How to Have Healthy Sex (for Teens)

Understanding pregnancy. Whether you’re a man or a woman, you should educate yourself about pregnancy before having sex. Here are a few pregnancy basics that people who have been, are and will experience sex need to know:

• Girlfriends can get pregnant whenever sperm penetrates into the vagina. Most pregnancies are the result of unprotected penetrative intercourse while the penis is inside the vagina.
• It is nearly impossible for a girlfriend to get pregnant through oral sex, anal sex, or other non-invasive sexual activities. ^[1]
• Genital mucus (the fluid secreted at the tip of the penis when a man is aroused) usually does not contain sperm. Unlike semen, genital mucus cannot make a girl pregnant. ^[2]

Learn about sexually transmitted diseases. Any unprotected sex, whether vaginal, anal, and oral, can expose you to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). ^[3] You can only get an STD through contact with the bodily fluids of someone who has the disease. However, many people with an STD don’t show any symptoms, so you can still get it through sex and have serious health problems (such as infertility). The Centers for Disease Control recommends that women younger than 25 who are sexually active and men who have sex with men get tested for STDs annually. ^[4] Men who have not had sex with men are less likely to get the disease, but should still get tested after having sex. unsafe sex.

• Some STDs can take up to six months or more to show up on tests.
• If you and your partner only have sex, you only need to get tested once. You should get tested again if you suspect that your partner has had sex with another person, or that one of you has shared needles.

Use condom. Condoms are the most common method of birth control among young adults. ^[5] They are cheap, easy to use, and can help prevent pregnancy and STIs. Make sure you use condoms correctly. Male condoms reduce the risk of getting pregnant by 2% per year when used correctly, but during use, carelessness or errors increase that risk by 18%. ^[6]

• Female condoms are somewhat less effective, and if used correctly, can reduce the risk of getting pregnant by 5%. Do not use male and female condoms at the same time. ^[7]
• Using condoms “and” one of the methods below is a great way to protect yourself and your partner.

Use birth control pills. Birth control pills are very effective at preventing pregnancy when a woman takes one pill a day. ^[8] They do not prevent STDs. This “drug” is available in many countries and does not require a prescription, but in the US you need to be prescribed by a doctor.

• U.S. law does not allow your doctor to tell your parents about your use of birth control pills. However, parents can still find out if you pay for the drugs with their health insurance. In Vietnam, birth control pills have many types and prices are also rich, you can go to the pharmacy for reference. ^[9]
• This drug is safe for most women, but can cause health problems if you have a history of heart or blood problems. Smoking increases the risk of these diseases. ^[10]
• Birth control pills will help make your periods more regular and can reduce uncomfortable symptoms like pimples and menstrual cramps.

Menstrual cycle tracking. Women are most fertile when they ovulate and a few days after. Ovulation usually occurs on days from 11 to 21 for people with a menstrual cycle of 28 days, of which day 1 is the start of menstruation. ^[11] Note that most women don’t have regular menstrual cycles, so you can’t predict exactly when you’ll ovulate.

• Sperm can survive for a few days in the vagina, so you can still get pregnant if you have sex before ovulation.
• To keep track, keep a journal of your period with pre-menstrual symptoms. If you want to be on the safe side, you can also track ovulation.

Learn about other birth control methods. There are many other methods of birth control, from the diaphragm to the ring. For more information, go to your local health station and ask about family planning, or talk to your doctor. Teens are often exposed to a lot of unverified information about contraception and STD prevention, so don’t assume everything you hear is true.

• External ejaculation, when the penis is withdrawn before ejaculation, is not recommended by experts. While it can prevent pregnancy to some extent when applied correctly, there is a risk that a boyfriend may not pull it out in time or change his mind when having sex. This method also cannot prevent STDs. ^[12]