Avoid Pregnancy
There are many reasons to avoid pregnancy during certain stages in life, and these reasons are sometimes very personal ones. It doesn’t always mean that it will be a lifelong choice. It simply can be a decision that is right for an individual at different points in her life. This can be something that couples, as well as single people, choose to do.
Obviously, teenagers who are sexually active should make the decision to not become parents. Just because they are engaging in sex does not mean it’s a great idea to create a baby at this stage in their lives. So, they should take care to avoid pregnancy. Most teenagers use birth control methods such as condoms, withdrawal, or birth control pills. For the more responsible ones, it can be a combination of 2 or all of these methods.
Couples, married or committed, choose these methods, as well as teenagers. Although for a married couple, who already have as many children as they wish to have, permanent sterilization is often an answer. This can be achieved through either a tubal ligation for women, or a vasectomy for men. These are both surgical methods, and as they are meant to be permanent and not easily reversed, taking this route should be well thought out. Be very sure that you do not wish to have more children of your own.
In using condoms to avoid pregnancy, it is very important to follow the instructions and use them the right way in order to obtain the optimum protection. As a side note, with the increasing number of STD’s in the world today, condoms should be used for more than protection against pregnancy only. Couples who are not that well acquainted with each should definitely employ the use of condoms even if there are other birth control methods being used.
Birth control pills gave women a measure of independence to avoid pregnancy when they were first introduced in the early 1960’s. Women no longer had to depend on men to make sure that they were protected regarding an unwanted pregnancy. This also seemed to open the door to women becoming more sexually active, as well as more open about it. The Pill has changed over the years and seems to be a lot safer for women to actually take now. When taken correctly, this is still one of the best ways to keep from getting pregnant.
Both women and men should keep in mind that there is no method to avoid pregnancy that is 100 percent effective except for surgical sterilization. So, if you are not ready to commit to having a child, be sure to pay close attention to the birth control method of your choice. If you need advice on making the best decision, your doctor can be of help. Don’t be embarrassed to ask, either. That’s what they are there for.
