Sex and Contraception
Sex is fun, lots of fun. To keep it that way sex should be approached in a responsible, mature way. There are consequences, good and bad. Unprotected sex is much more likely to lead to bad consequences.

Unwanted pregnancy is the most obvious complication. However, an even better reason to have safe sex is that STIs (sexually transmitted infections) are on the rise in Ireland. While many of these can be cleared up with simple medication, others are potentially life-threatening (HIV and Hepatitus C). In order to limit the risk of picking up any unwanted viruses during sex, you should always use contraception.

Whether you are in a homosexual or heterosexual relationship, and assuming you are not planning a family, it is best to use some form of contraception. It can be an awkward discussion at first, but if you don’t feel able to talk about safe sex with your partner, then you should have a think about the state of your relationship.

Condoms
Male Condom
Effectiveness (with careful use) 85%-98%
The condom is a rubber sheath which covers the penis and collects the sperm after ejaculation, stopping the sperm from reaching the vagina. Condoms are available from chemists, family planning clinics, some shops, pubs, night clubs, and toilets everywhere, making them the exact opposite of a needle in a haystack.

Spermicides can be used with condoms to improve their effectiveness. Spermicides are chemicals which are inserted into the vagina and act both by killing sperm and by forming a thick barrier to stop sperm swimming into the womb. Condoms are relatively easy to use, and each packet includes concise and clear instructions.

Female Condom
Effectiveness: No large-scale studies have yet been done, but research to date suggest it should be as effective as the male condom.
The female condom is a tube made of very thin polyurethane plastic or rubber. It is closed at one end and designed to form a loose lining to a woman’s vagina with two flexible rings, one at each end, to keep it in place. The loose ring in the closed end fits inside the vagina, just behind the pubic bone. The fixed ring at the open end stays outside, lying flat against the area around the entrance to the woman’s vagina. You may add lubrication to the inside, if you wish. Clear instructions for use should also accompany every pack you buy.

Diaphragm
Effectiveness (with careful use) 85%-97%
A diaphragm is a dome of soft rubber which is held in place in the vagina by a flexible spring. The diaphragm must always be used with spermicidal cream or jelly. The cream/jelly is the important contraceptive and the diaphragm exists only to hold them in place. It works by holding the spermicidal cream or jelly over the cervix so the sperm are killed before reaching the womb.

The diaphragm can be put in hours before intercourse, for example before going out for an evening. If you have intercourse more than two hours after insertion, the woman will need to use a pessary or more spermicide without removing the cap. The first fitting must be done by a doctor or nurse and the user will be able to see her/him as often as she wishes until she feels happy about insertion and removal. Insertion is very simple, much like inserting a tampon and most women need only a return visit to show that they have mastered the technique.

The Pill
Effectiveness (with careful use) 99%
The contraceptive pill is the most effective reversible method of birth control available now. For many women the pill is exactly what they want. It is simple to use and does not interfere with making love. However it offers no protection against sexually transmitted diseases.

How does the pill work? When a woman is pregnant certain hormones in her body stop the release of an egg cell each month. The pill contains substances which have the same effect. This is why a woman taking the pill regularly does not become pregnant.

Advantages
1.Very reliable.
2.Regularises and lightens periods and relieves cramps and pre-menstrual syndrome in some women.
3.It does not intrude on love-making.

Disadvantages
1.A woman who smokes and is on the pill runs a serious risk of suffering from heart and lung disease.
2.There are some unpleasant side-effects: depression, nausea, headaches, breakthrough bleeding, weight gain and loss of libido are common. If these symptoms persist a woman should see her doctor.
3.It is important to have regular cervical smears as the relationship between cervical cancer and the pill is not yet known.
4.The pill can increase blood pressure - it is important to have blood pressure checked regularly.
5.Women on the pill run 3-5 times the risk of getting a heart-attack.
6.Thrombosis - all women on the pill run a greater risk of getting blood clots - which can be fatal.
7. No protection from STDs.

After Sex Birth Control
So called ‘Morning After’ contraception are really only for emergencies only after unprotected sexual intercourse or if another method of contraception has failed. The morning after pill works in a number of ways: it can delay ovulation; it creates hormone changes in the lining of the womb so that the fertilised egg cannot attach itself and passes unnoticed out of the body in the menstrual flow; it may slow down the passage of the egg through the fallopian tube.

Since there has been little research into the possible effects of the Morning After Pill on a pregnancy should the treatment fail, medical opinion remains uncertain as to the risk of foetal abnormalities in such circumstances. There is no firm evidence to suggest such a risk.

So there you go folks. Fair dues for reading so far. It's a big world out there. Careful now.