Oral contraceptive, Emergency Pills, Injection Contraceptive and Male Condom
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Contraception: goodbye unwanted pregnancies

How often do I take the pill? Can I have sex and get pregnant if I take an e-pill? Is it safe to have sex during my period? What about the pull-out method?

September 26th marks World Contraception Day.

There are so many questions young people have about contraception. And this is one of those issues where ignorance is not bliss. A lack of knowledge could lead to having an unwanted pregnancy, STIs, or both.

You have heard of the ‘P2 moms’ – the ones who had unprotected sex and thought an emergency contraceptive (P2 – Postinor, e-pill, morning after pill) would prevent unwanted pregnancy. But no, they ended up pregnant. Because P2 does fail sometimes.

If you have no desire to have a baby at this time, you have to take charge of your reproductive life and use the right form of contraception for you.

The reasons some young women do not use contraceptives vary, from misconceptions about them to recklessness and pure ignorance on how to and which method to use.

Alice, 24, says, ‘I’d rather my boyfriend uses a condom so I don’t have to stress about taking the pill, but he says intercourse is not as sweet when he wears one. That puts the family planning burden on me.

I once forgot to take the pill and ended up pregnant, but neither he nor I wanted a baby.

So I went to a well-known family planning clinic and procured an abortion. I didn’t know I could get pregnant again so fast and before I knew it, I was pregnant once more. I was back at the clinic to terminate the pregnancy. I feel guilty about it, but I just wasn’t ready.’

The dilemma on whether to keep or terminate an unwanted pregnancy is no fun, so avoid it by using any of these methods of contraception:

1. Condoms

In the African culture, there’s a myth that condoms make sex ‘less sweet’, but as stated, it is just a myth. A condom is effective if used properly and prevents both pregnancy and STIs – so you kill two birds with one stone.
 

2. IUD

An IUD is a small device inserted into a woman’s uterus by a doctor. It can last for up to 10 years but won’t protect you from STIs. The Copper-T IUD is also a very effective form of emergency contraception.Some women complain of severe menstrual cramps and headaches. If this method doesn’t work for you, try another form of contraception.

3. The pill

The pill could lead you into trouble if you don’t follow the strict schedule. You need to take the pill every day for 21 days, then stop for seven days. During this week you have a period-type bleed. You start taking the pill again after seven days. You also need to take the pill at the same time every day. If you don’t follow the strict schedule, you could get pregnant. It is also not effective against STIs.

4. Abstinence

​​​​​​​Yes, this is actually a thing. If you want to save yourself from the hassle of worrying every time your period is one day late, you might want to abstain altogether until you are ready to start a family or follow a contraceptive method religiously.

In case you are still wondering if you can use the pull-out method to avoid pregnancy – the answer is better not try it. It is a high-risk method that is really not worth it.

Also, the P2 pill should not be your go-to method of family planning. It is called emergency contraceptive for a reason – we all can slip up once in a while, and this is a great solution in such a case, but it should not be your regular form of birth control.

Whichever method of contraception you decide to use, make sure you use it correctly and consistently!


Do you have questions about family planning? Head to our discussion board.

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Recent Comments (14)

  1. Can an e pill make someone…
    Can an e pill make someone barren??

  2. So p2 is not more effects?
    So p2 is not more effects?

  3. Ist possible for a woman to…
    Ist possible for a woman to get pregnant if she have sex for about two days after her period. Help plis

    1. Hey Gibson, there is a…

      Hey Gibson, there is a chance but one that really low. This chance is depended on the length of the her cycle. A man’s sperm has the ability to survive inside the woman’s body for a few days and there is a small chance that an early ovulation could cause pregnancy. If you want to avoid getting pregnant, it is best to use contraceptives.

  4. Do p2 stops monthly period…
    Do p2 stops monthly period for long?

  5. My girl friend used P2 after…
    My girl friend used P2 after sex but she is saying she is pregnant? Can P2 fail to work when you take it immediately after ha ING sex?

  6. whats the difference between…
    whats the difference between the emergency pill p2 and the one which one takes for 21 days? which one of the two is highly recommended?

    1. Hey Tish, the one taken for…

      Hey Tish, the one taken for 21 days is a regular birth control method while P2 or Emergency contraception pill should only be taken in emergency situation. Emergency contraception should be taken within the first 72 hours after having unprotected sex, while the other pill is taken daily to prevent unplanned pregnancy. Have a look at the following articles for more information on each;-

      https://lovemattersafrica.com/birth-control/types-of-birth-control/the-pill

      https://lovemattersafrica.com/birth-control/types-of-birth-control/emergency-contraception

       

  7. Do pills like p2 work for a…
    Do pills like p2 work for a person ovulating coz I have a friend who has messed up twice get pregnant yet she takes her pills within the first 24hrs

    1. Hi Princess, yes it does…

      Hi Princess, yes it does. However, even when you take emergency contraception pill within the first twenty four hours, there is still a 5 per cent chance one can get pregnant. This is why it is recommended to use two methods at the same time if one doesn’t want to get pregnant. For instance, emergency contraception and condoms. Have a look at this article;- https://lovemattersafrica.com/birth-control/types-of-birth-control/emergency-contraception

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