I Am On The Pill, Do I Still Need To Use Condoms?

Published: December 30, 2019
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I have been on my birth control pills for roughly a month and a half, would it be safe if my boyfriend and I did not use another form of protection? Or should we still be a little more cautious since I'm still relatively new to the pill?
Signed: I Am On The Pill, Do I Still Need To Use Condoms?

Dear I Am On The Pill, Do I Still Need To Use Condoms?,

Even though you are on the birth control pill, TeenhealthFX recommends that teens continue to use other forms of prevention.  According to Medical News, if you use it perfectly, the pill is 99% effective. This means less than 1 out of 100 women will get pregnant each year if they always take the pill each day as directed. However, people aren’t perfect and it’s easy to forget or miss pills — so in reality the pill is about 91% effective. That means about 9 out of 100 pill users get pregnant each year. 

In addition, the birth control pill does NOT prevent the transmission of any sexual transmitted disease. Therefore, TeenHealthFX encourages all teens to use condoms every time they engage in any type of sexual activity. Condoms are 98% in preventing pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections when used correctly and on every sexual encounter.    

Signed: TeenHealthFX

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