Birth Control

Condoms are always a good choice for sex (no matter how many times you have or haven’t done it) because they are the only contraceptive choice that also provides STI protection. Even if one has not been sexually active in the past or refers to themselves as a “virgin” (which can have a TON of…

There is no one, very-best-in-the-entire-universe condom that is going to be best for everybody the first time or the 10th time or the 100th time. So, I’m afraid we can’t give you one solid answer for that. However, I think I can offer a few suggestions that might make choosing one a bit easier…

This is called condom failure. You treat the situation as if you did not use a condom. You cannot rely on the condom to protect you against pregnancy or infections. First, you retrieve and properly dispose of the slipped condom. Sometimes, if the condom slips off, it gets stuck in the vagina or…

You know, hormonal birth control often reduces or inhibits sexual desire or arousal for the person using it, too. For some people, pretty substantially. It does so because of what it does to a body hormonally: the only way condoms inhibit arousal or libido is if a guy using them (or opting not to)…

For birth control pills to be effective in preventing pregnancy, they have to be used correctly and consistently. Taking a birth control pill after sex won’t do anything to prevent pregnancy. And yep: it can sure make you feel a little loopy and confuse the heck out of your cycle. In order for your…

The instructions on every packet of condoms I have ever seen (including condoms in countries outside the United States) clearly state that once the man has ejaculated, he needs to withdraw and dispose of the condom promptly. Proper withdrawal means you grip the ring firmly, pull out completely and…

1. The hormones in birth control pills prevent the uterus from building up its lining (endometrium) as thick as it would be under a normal fertile cycle. This effect is mainly from the progesterone in the pills. Progesterone’s function in the body is to maintain the endometrium in stasis, so that it…

Nanelline: it is often tricky in some areas still to access or find emergency contraception in some areas, and unfortunately, yours is certainly one of the tricky ones. Here is what the Princeton EC site (which has a wonderful tool on that page for finding what EC options are available in every…

Hey there, freakout. I’m so glad you’ve found so much help here, and kudos to you for thinking about all of this in advance of sexual activity! Really, that’s an ideal we’re always all hoping for. If everyone had all of this information in advance, we’d all be a lot healthier, and probably have much…

There sure are a lot of choices in condom styles now, so it’s understandable that the array can leave folks mighty confused! Here are some of the most common “styles” of condoms out and about these days, and what the what is with each of them: Thinner condoms: Really, most condoms these days are far…