Just like any new thing, condoms may feel "weird" at first. Like wearing glasses for the first time, they might feel a bit "weird" or disorienting, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't wear them! Condoms should feel snug so that they do not come off when you use them. However, if they are cutting off blood flow, or painfully tight, you could consider a larger condom size. Remember though, you want a snug fit so it does not slip off, and most people do not need a larger condom

Yes, using both condoms and another form of birth control will further decrease your chance of pregnancy! There are many forms of contraceptives (e.g., pills, IUD, implant, hormonal vs non-hormonal). Many methods will prevent pregnancy around 99% of the time. Condoms have the added bonus of also preventing the spread of STIs (sexually transmitted infections)! Condoms are 97% effective at preventing pregnancy if used perfectly, or approximately 82% effective when factoring in

No, the morning after pill and the abortion pill are not the same thing. The morning after pill (e.g., Plan B), is a pill you take within 72 hours after having sex to PREVENT a pregnancy from happening. It is emergency birth control. It contains either levonorgestrel or ulipristal acetate to ensure a fertilized egg does not implant in the uterus. This prevents pregnancy from starting. The abortion pill is a pill you take AFTER getting pregnant. In the early stages of a pregna

No, it is not better to use two condoms. In fact, two condoms can cause friction between the condoms and make it easier for the condoms to break. Using two condoms, therefore, can increase the risk of pregnancy. Do not use two condoms! This includes using two external condoms (ones that go on the penis), or using an internal and external condom together (an internal condom is one that goes inside the vagina/anus).

Plan B, or the morning after pill, is a brand of emergency contraceptive pills, which you can take within a few days after having sex to prevent pregnancy. To get emergency contraceptive pills, or Plan B, you can go to your local pharmacy. They do NOT require a prescription. Some universities or local organizations, such as health departments, may be able to provide this for free or low-cost as well. Emergency contraceptive pills are more effective the sooner they are taken a

There are a lot of different birth control options to choose from - and deciding what is best for you depends on what you are looking for! For example, taking a birth control pill can help with hormonal acne and other concerns. However, if you don't want to have to remember to take a pill every day, you may want to consider an IUD or other option. Also, barrier methods, such as condoms, are the ONLY option that also prevent sexually transmitted infections. To learn what is be

With this specific question, we cannot give a specific answer to your situation as there are a lot of variables, but we will answer as best we can! First, there are a lot of reasons your period may be delayed, especially if you are not on a birth control method (e.g., the pill) that makes your periods regular. Even stress or heavy exercise can affect your period. You know your body best and how long your cycle normally is, so use this as a comparison! Having sex on your perio

Safe sex between two women, or two men, is very similar to the ways that are taught about sex between a man and woman! Condoms work as a barrier, which prevents skin-to-skin contact and therefore helps prevent the spread of STIs. For oral sex (mouth to genital), while a condom can be used on a penis, for a woman, a dental dam is a good option! Dental dams create a barrier and therefore help prevent STIs. If you do not have a dental dam, you can cut a condom lengthwise along o

The "pull out" method is when a person with a penis pulls their penis out of their partner's vagina before ejaculating. While this is more effective than doing nothing to prevent pregnancy, it is one of least effective methods of preventing pregnancy. The "pull out" method is about 78% effective, if done perfectly. That means, even if performed perfectly, about 1 in 5 women will still get pregnant with this method. This is, in part, because the penis produces pre-ejaculate du

While there is always a small chance of pregnancy if you have sex, it is very unlikely that you will get pregnant if you are taking the pill properly! The pill (combined or progesterone only) is supposed to be taken at the same time every day to be most effective. If it is being taken correctly, the pill is 99% effective, or only 1 in 100 women will get pregnant. However, some people do miss a dose (which you should take as soon as you realize you missed it!), or do not take

Technically yes, but the chances are relatively low. While there is always a risk of pregnancy even with birth control, PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) does not affect the patch’s ability to prevent pregnancy. The patch is 91% effective with typical use. When starting the patch, it takes up to 7 days to become effective, so after 2 weeks of use it will be acting to prevent pregnancy. To ensure the patch is working properly, make sure it is put on dry and clean skin (i.e., do

The Plan B/ the"morning after" pill/emergency contraception contains the hormone levonorgestrel (a progestin) which can stop the person taking it from ovulating, block fertilization and/or keep a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus. Plan B must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex or contraceptive failure - including condom breakage - but is more effective the sooner it is taken. A pregnancy test is the only way to confirm whether or not Plan B has been effect

If you have used a dental dam or condom, then your chances of getting a sexually transmitted infections (STI/STD) is low in each sexual encounter you have. However, if your protection did not include a barrier method like condoms or dental dams, then your chance of getting an infection becomes higher after having sex. Your chance of getting an STI increases with the number of sexual partners you have, as your exposure to potential sources of infection are higher. That is why

There are pills that you can take for an abortion, and you can see a doctor to get these serices or have a self-managed abortion (SMA). However, these medications are often hard to access without seeing a doctor in the United States - the Plan C website has more information about how to do so at home and more information about the process. The recommended pill therapy is a combined medication called mifepristone-misoprostol (made of these two medications). While it is safe to

An IUD does not fall out during your period because of the way it is placed in your uterus. Unlike your uterine lining, which is tissue that sloughs off during your period, an IUD is a firm object and has two arms that make it fit snugly in your uterus. It it also difficult for it to go through your cervical os (a term for the tip of your cervix, where the IUD strings go through) since the cervical os is pretty closed and too tight for the IUD to go through on its own, wherea

And, what does it mean if they are 99% effective? When looking at the effectiveness of birth control (pills or not), the number you find by the manufacturer is how effective it is when used perfectly (i.e. you take the pills everyday, or for condoms, that you wear the condom correctly and it is not expired or broken). The effectiveness does not depend on brand name but rather the type of birth control pill. For example, progesterone only birth control pills have different eff

There are many different types of birth control, or contraception. From condoms, to the the pill, IUDs (intrauterine devices), and more, different contraceptive methods have different pros and cons. Most importantly, when used correctly, all birth control can help prevent pregnancy when you have sex. Birth control does not cause long term infertility. It stops you from getting pregnant while you are using it and for a little while after, depending on the contraceptive you cho

It is possible to get pregnant the first time you have sex if you do not use birth control (condoms, diaphragms, IUD, etc.) and you are in the ovulating window of your menstrual cycle. Pregnancy can happen any time male ejaculate, or sperm, gets into the vagina or vulva. This is why it is super important to use birth control every time you have sex if you do not want to get pregnant.

To get the pill (or the birth control pill) in most places, you must get a prescription from a medical provider, such as a nurse practitioner, a doctor, or a family planning clinic. Some states such as Maryland have recently passed laws that do not require you to see a doctor, but you must still get the pills from a pharmacist. The locations and number of medical providers who can provide the pill will depend on where you live.

First - don't panic! The best thing to do is to first take your missed pill as soon as possible. You can continue to take your remaining pil