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 and sexually transmitted diseases (STD).
In the United States, the teenage pregnancy rate is higher than in many other countries. Approximately 1 million teens become pregnant every year and about 78% of them don't plan on becoming pregnant. In addition to preventing unplanned pregnancies, people who have sex must protect themselves from 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 way that couples can be 100% sure they will not have to deal with pregnancy or STDs.
For couples 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 different methods of birth control. You may be surprised — some popular methods aren't as effective as people might think.
- Birth Control Patch
- Birth Control Pill
- Birth Control Ring
- Birth Control Shot
- Condom
- Diaphragm
- Emergency Contraception (Morning-After Pill)
- IUD
- Rhythm Method
- Spermicide
- Withdrawal
- Vaginal Ring
