Thinking about Birth Control

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-05-2004
Thinking about Birth Control
3
Wed, 05-05-2004 - 2:53pm
Hello,

I am a young female in her early twenties who has never been on birth control before. I am not sexually active and I do not wish to do so until I get married. I have a few questions regarding birth control and I was hoping a few of you could answer them.

First of all, how long should a person be on b.c. before they decide to be sexually active?

What is the best kind of birth control to use if you do not want to become pregnant for at least 3 years?

Is it best to visit a gyno in order to ask these questions?

Thanks a lot for your help ladies. I look forward to hearing from you and your experiences.

-Eloquent One

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-14-2000
Wed, 05-05-2004 - 3:23pm
>>>I am a young female in her early twenties who has never been on birth control before. I am not sexually active and I do not wish to do so until I get married.<<<

I waited until I got married, and I consider it one of the best decision I ever made. I wish you the best in following your conscience in a world that sometimes looks down on that sort of thing!

>>>First of all, how long should a person be on b.c. before they decide to be sexually active?<<<

Well, with the pill, a lot of doctors recommend using a backup for one month, just to get used to taking the pill at the same time every day. Other methods, like the IUD or diaphram, are effective immediately.

>>>What is the best kind of birth control to use if you do not want to become pregnant for at least 3 years?<<<

There are a lot of really effective methods. It just depends on how much time and preparation you want to invest in your BC. If you are good at remembering to take medication, the pill is really effective and really easy. Natural Family Planning can also be highly effective, but it requires a bit of a learning curve, and a lot of dedication to the method to achieve the highest effectivness.



>>>Is it best to visit a gyno in order to ask these questions? <<<

Some women like seeing a gyno for this kind of thing. Many insurance plans allow a woman to have both a primary care doctor and a gyno. I use my regular doctor. If you decide on a method like a diaphram or an IUD, your primary care doctor may refer you to a gyno.

Welcome and good luck!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 05-05-2004 - 3:39pm

Hi Eloquent,


Good for you for thinking about these things before you need them.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 05-05-2004 - 4:59pm
i was on bc quite a few years before having sex for the first time....i was on a few different pills-mainly for regulation of periods.Your dr could advise as to what method of bc would be right for you (pills,patch,IUD).Some pills are effective from day 1 and others take a whole month before you're fully protected-it depends on what pill....good luck!