Pregnancies during adolescence have decreased in recent years, thanks above all to parents and schools that have begun to provide better tools than in previous years for making smart choices. Comprehensive training and good communication have overwhelmingly proven to be effective in preventing teenage pregnancies.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Preventing Pregnancy as a Teenager
Step 1. Get informed
Start educating yourself on how a pregnancy begins. Many studies have shown that the more you are aware of the dynamics of sex and pregnancy, the better you will be able to make the right decisions regarding sexual intercourse. You can find tons of accurate and professional information online using various sources.
In summary, pregnancy occurs because the man produces a substance in the body, called sperm, which comes out through the penis. This substance enters a woman's vagina (through sexual intercourse or other means), where it joins the egg inside the uterus to form a baby. The woman's eggs are not always in the right position or at the right maturation; therefore this is why there is no pregnancy every time you have sex
Step 2. Some myths need to be dispelled
There is a lot of false information and false beliefs about how it is possible to get pregnant. If you know the truth from the facts, you will be much more able to protect yourself. Remember, when in doubt, play it safe. It is better to wait until you have adequate protection than to risk getting pregnant due to a false information you have read on social networks.
- Myth: "You can't get pregnant if you have sex during your menstrual cycle." The body usually releases an egg in the period between one cycle and another, but in reality it can often happen that ovulation occurs at any time during the menstrual period. There may therefore be chances of getting pregnant, so don't rely on this to feel safe.
- Myth: "You cannot get pregnant if the boy does not ejaculate in the vagina during intercourse." This method consists in extracting the penis from the vagina before ejaculating or in any case before the male orgasm that releases the semen. The problem is that the penis sometimes emits semen before ejaculation and it can still lead to pregnancy! This method is very unreliable and the chances of getting pregnant with this form of "birth control" are around 30%.
- Myth: "You can't get pregnant if you are in certain positions or have sex in certain places." It doesn't matter if you are in a swimming pool / hot tub or if the girl is on top during intercourse. When a penis enters a vagina, there can be a pregnancy.
- Myth: "You can't get pregnant if you _ afterward." Unless in this blank you put the words drugs or medical devices like morning after pill or a IUD, then this is a total myth. Jumping, douching, showering, peeing, eating certain foods - none of these will help you avoid a possible pregnancy.
Step 3. Maintain abstinence as much as possible
This is not meant to appear like the moralistic puritans of the church, but abstinence is really the best solution to avoid getting pregnant. Even the most effective forms of birth control only work 'almost' always. If you want to make sure you're not getting pregnant, find other ways to have sex that don't involve penetration.
- Pregnancy, among other things, is not the only risk of sex. It is important to keep this aspect in mind. You need to be safe and use protection to avoid contracting sexually transmitted diseases.
- There are also advantages in dealing with things calmly in your relationship. While sex is fun and makes you feel good, it comes with a lot of complications. You may think that once you start having sex you will have fewer problems, but in reality you will have more. This is why, if you are able to keep your emotional relationship with your partner working equally, it is better to maintain abstinence until you have found a balance in your life and are better able to deal with these complications.
Step 4. Find other ways to vent your sexual needs
Full, penetrative sex isn't the only way. If you can't take contraceptives, or if you just want to be really sure you won't get pregnant or your girlfriend is pregnant, you can try other ways to have physical intercourse that doesn't involve the risk of having a baby.
- Try something akin to mutual masturbation. This consists of stimulating oneself in front of the partner or of stimulating each other. As long as there is no penetration and the man's sperm remains away from the vagina, no pregnancy can occur. This method is also relatively safe to protect against disease.
- You can try something like oral or anal sex. This should still be done with a condom, as both can still spread disease and infection.
Step 5. Talk to an adult you trust
Find a reassuring adult and ask them about sex, sexual health, relationships, and pregnancy. He will surely be able to give you some advice. It can also help you find resources so that you can better protect yourself from unwanted pregnancy. Plan a time to talk to him and explain why. At first it could be embarrassing and perhaps difficult to deal with the matter, it could even take more than one conversation, but you will find that having someone to help you will make you feel much more reassured and peaceful.
You can say something like this: "Andrea, I don't feel comfortable talking to mom or dad, but I really want sex with my girlfriend and I'm worried she might get pregnant. Can you help me choose the right condoms?"
Step 6. Find remedies on your own
In many states, contraceptives can be obtained from doctors and pharmacies without the need to notify parents. If you don't feel comfortable talking to your family about your situation, make an appointment with an organization such as the counseling center for teens. He will be able to inform you correctly and you will be able to get what you need at an affordable price, even without your parents knowing what you are doing.
