Dr Girl/Dr Dejour Q&A

Dr Girl/Dr Dejour Q&A Dear Dr Dejour,

I am a 15 year old female and my boyfriend and I want to have sex but I am worried about getting pregnant or catching a STD. What is the best way to avoid getting either pregnant or catching an STD? Please help.

Signed Like A Virgin.

Dear Miss Like A Virgin,

The best way to avoid getting a STD (and very wise of you to ask) is to use a condom every time you have sex. Condoms are widely available and come with instructions in the packet. It is a good idea to use lubricant (also available from chemists, eg. KY jelly) as this reduces the chance of it breaking.

The effectiveness of condoms in preventing pregnancy is only about 90% and this is quite dependent on the manner in which they are used. The oral contraceptive pill is 99% effective, in other words more so. So to both avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, you would be best to employ both measures.

Condoms are most effective as contraception when used EVERY time and EARLY in proceedings. The pre-seminal fluid (wet stuff at tip of penis that is there before ejaculation) contains sperm and the little things can swim up by themselves, without penetration. You can get pregnant in this manner. So, put it on early and use lubricant if you are relaying on condoms, and recognise that the method is not infallible.

The oral contraceptive pill is available from your local doctor. Making contact is a good idea so that you can get more information and start talking about other issues like having a Pap smear two years down the track. Your doctor is allowed to prescribe the OEpillą without your parentsą knowledge (at their discretion and taking certain things into account) although we must recommend that you do discuss it with your parents if possible. An adult must certainly know that you are on the pill for the event that you become sick or have an accident.
It is worth taking seriously.

Sincerely,
Dr Dejour