TeenHealthFX - Answers - Safe Sex For About A Year Now

Sexuality & Sexual Health: Miscellaneous / Question
Published: July 14, 2004

Dear TeenHealthFX,

I am a 19-year-old girl and I have been having 'safe' sex for about a year now. My boyfriend and I love each other very much and also plan to get married in the future. I wanted to know if we could keep on having safe sex with each other without having any medical problems. I mean is there any chance of any kind of infection or STD's even if both of us don't have any at present. Also I want to know, can he lose his potency or can I in any case lose my ability to bear a baby if we continue to have 'safe' sex? We generally use the 'pull out' method and have used condoms too but I haven't ever taken birth control pills. Please advise.

Signed: Safe Sex For About A Year Now

Dear Safe Sex For About A Year Now,

You ask a lot of good questions and first, let's clarify. The "pull out" method is not having "safe" sex. Safer sex means using a condom each and every time you have sex from start to finish (to prevent STDs). Also, FX recommends as part of a "safer sex experience" to use a second method of birth control (like Depo-Provera or the pill) as a backup method to prevent pregnancy.

Since neither you nor your boyfriend currently have any STDs or infections, if you both stay faithful to one another, you should not contract any of the diseases classically felt to be "STDs" (i.e. gonorrhea, Chlamydia, herpes, genital warts etc.) from having unprotected sex. There are other infections, like yeast or bacterial infections that can be passed from partner to partner during unprotected sexual intercourse. It is also important to keep in mind that unless you are each other's only sexual partner ever, or have had STD tests done by a doctor or a clinic, you could still have an infection, since many STDs do not have any noticeable symptoms.

Having unprotected sex and relying on the "pull out" method is not a good idea if you are looking to prevent pregnancy. Males have what is called pre-ejaculatory fluids (pre-cum), which do contain sperm and can lead to pregnancy. In addition, many males do not even feel the pre-ejaculatory fluids come out, so sperm can be released into the female before the pre-orgasm pull out occurs. Research indicates that there is up to a 19% chance of getting pregnant while using the "pull out" method. Needless to say, FX really wants you to start using another method of birth control like the pill and condoms.

Your methods of birth control up until now will not affect your or his ability to create or have children later on. In fact, most methods of birth control, including hormonal ones like the Pill or Depo-Provera, and barriers such as condoms or the diaphragm, do not reduce your fertility in any way. TeenHealthFX really recommends that you go to a teen health clinic where you can discuss some of your concerns with a doctor or nurse confidentially. While there, they can do an exam and let you know what your options are for birth control methods. Teen health centers can see teens for sexual health reasons without your parent's consent and on a low/no cost basis. If you live in northern New Jersey you can call the Adolescent/Young Adult Center for Health at (973) 971.6475. If you live outside of Northern New Jersey, please call your local teen health center or Planned Parenthood.

Signed: TeenHealthFX