Ready For Birth Control? 4 Tips That Will Alleviate The Confusion
Now that you're a teen, you have a lot of changes coming your way. If one of those changes includes sexual activity, it's time to start thinking about birth control. Unfortunately, if you've never obtained birth control before, you might be a little confused. Here are some steps that will help take the confusion out of getting your birth control.
Protect Your Confidentiality
If you don't want your parents to know that you're going to start using birth control, or that you're sexually active, you don't have to tell them. You have the right to confidentiality. However, if you want to make sure that they don't find out, take steps to protect your confidentiality. The one thing you need to know is that if you're going to use your parents health insurance, you'll need to schedule your appointment carefully. If you schedule an appointment for birth control, the insurance invoice will state that. To make sure that doesn't happen, be sure to schedule your annual check-up instead.
Ask Plenty of Questions
When you go in for your appointment, you'll want to ask plenty of questions. This is particularly true if you've heard stories from well-meaning friends. There's a lot of disinformation out there regarding birth control. You might have heard that birth control pills make you gain weight, or other issues that might have concerned you. To make sure you get the correct information regarding birth control, be sure to talk to your doctor. If you have areas of concern, write them down so that you remember them during your appointment.
Get the Right Level of Protection
When it comes to choosing a birth control method, you want to make sure that you get the right level of protection. For instance, birth control pills work well at preventing unwanted pregnancies, but they don't protect against sexually transmitted diseases. Before you choose a form of birth control, be sure you'll be adequately protected.
Choose the One That's Right for You
Now that you'll be using birth control, choose the one that's right for you. There are a wide variety of options out there, including IUDs, diaphragms, shots and pills. Each form of birth control has its own benefits and drawbacks. For instance, birth control pills require that you take them at the same time each day and diaphragms must be placed properly before each sexual encounter. Before you choose a form of birth control, talk to your doctor about the benefits and drawbacks of each one.
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