Knowing that I was enrolled in a human sexuality course when my best friend approached me in a state of crisis, I knew exactly what to do. She told me that last night she had unprotected sex with her boyfriend and feared she was pregnant. I told her that the first thing she needed to do was get a Plan B which is also known as the morning after pill. This is an emergency contraceptive that is used to prevent pregnancy after having unprotected sex. It is available without a prescription and does not have any serious side effects. I also told her that the Plan B would only work if it is taken in less than 72 hours after having unprotected sex so it was important that she visited the nearest pharmacy and got one. Fortunately for her she still had time.
After that, I proceeded to have a conversation with her about having unprotected sex and the dangers that come with it. I explained to her that apart from having an unwanted pregnancy she will also be living her body vulnerable to many types health-related issues. She might contract HIV/AIDS and other sexuality transmitted diseases such as herpes, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Infections and scabies might also occur when having unprotected sexual contact with someone else. Since having unprotected sex can lead to various problems it is for our own good that we should use protection whenever we engage in sexual activity.
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Getting pregnant and raising a child is no easy task for anyone both physically and mentally. This becomes even harder when getting pregnant was not the intent. Contracting diseases such as HIV/AIDS because of engaging in unprotected sex will alter your normal way of living for the rest of your life. I told her that it is important that her and her boyfriend get tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases just to be safe and sure. This is because sexually transmitted diseases are very common and although many people have been educated on the dangers of having unprotected sex it still happens. The number of people contracting sexually transmitted diseases is highest among teenagers and young adults. Since this was the category my friend fell under the need for getting tested was even more important.
What can one do in order to deal with all these issues surrounding the act of having unprotected sex? The best way to deal with this is by abstaining from sexual activity. If this is not an option for you, there are a couple of ways and methods you can use to stay safe and maintain a healthy sexual life. Depending on how sexually active you are certain methods maybe more suitable than others. One of the most common ways of protecting yourself from sexually transmitted diseases and avoid pregnancy is the use of condoms. Condoms are made out of latex and there are both male and female condoms. According to NHS UK if male condoms are used properly, they are ninety eight percent effective. Condoms are generally easy to put on and they are not reusable. Amanda A from Birth Control.com also states that condoms are the most commonly used method of contraception with an average of four hundred and fifty million condoms being sold each year in the United States alone.
Birth control pills which is an oral contraception is another method she could consider using to prevent her from getting pregnant while having unprotected sex. The pills contain hormones that prevent fertilization from occurring. In order for the pills to prevent pregnancy they must be used correctly. Forgetting to take the pill or not taking the pill at the right time might make this method to be ineffective and the pregnancy will not be prevented. I then went on to emphasize to her that even though birth control pills are very effective in preventing pregnancy, they don’t offer any protection against sexually transmitted diseases. Birth control pills also come with a couple of side effects. This side effects include changes in mood which might increase the risk of developing depression, users also tend to miss their periods sometimes and mild nausea might be expected. Prolonged use of the daily pill may also lead to other long-term health problems such as a stroke.
Since she already had a boyfriend, I figured abstaining from sex would not be a solution for her. Using the daily pill without a condom wouldn’t protect her from sexually transmitted diseases. Although having only one sexual partner will decrease the chances of getting infected, sometimes people cheat and your partner whom you trust so much might infect you. It is important that she and her boyfriend regularly get screened for sexually transmitted disease if they prefer to have sex without a condom.
For her current situation I told her that the most suitable method would be the use of a condom. This is because unlike the oral contraception the condom will protect her and her boyfriend from spreading any sexually transmitted diseases to each other and it will also prevent her from getting pregnant. Condoms also don’t come with any side effects apart from possible allergies to latex. They are more simple to use when compared to the birth control pills that have to be taken daily and at the prescribed time in order for them to work.
I told that it was also important that she has a conversation with her boyfriend about having unprotected sex and the dangers that surrounding it. This will help them know which method of contraception would be best for both of them. This way she will be able to prevent future pregnancy scares. It is very important and beneficial for all of us to have and maintain a healthy sexual life.
Bibliography
- P. Thornton, DipPharm, “Plan B One-Step.” Drugs.com. Drugs.com,11 Dec.2018.Web. 28 Sep.2019 < https://www.drugs.com/plan-b.html>
- Shivani Dixit, “What are the dangers of unprotected sex.” Lifealth. Lifealth.com, 28 Nov.2017.Web.28 Sep.2019 < https://www.lifealth.com/love-and-relationship/sexual-health/what-are-the-dangers-of-unprotected-sex-sd/51707/>
- Amanda A, “Condom Use Statistics.” BirthControl.com. BirthControl.com, 1 Jun.2016.Web.28 Sep.2019 https://www.birthcontrol.com/condom-use-statistics/
- Lori Smith, BSN, MSN, CRNP, “10 most common birth control pill side effects.” MEDICALNEWSTODAY.MEDICALNEWSTODAY.com, 29 Jan.2018.Web.29 Sep.2019
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