- You can do an online search to find the nearest clinic.
- If you can't find one of these centers near your home, check with your local health facility for advice on services that may be available to you.
Step 7. Stay away from drugs and alcohol
There are many reasons to avoid these substances, but one of the most important is that both can lead you to make really bad decisions. When you are drunk or under the psychotropic effect of drugs, the brain does not function normally (which is why it feels so good). This means that while you could usually make the smart choice and use a condom, the altered brain doesn't even consider this hypothesis.
- You should also worry about what might happen while you are passed out. If you take so much alcohol or drugs that you can't even move or pass out, you have no control over what can happen to your body.
- For example, more than 20% of teenage pregnancies are the result of sexual intercourse under the influence of alcohol.
Part 2 of 3: Preventing Pregnancy if You Are the Parent of a Teenager
Step 1. Learn and educate your teen about sex
According to statistics, information is the best weapon in preventing teenage pregnancy. It has been proven time and again that the more a teenager understands how babies are born and how to prevent this from happening, the harder it will be to get pregnant. Of course, it's also possible that you were taught incorrectly, so you should refresh your memory too before educating your children.
- Informing yourself better can make you more confident and comfortable when dealing with this topic, especially if you come from a very conservative background.
- You can find information on sex from books in your city library, at a doctor's office, and even on the internet.
Step 2. Help him dispel certain myths
When young people aren't educated about sex, they try to make their best guesses as to how it works. Often, these assumptions are terribly and hilariously wrong; they can be so absurd (for example: "You can get pregnant from a kiss!"), that sometimes misinformation can actually lead your teenage daughter, or your son's girlfriend, to get pregnant. You should therefore ensure that any misconceptions your child has are dealt with thoroughly so that he can make the right choices for himself.
- You can find some examples of false pregnancy myths in the previous section of this article.
- The best way to find out what misconceptions your child has about sex is to talk to him about what he knows. Ask him openly: "What do you know about sex? How does a woman get pregnant? What role does a man play? How do you think pregnancy can be avoided?"
Step 3. Ensure your child has access to contraceptives
Even if you have open communication and a good relationship with your child, they may still feel uncomfortable asking you what they need to avoid becoming pregnant. You can eliminate this problem by having them access contraceptives without having to ask you directly.
- One possibility could be to teach him where to get them on his own and at low cost, such as at the pharmacy or at the doctor's office.
- Another option would be to let him know that you are going to keep a box of condoms in the bathroom drawer. He can take them without asking and you can put in a new box when this is finished.
Step 4. Tell your teen about your concerns
Now, no one here wants to argue that you can let him have sex freely and that you can safely tell him there are no consequences. Instead, it is important that you talk to him about what worries you and the risks that sex entails. If you communicate your fears calmly and without judgment, you will be more likely to convince him to wait. Talk to him about:
- The health risks.
- The emotional risks.
- The risks for his future.
Step 5. Discuss drugs and alcohol with your child
These are almost inevitable components at this stage of its growth. Although she can normally make very good choices, a one-night mistake is enough for a teenager to get pregnant. Bring up this topic head on by letting him know that if he's going to have sex, at least do it in a safe environment. Let him know that an altered mind can lead to bad decisions or even deprive him of the ability to discern.
Girls should be warned of what boys can do to them when they are not in control and boys need to be warned that it is essential to obtain consent to have sex, but alcohol can make them forget
Step 6. Give hope for the future
If the adolescent has goals and hopes for the future, he will be much more incentivized to stay away from sex or at least to be more responsible. Help him pursue his dreams to keep him busy and make his goals seem achievable. Encourage him and help him believe he can become more than he is now.
Step 7. Keep him busy
If your child's day is full of activities, he or she will have less time and energy to get into trouble. Don't expect him to completely abstain from dating and intimate relationships this way, but it should at least cut down on some opportunities and certainly stop him from having sex just because he's bored.
- Enroll him in courses or associations that allow him to engage in various interests and hobbies. If his hobby is something he can do at home, invest in it by providing him with some tools so he can fully immerse himself in that business.
- If you don't have the money to sign him up for a class, go to your local community's cultural center or school, where fun times are sure to be provided. There may be scholarships, awards, or special donations to help your teen pursue such businesses.
Step 8. Be careful
Ultimately, you can't always control the choices your child makes, you can't always decide for his life. But if it is necessary, you can direct its path, limiting the paths it can take. Pay attention to what it does. If you see that she is dating someone much older (for girls) or much younger (for boys), do what you can to make sure they are making a good choice. You should still talk to him if you see that his relationship seems very "serious" to you. If you notice that she often goes to parties, it may be time to intervene in her behavior. While these situations aren't always easy to control, doing something is better than doing nothing.
