Being a teen means making decisions about a lot of things, from what sport
you play to whether you want to go to college. But one of the toughest decisions
that a lot of teens face is whether to have sex. If teens decide to have sex, it
means they must also take responsibility to protect themselves from
unplanned pregnancy.
Over the course of one year, 85 out of 100 women and teens will become
pregnant if they have sex without using some type of birth control. In addition
to preventing unwanted pregnancies, teens who have sex must protect
themselves from sexually transmitted
diseases (STDs). For those having sex, condoms
must always be used every time to protect against STDs.
The most effective method of birth control is abstinence,
which means no sexual intercourse. Abstinence is the only absolute way that
teens will not have to deal with pregnancy or STDs.
For teens who do choose to have sex, there are many effective birth
control methods to choose from. Check the articles below to learn some
important information about these methods, as well as some popular ones that
aren't as effective or as safe as you might have thought.
Remember, abstinence (the decision to not have sex) is the only
method that always prevents pregnancy and STDs.
Updated and reviewed by: Steven Dowshen,
MD
Date reviewed: April 2003
Originally reviewed by: George A. Macones, MD, Neil
Izenberg, MD
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