birth control options

[brandneweyes]

so i JUST posted something in a different place but now new issues have come up. im trying to start birth control but im on a medication that causes interactions and i would either have to get a copper iud (which i dont want) or be heavily monitored by a doctor. i don’t really want to tell my mom cause i feel like it’ll cause issues and i wont be able to see my bf, but if medical issues could arise i feel like i need to be open and figure out what would be best. or should i just skip birth control and rely on condoms? im nervous about that cause there’s a better chance that something won’t work or it’s not as protective so im unsure of what to do.

[HannahP]

Hi there brandneweyes! That's a tricky situation, I can see why you're feeling nervous. Have you already spoken to a doctor about the possibility of complications with your medication? If you can, I think your best bet is to see a gynecologist and ask for their advice on the best approach. 16 is a great time to start seeing a gynecologist on a regular basis just for your general health and wellbeing, so you could pitch the idea to your mom like that, instead of saying that you want to see a doctor to talk about birth control.

If it turns out that none of the options available to you are a good fit, condoms are a great choice — you're right that they aren't as effective as hormonal birth control, but used consistently and properly they still have a high effectiveness percentage. And if you double them up with another form of non-hormonal birth control (like withdrawal), they are even more effective. This article shows the effectiveness of different combinations of birth control: https://www.scarleteen.com/read/sexual- ... ond-method. So if that's your only option, it's not nothing! But I think that speaking to a doctor first so you fully understand what options are available to you and what they recommend is a good idea.