Hi, I am new to this whole thing and I have a few questions. I am virgin as is my girlfriend (although i am much more knowledgeable) and she had a few questions about sex that I was unable to answer. The first is how long should we wait after she starts taking birth control (For the first time) before we have sex? Second she had asked me about the use of the “morning after pill” in addition to a condom and birth control? We really want to be as safe as humanly possible. Third is the combination of these two or possibly three things in any way harmful to her? Thank you for all of your help!
Mon, 12/10/2007 - 16:22
#1
Considering Sex Questions
1. The "morning after pill" (read around, that means several things) is emergency contraception and should not be planned as regular protection. Using it with regular hormonal protection can really screw up her system for a month or so.
2. Many doctors (I included) recommend a full cycle before stopping other forms of protection. Inserts with various different pills say a week.
3. The pill offers no protection against STD and of every 100 women using the pill for a year, three will become pregnant.
We do not ever intend to stop using a condom in addition to birth control as pregnancy while it would not be the end of the world; is certainly not a desired effect. Are you saying that she should complete 1 full cycle on the pill for it to be fully effective and as a result be the safest time to have sex?
That is what I recommend to patients - one full menstrual cycle from first pill until sexually active without other protection.
The other important message is no using the morning after pill while on the pill unless she wants her cycles all messed up.
thank you very much you have been extremely helpful!
Please be aware that some women are allergic either to latex or to the various coatings on latex condoms. Since she is not experienced, there is no way of knowing beforehand if she is one of these. If she is, there are alternative condoms available.
To conduct a test, it is not fool-proof however, have her handle and rub the condom out of its package on her upper inner thigh the day before. Discard it and wait to see if there's any sign of a reaction such as redness, rash, or difficulty in breathing. If yes, then discard those and get the polyurethane condoms instead.