Birth Control question?!

Birth Control question?

Hey guys, I'm 20 and have been in a serious relationship...I recently had sex with my bf, but since I was still a virgin, it hurt too much and i told him to stop....anyway, I thought that since I'm going to be sexually active now, I should go on the pill....but I dont know anything in detail...what's the best kind...what are the side effects....someone told me it prevents you from having kids in the future (which i dont think is true...)...any suggestions?

First, well done for thinking ahead about sexual responsibility. Birth control is a great idea- but make sure that you are not only protecting yourself from unwanted pregnancy but from STIs as well. Prescription BC methods will not do that for you- condoms will greatly lessen your risk of contracting STIs. So use both- every time!

As for what kind of BC is best, there are a wide variety of methods available now, with a variety of side effects and benefits. So you really should discuss all your options with your doctor or make a visit to your local sex clinic.

In the meantime, here are a few examples of different kinds of birth control that you may want to research further:

"The pill" could actually refer to a wide variety of products with different hormone levels and different possible side effects. You do have to take them every day, at more or less the same time every day.

Depo Provera is a shot that you get every three months, which is pretty convenient. The down side is that if you have any adverse reactions (many women have breakthrough bleeding, for example), they're going to last for those whole three months before you can switch to a different method.

"The patch" is rather like a nicotine patch that you put on your hip or arm. It has to be changed weekly, and you've got to wear it all the time.

NuvaRing is a flexible rubber ring that you insert into your vagina and leave there all the time- changed weekly. You can take it out for a few hours if you don't want to wear it during sex, but you do have to remember to put it back in.

I don't know much about IUDs (little metal coils that a doctor inserts into your uterus to prevent pregnancy), or birth control implants (usually inserted just under the skin, I think changed every six months), but those are other options too.

Since you brought it up, none of these hormonal methods of BC should affect your ability to have children in the future.

Since you didn't bring it up- make sure that this is something you really want to do. The tone of your question made me wonder a little if you really want to be having penetrative sex with your BF, or if you just feel you should continue since you had one (not very pleasant sounding) go at it. There's no reason why you can't have other kinds of sex (touching, etc.) with fewer risks and get just as much pleasure out of it. (Although oral sex has pretty much all the same risks as genital sex except pregnancy).

One last thing- don't forget about emergency contraceptives (ECP, Plan B, "the morning after pill"). I wouldn't recommend using these as your primary BC, but if something goes wrong with your other method (you forget to take a pill, the condom breaks, etc.), it's worth having two or three of these around just in case.

Best of luck to you and your guy- I applaud you for taking care of yourselves!