FAQ About Contraception

Is condom a reliable method of contraception?

Condom as well as any other birth control method is not 100 percent reliable, as it might break during sexual encounter. However, it is considered to be 95 percent effective – this is a very high rate.

Use a condom until you make sure your partner has no infection and has no other partner but you, as condom unlike any other method of contraception protects you from sexually transmitted diseases. If you want to protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy simultaneously and to increase the effectiveness, you can take birth-control pills and use condoms for each sexual intercourse.

I had sex only on safe days, but I got pregnant. Why?

The answer is very simple. Calendar method (as well as all other "natural" method of contraception, such as cervical mucus monitoring or charting basal body temperature) is not considered to be an effective birth-control method.

First of all, it is very easy to miscount "safe" days. For instance, many people think that the first week after periods is absolutely safe. However, this is not always true. Let's suppose that you have 28 day cycle, and periods last for 5 days. In this case the last day of the "safe" week is likely to fall on ovulation.

Secondly, many girls who have irregular cycle try to count "safe" days. There are no safe days if you have irregular cycle. Any day can become "unsafe" as you don't know when ovulation occurs.

Are birth-control pills effective?

If you take pills daily at the same time, than effectiveness is about 100 percent.

I am very forgetful. What can I do so as not to forget to take the pill?

First of all you should have the pills always with you. Otherwise it might happen so that you are at a party and pills are home just at the moment when you have to take a pill.

Secondly you can use your mobile phone or some other device to remind you of pills.

How can I know whether a pill contains much hormones or not?

There are different types of birth-control pills. Some pills contain 20 mcg of ethinylestradiol, others 20 mcg or even 30 mcg of this hormone. Pills that contain more than 20 mcg of ethinylestradiol are not used for contraception. These are used for treatment of some diseases and disorders. Choose from pills that contain from 20 to 30 mcg ethinylestradiol.

What birth-control methods can be used by adolescents?

Since adolescents usually do not have a regular partner, they should use condoms as only these can protect from sexually transmitted diseases.

Young girls can use birth-control pills but only together with condoms.

Adolescents cannot use intrauterine devices. Natural methods of contraception are also not recommended to teens as these are not reliable enough, and because young girls often have irregular cycle.

How often can I use emergency contraception?

Emergency contraception should be used very rarely in such situations as breakage of a condom or rape. It cannot be used as a regular birth control method.