Part 3 of 3: Knowing the Different Contraceptives
Step 1. Learn how contraceptives work
It is important to know how they act. You may be misinformed and think that they can cause miscarriages or that they can cause terrible consequences on the body, but these things are not true. There are an infinite number of different types of contraceptives, from condoms to implants and all of them have the function of preventing the male sperm from reaching the female egg or preventing the egg from being fertilized. Do a search for each type of contraceptive you wish to consider.
Knowing how it works will not only make its use more comfortable or you can recommend it more, but will also help you use it correctly and choose the best one for your habits. Some contraceptives have to be used in a very specific way otherwise they are not effective, so if you have trouble remembering how they work (for example) you can consider using another type
Step 2. Learn what types of contraceptives are available
There is not only the pill. There are several types, ranging from drugs to devices to be applied or inserted, and they all perform the same function: they prevent unwanted pregnancy. Choose what's best for you, and to be on the safe side, use more than one method at a time. This is even more important for teens and people who are not in a serious, long-term relationship. You can use:
- Condoms. They should be the first and most important thing, since they also protect against sexually transmitted diseases as well as pregnancy. No matter what gender you are, you should always have them on hand. Even if you decide to use other contraceptives, always wear or have a condom worn.
- The pill. There are different types of "pills", but they are all taken by the woman to prevent her from getting pregnant. These do not cause an abortion, as you may have been told. Their function is to make the uterus inhospitable for the egg by preventing it from being fertilized. Usually, a very small pill is taken every day. This is an easy and effective form of birth control and has many other benefits (such as reducing acne and making menstrual cycles less uncomfortable).
- Contraceptive implant and spiral. There are several implants and IUDs (intrauterine devices) all for women. Some of these are inserted into the arm while others are applied to the uterus. They are all considered to be among the most effective contraceptives. Even though they can be uncomfortable to put on, they are great solutions for teenagers, because once they are applied you don't think about it anymore. Most of these devices are effective for at least 3 years, and some for as long as 12. This means you don't have to worry about getting pregnant until the time comes.
- Other methods. There are also many other methods, such as the vaginal ring, the contraceptive sponge, and the patch. Talk to your doctor about the options that may be best for your situation and habits.
Step 3. Use whatever type of contraceptive you choose correctly
No matter what shape you prefer, make sure you use it the right way. Most contraceptives are highly effective with 99% success, but this only if it is used, applied or taken in the correct way for which it is intended. If you are a teenager, learn how to use the method you have chosen appropriately. If you are a parent or an adult, do your research and then make sure your child knows what to do.
Research online to find out how to use each form of contraceptive well
Step 4. Talk about birth control, even if it may be uncomfortable or you don't know how to deal with it
A key aspect of knowledge in life is that any problem can be best addressed by talking about it. Talking about birth control methods with a parent, a trusted adult, son, daughter, or other teen can make you uncomfortable. It is always quite embarrassing to deal with sexual issues. But only by talking about it and expressing any doubts, perplexities or uncertainties can you be better informed and sure. As when dealing with the fear of the monster under the bed, you will find that talking about sex in a practical and healthy way will be less scary once you get to know the subject better.
- It may take more than one attempt before you are able to have a clear and comprehensive discussion about contraceptives. Do not give up!
- Parents who want to address this issue may say something like: "Marco, you are probably starting to have certain sexual wants and needs. You are growing up and this is normal. But an important aspect of being an adult is being responsible for the things you do. you wish to do. I want to talk to you about what your responsibilities are now that you are becoming a man."
- Guys who want to discuss contraceptives may say something like, "Mom, I'm growing up and I don't want to ruin my future before it starts. I prefer to start taking some contraceptives even if it's not necessary for a while but I'm afraid to do a wrong choice. Can you help me figure out what I need to know before something goes wrong?"
Step 5. Know what your options are if you get pregnant
If you are pregnant it is important to know what solutions are available, so that you can make an informed choice about how you want to handle the situation. Since society tends to be divided on what to do in this case, you should get as much information and from multiple different sources.
A good source of information is the Planned Parenthood, which can analyze all possible options with you and allows you to decide what is best for you. If you decide to keep the baby, it will also help you find services and resources
Advice
- If you know any family or friends who had a baby during their adolescence, let them tell you how they lived the experience and how they spent their life during pregnancy and after.
- Be gentle on the subject, the teenage years are difficult.
