I've been wondering if using birth control is safe? And is there a certain brand of birth control that I can use that will be the best to use?

Lemontree asks: I am 20 years old and have been on the pill for about 2 years now and at first me and my boyfriend (coming to our 3.5 year anniversary! yay) would always use a condom as well just to be that extra safe. But awhile back we discussed not using a condom for our first time and seeing as I was on pill (which I have never missed) knew we would be safe. We also tried researching online about when the safest time on the pill would be and I couldn't find much information...just that if you take the pill on time etc. then you should be safe all the time and other sites saying always use a condom no matter what (which me and my boyfriend disregard because we are each others firsts and only so no risk of catching anything).

Hi. I've actually never had intercourse before, but my gynecologist suggested that I begin taking birth control pills about 2 months before my wedding date to make sure that everything is on the up and up with them (& that I wouldn't have any adverse reactions to them). So far I've been taking them around the same time (anywhere between 6:00 and 6:45am) for about 5 and a half weeks and I've noticed no real side effects or anything. The first 3 days I had a headache, but that's about it. The wedding is in 24 days. How do I know that these birth control pills are actually working inside of me? I guess I'm kinda nervous, and was wondering if there are any for sure ways to tell that the pills are running their course? Thank you.

Can my birth control be drying me out? My boyfriend and I have tried to have sex 3 times and we can't get it in. Should I switch my birth control?

I'm really torn on what to do. I'm a 17 year old, sexually active girl and I've been thinking about getting on the pill. My boyfriend and I use condoms every single time, but he wanted me to get on the pill because he says it feels better without one and also because pregnancy is something we both don't want. It took me forever to get up the courage to make an appointment at Planned Parenthood, and when I finally did, I canceled 5 hours before my appointment. I just couldn't go through with it. I think I want to get on the pill but I'm scared my mom will find out since I have to take it everyday, and I also don't want all of the side effects like mood change and weight gain. My boyfriend now says that I can do whatever I want, and that after getting used to condoms, he thinks that they feel the same as not using one. That's great and all that he's putting the decision completely in my hands but it also doesn't help because I have no idea what I should do. Is it okay for me to just use condoms? Is that safe enough, if we use them properly? Will the pill be too much of a hassle if I have to hide it, and does it really cause you to gain weight and get all sensitive? I don't know what to do at all. I want to be responsible with this but I just want to make sure I'm not choosing the wrong thing by sticking with only condoms.

Does precum contain enough sperm to get you pregnant if you have sex when its present? Also, if the guy pulls out and the cum gets all over your vagina and the a few minutes later he re-enters you, is that a pregnancy risk? My friends have told me that it's impossible, but I don't know. I'm scared, please help!

Hey Sexperts,
I've been on the combination birth control pill Lutera for about a month and a half now. The problem is, on the first pack, my period came halfway through the second active pill week and lasted until almost the end of the inactive pill week (almost a 3 week period!). It was really light, but still super annoying. I shrugged off the experience thinking my body was just getting used to the hormones and stuff.

I've started the second pack and I'm halfway through the second week of active pills and my period has come again! Do you think it will last until the end of the inactive pill week (do I have to suffer through another 3-week long period)? Also, does this irregular period mean the pill isn't working? I am sexually active so I sure hope the pill is working!!!!!!!

Thank you!

I have been on the Cyclin contraceptive pill for about 4 months now. Before that I was on Diane 35. I understand that the bleeding that occurs when we are on the pill is not technically a period because we have not ovulated and therefore have not released an egg. My question is, in that case, where do the eggs go?

I am currently starting my second month on birth control. When engaging in sexual intercourse with my boyfriend, we do not use a condom. If my boyfriend was to not pull out and blow inside of me during sex, would the pill still protect me from getting pregnant? Or do guys still have to pull out and blow in order to not get pregnant?

Hey guys. I'm 18 and have really small breasts, I'm like a 32A, but I'm also only 5'3 and around 110 pounds. I got my period when I was 13 and my breasts have not gotten any larger. When I first got my period, I was around 135 pounds at my heaviest, but they were not any bigger then than they are now (I didn't go on a diet, the weight just melted away). I want to go on the pill to regulate my period because I still don't really get it regularly, however it is becoming more predictable. I was wondering if I go on the pill my breasts will get larger, because maybe since I'm not getting my period as steady as I should, and maybe it has to do with my hormone levels or something, if going on the pill will make them bigger? And what about helping with acne?(And my mom is a small B cup btw).
THANKS for your help!

Hi, my boyfriend and I have been together for a year and we just had sex for the first time the other day. I'm on the pill, but I'm still really nervous because he came inside of me. I had gotten my period on Monday and started my new cycle of the pill. My period ended Wednesday and we had sex Thursday night. On Tuesday and Wednesday, I took my pill at 8:30 at night, but I usually take it at 6:30 pm. Then on Thursday, I took it at 6:30. Is this a problem? I've been so paranoid the last few days and I can't get my mind off of it. All of my friends keep telling me that I'm fine. I had a little stomach ache Friday morning, the day after we had sex. That made me even more nervous and I kept thinking I had morning sickness! All of my friends use the pill and their boyfriends ejaculate in them all the time, even when my friends forget to take their pill one night or something. I've been on the pill since August now, so my body is used to it. Do I have a lot to worry about?! I keep freaking out and asking my friends millions of questions and they keep telling me I'm fine. I feel fine and I don't feel any different after that stomach ache I had, but I'm still thinking about it. Thanks for your help!

This is really important! Okay, I need to know what I need to do to obtain birth control, by myself. My boyfriend and I have been sexually active for a few months but we always used condoms. Properly, I assure you. However, about a month ago, we both came to the conclusion that we wouldn't have vaginal sex anymore cause of how worried we both got about pregnancy risks afterwards. Now we're really wanting to start again. But I really want to get on the pill before we do. I just honestly don't know where to start with that. I have to make an appointment with a doctor right? Well, I don't know where to go for the appointment. The doctor that I've always gone to is like a family doctor and he even delivered me so that would just be awkward cause he's like friends with my mother and everything. And I don't know what to expect from the appointment. I really just wanna go in, get the birth control, and be outta there. But that's probably not the case. So what should I expect? And how much does the appointment, on top of the purchase of the birth control cost? My boyfriend will help with the money of course, but I'm scared if they're gonna do any tests. I've never had a pap smear or anything. It's hard that I have to do this alone. My mother I KNOW won't support me in this. But it's what I've decided to do and it's what I want. So I would appreciate some advice. /: Thank you.