Scarleteen

I'm sorry if I'm creating this topic in the wrong section... Anyways, my boyfriend and I have been together for a year now, we are absolute best friends and are both virgins and we both feel ready for sex. More than anything contraceptives are #1! My mom and I are pretty close But she gets uncomfortable talking about sex with me which makes me even more uncomfortable. I know I don't want to take any hormonal birth control, but I want to be as safe as possible. From my research I think I want to use the Today Sponge and my boyfriend will wear a condom. Is there anything else we could add or do to make it that much safer ??

Combining any two reliable methods, like these two, and using them consistently and correctly is what'll get you about as close to 100% as it gets.

So, unless you want to make one of those methods one that's more effective, like an IUD or a hormonal method, or just skip intercourse, this is all good. Just make a point of always using both and always using both properly.

Hi Megladon,

Here is an article about the efficacy rates of combining methods: The Buddy System: Effectiveness Rates for Backing Up Your Birth Control With a Second Method As you can see if you scroll down, sponge + condom is 97.7-98% effective, (which means that for every 100 people using this method in a given year, around 2 will become pregnant) which is pretty darn good on its own. The surest way to take that down further, if that's what you want, is to add in a hormonal method. Is there any particular reason you aren't so keen on them?

Here's out birth control bingo feature, which you can use to further explore your options: Birth Control Bingo!