The Network For Discussion of All Things Teen Sex

I'm a Teen! I have a Question!

Hello ...v.(^_^)
So...I couldn't think of a question so I grabbed my copy of "Our Bodies, Ourselves" (I'm seventeen and I bought that book, am I weird?) and opened right up to the page to the Patch. I do in fact have questions on the patch.

I'm in drum corps so I am very physically active in the summer with lots of sweating and lots of showering with 50 other girls. My question is, how noticeable is the patch? Are the other girls going to see the patch and think 'ew she smokes/has wild crazy mad sex!'? Or even better, is the patch going to come off with all the running around and showering? (Or with the wild crazy mad sex?)

And then of course I've heard that the patch isn't even available anymore. Or that it doesn't work on some people. Or that people can't use it if they have a history of migraines.

*thus concludes the first teen with questions post*

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Chris on February 17, 2008 at 4:43pm: "The patch" is actually the same as "the pill", the only difference is that it is applied on the skin.

Most people will not be able to tell what that patch on your skin is about, could be a nicotine patch (to quit smoking), anything...

Nevertheless you should prefer the pill for contraception, as there are a lot of more different types of it on the market, which means that your GP is able to choose one that fits you best. Also, using patches usually means having skin irritations - if you think you cannot handle it to remember taking the pill daily, ask your doctor for a contraception injection which will last about 3 months.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Zoe on February 17, 2008 at 4:49pm: Thank You!
I wanted to get a discussion going :)
I'm actually going to use the Ring because I won't be able to remember to take the pill ever night because I will be crazy busy. I've thought about the shot, but the idea of symptoms lasting 3 months has always turned me off. Am I thinking wrong?
I'm right in thinking I won't be able to use the patch 'cus of my history of migraines right?

Aside from the pill, patch and shot, is there any other BC method to think about that I could use and still say "mommy, I'm not having sex" (something I have to do sadly).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Chris on February 17, 2008 at 5:08pm: As I don't know you in person or details about your medical history, I won't be able to give you any explicit advice, but migraine is usually not caused by contraceptives.
Many forms of migraine are caused by menstruation, so using the shot (which will prevent your menstruation for the whole duration) would actually lower the amount of your migraine-days... But is should be the very same with the ring (as it lasts about 3 month too, doesn't it?).

If you don't want to use hormonal contraceptives, this is what I would recommend:
Humans cannot always get pregnant, there is a time window of about 12-14 days after a women's menstruation in which she has the possibility to get pregnant. For your safety, extend this time window a bit as everybody is a bit different...
Just to be abstinent during the 11th and 16th day after the 1st day of menstruation while using condoms during the rest of the time. And don't get into contact with any semen during that time window, as it might be possible to get pregnant without penetration.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Zoe on February 17, 2008 at 5:14pm: Oh...I never thought that was really safe...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Chris on February 17, 2008 at 5:24pm: The mechanism works like this:
To get pregnant a sperm needs to get into contact the an egg cell.
A women has about 100,000 to 500,000 eggs stored in her ovary, but these are tiny and "in-active". Every month 1-10 of these eggs start growing, and (about 12-14 days after the first day of the last period) one of these eggs will be released and travel from the ovary into the uterus. Only during this travel the egg can meet a sperm.
If the egg cell does not meet a sperm, it won't stick to the uterus and no embryo will develop.
If the body notices that the egg is not fertilized, he will renew the mucosa of the uterus after some time ("menstruation").

If you have intercourse before this egg cell is released, of after is has vanished, it is impossible to become pregnant (because of the lack of the egg).

But don't forget about the condoms, as a lot of STDs are out there...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nick Malaguti on February 17, 2008 at 5:26pm: It isn't possible to get pregnant if there's no egg to fertilize. It's actually possible to determine when you ovulate (many women who have trouble getting pregnant will track this and have lots of sex after they ovulate to increase their chances). This isn't recommended as a method for birth control because there is always the slim chance that sperm will somehow come into contact with the egg.

The pill is a very popular and effective method of birth control. Many people carry their pills with them and get into the habit of taking it daily. Many people also use condoms as well as the pill because condoms protect against STI's as well as act as a contraceptive.

I recommend a hormonal treatment that you think will work for you (the ring if you want) as well as a condom. I recommend waiting until you have been in a long monogamous relationship where you really trust your partner not to be having sexual contact with anyone else before foregoing the condom.

On a personal note, I've always found condoms to keep things neat and clean and a lot less messy.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Chris on February 17, 2008 at 5:35pm: Hi Nick, you are right, there is always a slight chance to get pregnant with every possible method of contraception.

But it is more likely that a condom or even the pill does not work than that the average woman does have an ovulation out of the time window I named. So it can truely be used as a reliable method.

(it becomes a little different when you start determine the day of ovulation by measuring the body temperature...just a little cold changes everything); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Zoe on February 17, 2008 at 5:43pm: "On a personal note, I've always found condoms to keep things neat and clean and a lot less messy."
:) So true!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Chelsea Marie on January 9, 2009 at 5:48pm: i am not sure if a parent has to be there to sign or not but there is a thing called an IUD. it does not release any hormones whoch is a big plus if you dont to be too un-natural. it's the shape of a T and blocks the place where a baby would grow. a hole has to be punctured int he cervix which isn't too painful but usually people who have already had babys get it. i got it and they didnt insert it right or my body rejected it so they had to take it out. it costs about 400 dollars but it lasts for ten years and no condoms neccessary!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Michael C. on February 26, 2009 at 10:36pm: My question is, does it protect you from STD's though?
I would think that it does not.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dr. C on February 28, 2009 at 9:04am: The IUD does not protect against STDs.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dr. C on February 20, 2008 at 8:05pm: Zoe,
It sounds like you have done the best thing - talk to a physician about your choice of contraception. In my experience, the best type of birth control is the one that makes sense to the patient. Also, sperm can live for days in the tubes after sex, so even if you think your ovulation is going to happen on a certain day, you can definitely get pregnant by having sex before you ovulate (in fact, you are acually most fertile about 3 days before you ovulate!)

Good luck!; ▶ Reply to This