The easy answer is that the ring, like other birth control products, tricks the body into thinking that it is pregnant. This “trickery” occurs when the hormones in the ring (progestin and estrogen) are absorbed into the bloodstream from the walls of the vagina and keeps the ovaries from releasing eggs. The hormones also cause the cervical mucus to thicken, which keeps sperm from meeting with and fertilizing an egg. When the ring is removed, the body thinks that an egg was not fertilized and sheds the lining of the uterus. And so the cycle begins again with the reinsertion of a ring.

The post How Does The Ring Work? appeared first on Fact Not Fiction.

“Will drinking affect my birth control?”

Great question! Let’s break this down:

• Alcohol won’t affect the way the IUD, implant, ring or patch works.
• Alcohol doesn’t change the effectiveness of the shot.
• Alcohol will only affect the pill if you throw it up because of drinking, or you drink so much that you forget to take it. (Drinking that much alcohol can be dangerous, so please be careful and be smart.)

Even though alcohol doesn’t mess with your birth control, mixing alcohol and sexual activities can be dangerous. Alcohol can cloud your judgment and make you do things you normally wouldn’t do sober (consent = a must). It can also make you forget to use a condom (or use one incorrectly), which can leave you susceptible to STIs and unplanned pregnancy.

The post Drinking + Birth Control appeared first on Fact Not Fiction.

Have you ever talked to your parents about sex? It’s not an easy conversation to have with your parents. Take it from me, I know from experience.  The conversation is not hard just for you, but also for your parents. It will be hard for them knowing their little baby is growing up. But I can assure you that talking to your parents about sex is the best route to take. It’s better for your parents to know so that you will be able to get the care you need (getting check-ups, birth control, etc.).

The most effective way to prevent unplanned pregnancies, STDs, and HIV is with abstinence (which most parents would probably prefer, including mine). But the correct and consistent use of contraceptives and condoms for teens that are sexually active is also really effective at preventing pregnancies and STDs. In
order to have access to contraceptives, it’s best that young adults be open with their guardians. My friend recently went to the doctor to get birth control. She talked to her mom beforehand, so her parents knew about why she wanted to get on birth control, which made her feel more comfortable going to the doctor. She said her mom was proud of her because she came and talked to her. When she went to the doctor, she and I texted the entire time she was at the office. She told me she was really scared and that she wished I could have come with her. But she also said talking to her mom about it and knowing she was supportive made her feel better and more comfortable.

I, on the other hand, didn’t go that same route as my friend. My mom found out the hard way about my sexual activity because I would never talk to her about it. She was so upset with me that I was ashamed to even be in her presence. And my dad? He didn’t talk to me for an entire week. It felt so weird to be in the
house with two people that acted like I no longer existed because they found out about one thing they weren’t proud of. When my mom finally decided to talk to me, she asked me questions like, “So who was it? How long you been screwing around? Where was it?” Several other questions that I didn’t want to answer
followed those questions. At that moment, I wished I could take everything back, but it was too late. The thing that made my mom upset the most was that she had always constantly asked me if I was sexually active, but I always answered, “NO!”, like any other afraid teen would do. I wasn’t ready to face talking with my parents about sex, yet.

Since that situation, I have been more open with my parents about so many things. I talk to them about guys, relationships, and even sex. My mom always says, “I don’t like the fact that you are having sex, but when you do please use protection.” Being more open with them made me feel really good because I’m not hiding anything from them anymore. I don’t really have to be so secretive about the fact that I’m not a virgin anymore. Our relationship is so much better. Once you talk to your parents about the hardest thing ever (sex), you feel like you are able to share anything with them.

Talking to your parents will make them feel better, and they will trust you more. I’m learning that day-by-day. They will also feel like you are responsible for stepping up and talking to them about such a hard subject. If you step up and speak to them about what is going on, they will be sure that when the time comes, you will know exactly what to do and how you can protect yourself. I encourage all young adults to have open communication with their parents so you won’t go through the same thing I went through. Take it from me, I know from experience.

The post #FNFRealTalkTeam: Having “The Talk” with Your Parents appeared first on Fact Not Fiction.

Pregnancy is not always a planned event.  If married, educated, and prepared, a pregnancy can be a woman’s most memorable event. In contrast, unplanned pregnancies can have long-term negative effects. And today, teen pregnancy is quite prevalent. The United States has recorded some of the highest teenage
pregnancy rates, compared to other developed countries, though the numbers have steadily decreased. Nonetheless, the numbers can be decreased farther by using protection, making informed decisions, and, of course, by abstaining from sexual intercourse altogether.

The latter option isn’t as popular as others, but is definitely the most effective.  Abstinence is the only guaranteed method of prevention.The choice to abstain from sex is a difficult one, especially in a society, where sexual intercourse is part of every day.  One way to maintain abstinence is by surrounding one’s self with positive mentors and friends, who support your decision to refrain from sex until older, even if it’s not a choice they’ve made themselves. Support systems are great in battling problems—all kinds.

Although abstinence is the surefire method of avoiding pregnancy, using protection is another effective method.  If the decision is made to have sexual intercourse, preventive measures like condoms, birth control pills, and other contraceptives should be sought. There is no shame in looking for these things, if you’ve made the decision to have sex.

The post #FNFRealTalkTeam: Making a Protection Plan appeared first on Fact Not Fiction.