Savannah, 18, not right now
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By: health
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January 5, 2010
A few months after a bitter break up, Savannah is currently saying “not right now.” She tends to not have casual hook-ups and isn’t looking for a new relationship yet, so, really, it’s pretty easy for her to avoid having sex. She’ll soon move to a new city and she’s ready for the fresh start. […]
Angela, 22, fertility awareness methods
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By: health
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January 5, 2010
Angela, a stay-home mom of one, has been using fertility awareness since giving birth to her daughter. She’s been tracking her periods and learning when in her cycle she’s most fertile. Rather than using condoms (or another barrier method), Angela chooses to not have sex during her most fertile times. She feels closer to her […]
Emergency contraception: the back-up plan
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By: health
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January 5, 2010
As reliable as contraception is, there are times when birth control doesn’t work. Like every once in a while when we use a method incorrectly. Or on a rare occasion when a condom breaks. And sometimes—especially when partying—we forget to use anything at all. All of these times scream out: Emergency contraception NOW! Listen to […]
Alexandria, 21, the ring
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By: health
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January 5, 2010
Alexandria moved from the pill to the ring and has good things to say about the switch. She’s got shorter periods now and prefers dealing with birth control once a month instead of once a day. For the most part, once the ring is in, it’s in. A couple of times, though, it’s come out […]
Nicole, 21, diaphragm
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By: health
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January 5, 2010
Nicole sums up the perks of her diaphragm like this: it’s easy to use, undetectable, and reliable. She likes that it’s there when she needs it, but there’s no long-term commitment. Even though the diaphragm is easy to hide once it’s in—and it’s important to Nicole that her choice of birth control stays private—at some […]
Norelle, 22, not right now
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By: health
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January 5, 2010
Norelle used to have sex. Lots of it, in fact. But after being diagnosed with a UTI, a yeast infection, and a STI—all at once—she decided to make a change and not be so “out there with the guys.” Rather than trying to find the right person, though, Norelle decided to be the right person. […]
Alesondrje, 21, sponge
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By: health
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January 5, 2010
Alesondrje and her boyfriend used condoms when they first got together. But eventually they decided to move the relationship “to a deeper level” by getting tested for STIs and trading condoms for the sponge , a method her mom used back in the day and highly recommended. Alesondrje likes to use the sponge along with […]
Anastasia, 21, internal condom
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By: health
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January 5, 2010
The first time Anastasia used an internal condom , she and her boyfriend were on the beach, under the stars. (Sigh.) She had been given some samples at a clinic just a few days before and decided this was the time to try them out. Anastasia had to open a few packs before figuring out […]
Ramiyah, 23, condom
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By: health
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January 5, 2010
For Ramiyah, it’s all very logical: Sex is fun. Sex can lead to pregnancy. If you want to have sex and don’t want to have a pregnancy, birth control always needs to be part of the equation. Ramiyah prefers to use condoms as her method of birth control.What if the guy doesn’t have one? Not […]
Emily, 19, condom
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By: health
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January 5, 2010
Emily used to use the pill . She wasn’t that good at remembering to take it, though, and eventually got pregnant. After that, she decided to find a method she would remember to use consistently. So she switched to spermicidal condoms . She loves that they’re convenient, affordable, easy to use, and effective. But they’re […]