In recent years, teenage pregnancy rates have declined quite rapidly as parents and schools have functioned better than ever before in teaching teens to make smart decisions. Comprehensive education and good communication play a very big role in finding effective ways to prevent pregnancy in adolescents.
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Method 1 of 3: Preventing Pregnancy as a Teen
Step 1. Educate yourself with knowledge about pregnancy
Start by educating yourself about how pregnancy begins. Many studies have found that the more you know about how sex and pregnancy work, the better you will be at making decisions about sex. You can find a lot of accurate information online from sources such as the Mayo Clinic and Wikipedia.
In short, men produce a substance from within the body called semen, which is excreted through the penis. This substance is deposited in a woman's vagina (through sex or other means), where semen combines with an egg in the uterus to form a baby. A woman only occasionally has an egg in her womb, and an egg doesn't always get what it needs from semen. This is why women don't always get pregnant every time they have sex
Step 2. Don't believe the myths about pregnancy
There are many myths about the occurrence of pregnancy. If you know the truth and the facts, you will be able to protect yourself better. It's better not to have sex until you have proper protection, than to risk getting pregnant because of the information you read on Tumblr.
- Myth: "You won't get pregnant if you have sex during your period." The body will normally release an egg in the middle of menstruation, but many women can experience the release of an egg at any time in the menstrual cycle. In fact, this method may get some women pregnant more often, so don't rely on this myth.
- Myth: "You won't get pregnant if the man releases sperm outside the vagina during sex." This is a way of having sex with a man removing his penis from the woman's vagina before the man ejaculates or orgasms (and then secretes semen). The problem is that before ejaculation, the penis also releases fluids that can make a woman pregnant! This method is very unreliable for most people, and the chances of getting pregnant this way are around 30%.
- Myth: "You can't get pregnant if you have sex in certain positions or places." It doesn't matter if you have sex in a swimming pool/hot tub or the woman is in an up position while doing it, if the penis enters the vagina, pregnancy can occur.
- Myth: "You will get pregnant if you do (something) after sex." Unless that particular thing is medication or a medical device like a Plan B or an IUD, this opinion is a myth. Jumping ("jumping jack"), cleaning the vagina with water, bathing, urinating, eating certain foods: whatever it is, they will not prevent you from getting pregnant.
Step 3. Do not have sex as much as possible
This article may not be a preacher at your place of worship, but it is the best way to keep yourself from getting pregnant. Even the most effective contraceptive methods may fail. If you want to guarantee that you won't get pregnant, find other ways of releasing sexual desire that don't involve penetration of the penis into the vagina.
- It is important to remember that the risks of having sex are not just pregnancy. You also need security and use protection to avoid infection with sexually transmitted diseases.
- There are also benefits to be had when you take your relationship slowly. While sex is fun and makes you feel good, sex adds a lot of complexity. You may think you'll have fewer problems if you start having sex, but you'll actually have more problems. This is why, if you can afford it, you're better off not having sex until you reach a certain phase of your life when you're ready to face the hassle.
Step 4. Find other ways to let go of sexual desire
You can not only release sexual desire through sex and penetration. If you don't have a birth control method or you just want to be absolutely sure that you won't get pregnant or that you won't get your partner pregnant, try other methods that involve physical interaction, but won't get either of you having a baby.
- Try ways such as mutually beneficial masturbation. This is the way when you stimulate yourself in front of your partner or stimulate each other. As long as no penetration occurs and the semen released by the man does not enter the vagina, pregnancy will not occur. It's also relatively safe to protect you from disease.
- You can try alternative methods such as oral sex or anal sex. However, this must be done by wearing a condom, as both can also transmit disease and infection.
Step 5. Ask a trusted adult
Ask a trusted adult about sex, sexual health, romantic relationships, and pregnancy. At the very least, an adult will give you some advice. It is even possible that they will help you to gain knowledge so that you can better protect yourself from pregnancy. Set a time to talk to them privately and tell them why you're asking. This may feel awkward at first and you may have a lot of further questions, but you will find that having someone to help makes you feel comfortable and happy.
You could say, “Brian, I'm not comfortable talking about this to mom and dad, but I really want to be more intimate with my boyfriend and I'm worried about getting him pregnant. Can you help me choose the right condom?”
Step 6. Get independent treatment
In many countries, you can legally obtain birth control from doctors and pharmacies, without notifying your parents. If you don't feel comfortable discussing your situation with your family, make an appointment with an organization such as PKBI (Indonesian Family Planning Association). The staff will teach you and give you everything you need at an affordable price, so your parents don't have to know what you're doing.
- You can find the nearest PKBI clinic by visiting its website.
