Contraception
If you are thinking about or have decided that you are ready to have sex, you need to plan ahead.
Any time that there is sexual intercourse or even very close genital contact between a male and female there might be a risk of pregnancy. Get contraception sorted out before you have sex.
If you are not ready to be a parent yet it is very important to use contraception every time you have sex. If you use it correctly contraception can provide good protection against pregnancy. Contraception works by stopping the man’s sperm from joining with the women’s egg to make a baby.
Men and women are both responsible for using contraception. Using contraception every time you have sex shows respect for your partner and respect for yourself.
Contraception from a clinic or doctor is free and confidential, whatever age you are.
Hawks Road Contraceptive Clinic
Hawks Road Clinic offers a wide range of contraceptives and confidential advice. Please see the Ku19 Clinics page (link below) for more information.
Contraceptive Choices
There are lots of different methods of contraception. They all have pros and cons so it’s best to talk it through with a doctor or nurse who can help you decide the right choice for you. Remember all contraception reduces the risk of pregnancy, but only condoms reduce the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
For more in-depth information about each of these methods of contraception, use the links in the menu on the left.
- Condoms - protection against pregnancy and STIs
The male condom is a thin rubber tube placed over the erect penis. The female condom is a polyurethane tube put inside the vagina. Both male and female condoms are put on before sex or close genital contact takes place. Condoms are very popular and a really good choice because they reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections as well as pregnancy. Lots of people use condoms as well as another method of contraception at the same time to double their protection. - The Pill - protection against pregnancy
The combined pill is another popular method of contraception. It has 2 hormones, oestrogen and progesterone, that prevent the woman releasing an egg. Used properly it is very effective at preventing pregnancy. There is also a pill with only one hormone, progesterone; sometimes this is called the mini-pill. This type of pill is taken every day without a break between packs. Your doctor or nurse might decide that this pill is better for you than the combined pill for medical reasons. - Emergency Contraception - protection against pregnancy
Sometimes this is called the 'morning after pill' but it can be taken up to 72 hours after sex. The sooner it is taken the better chance it has of preventing a pregnancy. This method can be used after sex without contraception or if your contraception has not worked, for example the condom split. It is always better to use contraception before having sex because emergency contraception may not be as reliable. - Long Term Contraception - protection against pregnancy
There are other methods which can be a really good choice of contraception, especially if you do not think you will want to be pregnant for a few years. They may be ideal if you are not very good at remembering to take a pill everyday or if you want to use a concealed method of contraception.
To find out more about contraception and to get free supplies you can go to your local KU19 Clinic, family planning clinic or your GP.
Also see:
- Ku19 Clinics
Kingston's health service for under 19s. Drop in at one of the Ku19 clinics in the Borough or call, text or email for health advice and info on sex, contraception, pregancy and chlamydia testing. Also see address and contact details for Hawks Road Clinic.