Abstinence
The only form of safe sex
What is Safe Sex?
What are the risks of unwanted pregnancies or STI's?
Unwanted Pregnancies
- You will not be able to support a baby financially. Babies cost a lot of money to raise, and if you are not ready, then you will not be able to sufficiently provide for your child, and you will have less personal money too.
- Taking care of a baby also takes up a lot of time. You will be spending less time studying, or working, or hanging out with friends. Instead, you will be forced to take care of the baby.
- Physically, a woman would have to carry around an extra 25 pounds around while she is pregnant. Then, even after the baby is born, she will still have to carry the baby around, because she has to take care of it.
- Finally, you will not be emotionally ready to have a baby. You will not fully understand how to take care of a baby, and you will not make an ideal parent. You might not want the baby at all, and lose all motivation of becoming a good parent.
STI's
- Physically
The symptoms of STIs depend on the disease, but can be very severe. Some examples are, fever or flu like symptoms, genital itching, genital discharge, pain, or even death. You may also develop highly visible sores on the lips and face.
- Emotionally
Some viral diseases cannot be cured, and stay with you for life. The four H's, HIV, HPV, Herpes, and Hepatitis are all STI's that cannot be cured. Their symptoms can be alleviated through medication, but will never truly go away. This leaves infected people feeling that they are dirty. They have been infected, and are not the same anymore. This dark feeling can lead to depression.
Strategies to avoid unwanted pregnancies of STI's
Birth Control
- Condoms
- Birth Control Pills
- Diaphragm
- IUD
- Surgical
- Rhythm
All of these birth control options, except for condom, have no protection against STIs
CONTRACEPTION
- Condoms
A thin rubber sheath worn on the penis during sex that blocks semen from entering the vagina.
- Diaphragm
A thin cap, placed over the cervix, that blocks the semen from fertilizing the egg.
- Birth Control Pills
- IUD
- Surgical
- Rhythm
All of these forms of birth control (except for condoms), however, do not protect against STIs.