- If you live in a location that is not covered by PKBI services, ask your local health agency for advice on what services you can get.
Step 7. Stay away from drugs and alcoholic beverages
There are many reasons for you to stay away from drugs and alcohol, but one of the most important reasons is that they can lead you to make the wrong decisions. When you're drunk, your brain won't work as well as when you're normal (which is why it feels so good). This means that usually you'd make smart choices and wear a condom, but you wouldn't even consider wearing it when you're drunk.
- You should also worry about things that might happen when you faint. If you pass out from drinking too much alcohol or using drugs, you can't control what other people do to you.
- For example, more than 20% of teenage pregnancies are the result of sexual intercourse under the influence of alcohol.
Method 2 of 3: Preventing Pregnancy in Your Teenagers
Step 1. Educate yourself and your teen about sex
According to statistics, education about sex is the most powerful weapon in preventing pregnancy in adolescents. It has often been shown that the more a teenager understands about infant origin and how to prevent pregnancy, the better they can take care of themselves. Of course, it's possible that you were educated wrongly too, so it's better if you learn the right things first before educating your teen.
- Self-study may also make you feel more comfortable about this subject, especially if you are a conservative person.
- You can find information about sex from books in your local library, doctor's office, and even the internet.
Step 2. Help your teen to disbelieve in myths about pregnancy
If teens are not educated about sex, they will be guessing about how sex works. Often, their guesses are completely wrong. In today's world, while there are still some silly guesses like ("Kissing will get you pregnant!"), sometimes a lack of information can lead to your teen getting pregnant or impregnating someone else. Make sure that you straighten out any misconceptions they have received so that they can make good decisions for themselves.
- You can find examples of myths about pregnancy in the section of this article aimed at teenagers.
- The best way to find out what misinformation about sex your child knows is to ask what they know. Ask things like: “What do you know about sex?” “How can a woman get pregnant?” “What is the role of a man in sex?” “How can pregnancy be prevented?”
Step 3. Keep birth control as something personal, but collectible
Even with open communication and a good relationship between you and your child, she may still feel uncomfortable asking for something they need to prevent pregnancy. You can eliminate this concern by making sure that your child can take birth control without asking you directly.
- Another option that can be done is to tell them where they can buy their own contraceptives at an affordable price, for example by making an appointment with a doctor themselves.
- Another option is to tell them you have a new box of condoms in the bathroom drawer. They can take condoms without asking and you will refill the box when the condoms run out.
Step 4. Talk to your teen about your concerns
Nothing says that you can freely introduce sex to your teen as if it had no consequences. However, it is important that you share your concerns with your child and also how sex could be a mistake. If you share your concerns in a healthy, non-judgmental way, you may convince them to wait. Tell them about:
- health risks,
- The emotional risk, and
- Risk to their future.
Step 5. Talk to your child about drugs and alcohol
Drugs and alcoholic beverages are also an almost unavoidable part of growing up. While it's normal for your teen to always choose the very good choice, they just took one night with the bad choice and ended up getting another teen pregnant or becoming a pregnant teen girl. Prevent this from happening by telling them that if they really want to do it, they should at least do it in a safe environment. Tell them that when they can't make good decisions, they can make the wrong decisions and have bad sex or even not be able to decide anything at all.
Girls should be warned about what boys will do to her if she faints, and boys should be warned about the importance of consent in sex. However, be aware that alcohol can make teenagers forget this important point
Step 6. Give them hope for the future
If your teen has goals and hopes for the future, they will have a stronger urge to stay away from sex or at least take responsibility for the sex they have. Help them to pursue their dreams to keep them busy and make their goals seem achievable. Provide support and help them believe that they can be more than they are today.
Step 7. Keep them busy
If your child's day is filled with activity, then they will have less time and energy to do things that can be problematic for them. Don't expect that this will keep them from dating or engaging in physical intimacy at all, but at least it will reduce the chances of that happening and definitely prevent them from dressing up just because they're bored.
- Enroll them in extra clubs or classes so they can do what they enjoy doing according to their hobbies. If their hobby is something they can do at home, buy them some equipment so they can really focus on the activity.
- If you don't have the money to pay for extra classes in their preferred subject, ask your local community or community college. It is possible that they will fund or provide special fees to help your teen to carry out these activities.
Step 8. Watch them
In the end, you can't control the choices your teen makes: you can't control their lives the way you drive a car. But if needed, you can point them in the right direction by limiting the choices they can make. Watch what they do. If they are dating someone who is much older (for girls) or much younger (for boys), do whatever you can to make sure they make the right choice. You should also talk to them if their relationship seems very "serious". If your teen is partying a lot (irresponsibly), this might be a good time to step in to correct his behavior. Although such conditions are not easy to control, doing something is better than doing nothing.
