Prepare a first line of defense against pregnancy that you control yourself. A woman should never leave it up to a man to be in charge of contraception. Go on birth control or use some other female-centric form of birth control such as IUD, vaginal rings, hormonal injection or implants. (Depo Provera/Norplant) Hormonal treatments are a good first line because they are usually highly effective. Other options are diaphragms, cervical caps and sponges.
Always use a second line of defense. Even though birth control and other hormonal treatments are up to 99% effective or higher, a 1% chance of getting pregnant each year is still too big a risk to take. Using two contraception methods every time you have sex will drastically reduce the chances of pregnancy. For a second line of defense, use a physical form of contraception such as a condom, in conjunction with your first line. Carry condoms with you if you plan on having intercourse and make your partner wear them. If you or your partner do not want to use condoms, use a diaphragm, sponge, or spermicide.
Keep track of your monthly cycle, and take extra precautions if you do not have access to a second line of defense. When you are on the pill or another hormonal treatment it can be easy to slack off on preparing a second line of defense against pregnancy. If you find yourself in a situation where you do not have condoms or another secondary method to use, you can resort to the rhythm method. A women is not fertile in the days immediately following a period, so only using one line of defense during those days is less dangerous. If you are over a week into your period consider alternatives to vaginal intercourse. Pulling out before climax can help reduce the change of pregnancy, but you should not rely on your partner being disciplined enough to pull out.
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