription) or family planning or young peoples clinic but if you are over 16 you can buy emergency contraception over the counter from a chemist - but its not cheap getting it this way.

The opps factor

Very good - only 2% ooops factor. The sooner you take it the better it works (but you don't need to wake the doctor in the middle of the night). Remember if you run out of time and it's more than 72 hours (3 days) all is not lost. You can still have an emergency coil put in and this works up to 5 days after unprotected sex. You will need to have this fitted by a doctor at your local surgery or family planning or young peoples clinic.

Pluses

It's free
It stops you getting pregnant
It prevents you possibly needing an abortion
It's very easy to use
It has few side effects

Minuses

You have to get the pills
You have to remember to take the pills
No protection against sexually transmitted infections-AIDS, chlamydia, herpes etc.
Some women feel nauseated (or are even sick) after taking the pills.
Some doctors are unhappy about prescribing it-if you find one of these doctors ask to see another one you can always phone 0207 837 4044 for information about a local clinic

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Progesterone-only Pill or Injection

How it works

This method also comes as an injection which you openly need to have every 3 months.

The hormone in it:

changes the mucus near the cervix to stop sperm getting through
stops the fertilized egg from bedding down in the uterus

Or – you can have it as an injection, which lasts for 3 months.

The oops factor

Less good than combined pill, but still very good – 1% ooops factor.

Pluses

It’s free.
Doesn’t get in the way of sex.
If you’ve had the injection, then you don’t have to take anything more for three months.

Minuses

You have to remember to take the damn thing (pill).
Sometimes bleeding between your periods.
No protection against AIDS, chlamydia and other nasties.
Some women don’t like taking hormones.

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Withdrawal Method/Coitus Interruptus

How it works

The bloke pulls out just before he comes. In theory.

The oops factor

Big problems. Like trying to brake while going down a cliff.

Pluses

It’s a last resort.

Minuses

No fun. Neither of you will actually want to pull out at the time.
Doesn’t work well anyway because men leak sperm before they come.
No protection against AIDS or other sexual infections

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Rhythm method/Natural Family Planning

How it works

The woman does some tests on her temperature, her mucus or her urine to find out when she’s releasing an egg. Then no sex till she’s safe.

The rhythm method uses a calendar.

The oops factor

Not brilliant - between 2 and 10 % ooops factor if you’ve had training. In real life, it doesn’t work so well because periods aren’t always on time and it is not always easy to know exactly when a woman is releasing an egg.

Leave this method to your parents

Pluses

No hormones, no rubber, no nothing.

Minuses

No protection against AIDS or other sexual infections
The unsafe time of the month is the time you most want to have sex.
Only suitable for couples who don’t mind getting pregnant.

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The Cap/Diaphragm

They’re different sizes of rubber cap popped into the vagina before sex. It sits at the entrance to the cervix and stops the sperm swimming anywhere.

Get it from the doctor’s.

The oops factor

Can be pretty good, as long as you always remember to use spermicide. 6 % ooops factor with diaphragm(cap)up to 9 % oops factor in young women.

Pluses

Easy as putting a tampon in.
No messing with hormones.
Some protection against AIDS etc (but not as good as a condom)

Minuses

You need to use a spermicide (sperm-killing stuff) with it, which is messy.
Got to keep it in there 6 hours after sex.
Has to be fitted at first by a nurse.
If you add / lose more than 10 lbs, you need to get a new one to fit.

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IUD Intra-Uterine Device

How it works

It’s a copper or hormone-covered coil that stops the fertilized egg landing in the uterus. Your doctor has to put it in.

The oops factor

Yes

Pluses

Once it’s in, that’s all you need to do.
Can make periods heavier
Useful as an emergency contraceptive. Will stop pregnancy if you put it in up to five days after unprotected sex.

Minuses

Not so good for young women – risk of infected fallopian tubes.
Doesn’t protect against AIDS or other sexually transmitted infections – in fact, can make some infections worse

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Spermicide

Gel, cream or foam that kills sperm. Follow the instructions on the packet - some condoms have it built in. Get them at any chemist.

The oops factor

Not good on its own – much better with diaphragm (cap) or condoms.

Pluses

Kills any sperm carrying AIDS virus (though not the virus itself).
Makes vagina less dry

Minuses

Can be a bit messy (think backwash...)
Some people are allergic to them

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Sterilization (The snip)

The woman has an operation to cut or clip her fallopian tubes. Or the man has an operation to cut and knot his spermatic tubes.

Probably best for your mum and dad rather than you...

The oops factor

Almost perfect (providing the doctor does it right)

Pluses

No kids – ever.

Minuses

What if you change your mind? Reversing it is complicated and difficult.

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Not having sex / Abstinence

You don’t have sex because:

you don’t feel ready
your body says ‘go’ but your heart says ‘no’
you don’t think it’s right yet
you’d only be doing it to keep up
it’s illegal under 16

The oops factor

None. The only method with a 0% ooops factor and total protection against AIDS and other nasties. Gives you time to find out who you are and what you want first.