Method 3 of 3: Understanding the Differences in Each Contraceptive Method
Step 1. Understand how the contraceptive method works
First, it's important to know how birth control methods work. You may be misinformed about how it causes abortion or things that are bad for your body, but that's not true. There are many different types of birth control, from condoms to implants, and how they all work is to ensure that the male sperm does not reach the female egg or ensure that the egg cannot be fertilized. Find out about each method you want to consider.
By knowing how it works, you will not only feel more comfortable using it or recommending it, but you will also know how to use it properly and choose the type of birth control method that best suits your habits. Some methods have to be used in very specific ways in order to work, so if, for example, you're forgetful about how to do things, they may not be for you
Step 2. Learn about the types of contraceptive methods available
Contraceptives are not just in the form of pills. There are many other forms of birth control, in the form of drugs or devices that have roughly the same way of working or function, namely preventing pregnancy. Choose what works best for you, and to be even more safe, use more than one method at a time. This is important, especially for teenagers and people who are in a relationship that is not serious and not long term. You can use:
- Condom. Condoms should be your first choice, because condoms can prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases and also prevent pregnancy. No matter what gender you are, you should always have a condom ready to wear. Even if you decide to use another form of contraception, still wear a condom.
- Pill. There are many different types of pills, but all of them work to prevent pregnancy in women who take them. This pill does not cause abortion, although you may have been told so. The pill works by making the uterine environment inhospitable to the egg, so the egg cannot be fertilized. Usually, you have to take these pills every day and these pills are very small in size. This is an easy and effective form of birth control and has many other benefits (such as clearing acne and making you feel more comfortable during your period).
- Implants and IUDs. There are many types of implants and IUDs (intrauterine devices) available, and all of them are for women. Some of them are put in your hand and some are put in your uterus. They are considered the most effective forms of contraception. While inserting it may make you uncomfortable, this type of birth control is the best choice for teens because you just need to insert it and leave it alone. Most of these tools last well-functioning for at least 3 years, and there are also some that last up to 12 years. This means you don't have to worry about getting pregnant, until you're really ready to get pregnant.
- Other ways. There are also many other methods, such as vaginal rings, sponges, and patches. Ask your doctor for the option that best suits your situation and habits.
Step 3. Use your chosen method of contraception correctly
No matter which method you use, make sure that you use it correctly. Almost all forms of birth control are very effective and 99% work well, but only if you use them correctly. If you are a teenager, learn how to use the birth control of your choice correctly. If you are a parent or adult, do your own research and make sure that your teen knows what to do.
You can find information about each method of contraception correctly on the PKBI website
Step 4. Talk about contraceptive methods, even if the topic is uncomfortable or you don't know how to do it
One of the basic suggestions in life is that any problem you have can generally be alleviated if you talk about it. Talking about contraception with a parent, trusted adult, boy, girl, or other teenager can be awkward. We were raised in a culture that made us uncomfortable discussing sexual topics. However, by opening up communication and talking about everything, everyone will know better and be more comfortable. Like the monster under the bed, you'll find that talking about sex in a practical and healthy way isn't terrible if it's understood well.
- Also, you may need to try more than once to start the conversation you really need about this method of contraception. Do not give up!
- Parents who want to talk about pregnancy control might say something like, “Jok, you're going to be feeling the urge to have sex. You're getting older and that's normal. But a big part of being an adult is taking responsibility for the things you want to do. I want to talk to you about all these responsibilities of yours, since you are now an adult.”
- Teens who want to talk about pregnancy control might say something like, “Mom, I'm getting older, and I want to make sure I don't ruin my future before it comes. I prefer to use a contraceptive method, which I may not need for a while, rather than making the wrong decision. Help me, Ma, to find out what I need before I make a mistake."
Step 5. Know the options you can make if you are pregnant
If a person is pregnant, it is important for her to know what options are available, so that she can make an appropriate choice based on the situation. Since people will usually have different opinions about what to do in a situation like this, you should get as many opinions as possible from as many different sources as you can.
A good source of information is PKBI, which will discuss all possible options with you and let you decide what is best for you. If you decide to take care of your baby, the PKBI staff will help you to get services and various other things needed
Tips
- If a family member or friend has had children as a teenager, ask that person to describe what it was like, and what life was like during and after pregnancy.
- Ask the topic gently, because adolescence is a difficult time for them.
Warning
Be prepared, because your teen may be angry with you
Related article
- Knowing the Early Signs of Pregnancy
- Using a Home Pregnancy Test
- Avoiding Pregnancy in Teenagers
