Should i still use a condom while on the pill

Our guide to the side effects of the birth control pill goes into more detail on these side effects, as well as how likely you are to experience them. As well as these minor birth control pill side effects, the pill is linked to a slight increase in your risk of experiencing cardiovascular issues such as stroke and blood clotting.

These risks are higher if you smoke and are 35 years of age or older. The birth control pill could potentially weaken or strengthen your sex drive. Beyond the potential health side effects of the birth control pill, the pill also has a few other small disadvantages. This is especially important if you use the progestin-only pill, which needs to be taken at almost exactly the same time to stay 99 percent effective as a form of contraception. This means that they also — at least partially — protect you and your partner from STDs by blocking the transfer of bodily fluids.

But how effective are condoms? Like the birth control pill, condoms are highly effective when used correctly. If you use condoms perfectly every time you have sex, they will be 98 percent effective at preventing you from becoming pregnant. Condoms have a range of advantages over other forms of birth control, from their low cost to their ability to prevent the spread of most STDs.

The biggest advantage of condoms is their ability to stop you or your partner from transmitting STDs. Because condoms create a physical barrier between you and your partner, bodily fluids that can carry STDs are prevented from coming into contact with your genitals. However, some STDs that spread through skin-to-skin contact can be transmitted even if you wear a condom.

However, overall, condoms offer far more protection against STDs than hormonal forms of birth control, which offer no STD protection at all. Another advantage of condoms is their cost and availability. Condoms are affordable and readily available from your local drug store, convenience store or supermarket, making them very easy to buy on short notice. Finally, condoms are completely free of side effects, making them a good birth control option if you experience side effects from hormonal birth control.

The biggest disadvantage of condoms is the lack of convenience. This means that you or your partner will need to have a condom available whenever you feel like having sex, which can be a minor inconvenience. Luckily, condoms are small, discrete and easy to carry with you. Another disadvantage of condoms is the effects they can have on sex.

Some people find it hard to put a condom on, meaning you might need to take a break for a minute or two as your partner puts the condom on their penis.

Women and men both report a reduced level of pleasure from sex when using a condom. This is often due to incorrect condom sizing and can often be fixed by switching to a different size, type or brand of condom. Condoms can also take time to get used to, meaning it might feel awkward the first time you and your partner use a condom, but become natural and pleasurable over time.

However, it may still prevent pregnancy for up to 5 days after you first had sex. After you use emergency contraception, your next menstrual cycle may start earlier or later than usual. Your menstrual flow may be lighter or heavier than usual. Sometimes, emergency contraception does not work. However, research suggests that emergency contraceptives have no long-term effects on the pregnancy or developing baby. You may be able to use emergency contraception even if you cannot regularly take birth control pills.

Talk to your provider about your options. Emergency contraception should not be used as a routine birth control method. It does not work as well as most types of birth control.

Morning-after pill; Postcoital contraception; Birth control - emergency; Plan B; Family planning - emergency contraception. Hormonal contraception. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Rivlin K, Westhoff C. Family planning. Comprehensive Gynecology. Winikoff B, Grossman D. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Do not use out-of-date condoms. This means they've been tested to high safety standards.

How a condom works Condoms are a "barrier" method of contraception. They can also protect against STIs if used correctly during vaginal, anal and oral sex. How to use a condom Take the condom out of the packet, being careful not to tear it with jewellery or fingernails. Do not open the packet with your teeth. Place the condom over the tip of the erect penis. If there's a teat on the end of the condom, use your thumb and forefinger to squeeze the air out of it.

Gently roll the condom down to the base of the penis. If the condom will not roll down, you may be holding it the wrong way round. If this happens, it may have sperm on it, so throw it away and try again with a new one. After sex, take out the penis while it's still erect — hold the condom on at the base of the penis while you do this. Remove the condom from the penis, being careful not to spill any semen. Throw the condom away in a bin, not down the toilet. Make sure your penis does not touch your partner's genital area again.

If you have sex again, use a new condom. Using lubricant Condoms come lubricated to make them easier to use, but you may also like to use additional lubricant lube.

Condoms with spermicide Some condoms come with spermicide on them. Who can use condoms? Some people are allergic to latex condoms. If this is a problem, polyurethane or polyisoprene condoms are less likely to cause an allergic reaction.

If you have difficulty keeping an erection, you may not be able to use condoms because the penis must be erect to prevent semen from leaking or the condom slipping off.

Advantages and disadvantages of condoms Some advantages of using condoms: When used correctly and consistently, they are a reliable method of preventing pregnancy and protecting both partners from STIs, including chlamydia , gonorrhoea and HIV. You only need to use them when you have sex — they do not need advance preparation and are suitable for unplanned sex. In most cases, there are no medical side effects from using condoms.

They are easy to get hold of and come in a variety of shapes, sizes and flavours. Some disadvantages include: Some couples find that using condoms interrupts sex — to get around this, try to make using a condom part of foreplay. Condoms are very strong but may split or tear if not used properly. If this happens to you, practise putting them on so you get used to using them.

Some people may be allergic to latex, plastic or spermicides, but you can get condoms that are less likely to cause an allergic reaction. When using a condom, you have to pull out after you have ejaculated and before your penis goes soft, holding the condom firmly in place.

Can anything make condoms less effective? This may happen if: the penis touches the area around the vagina before a condom is put on the condom splits or comes off the condom gets damaged by sharp fingernails or jewellery you use oil-based lubricants, such as lotion, baby oil or petroleum jelly, with latex or polyisoprene condoms — this damages the condom you're using medicine for conditions like thrush , such as creams, pessaries or suppositories — this can damage latex and polyisoprene condoms, and stop them working properly If you think sperm has entered the vagina, you may need emergency contraception.

You can go to a: sexual health clinic contraception clinic young person's clinic You can use another form of contraception, such as the contraceptive pill or implant, for extra protection against pregnancy. Where to get condoms You can get condoms for free, even if you're under 16, from: contraception clinics sexual health or GUM genitourinary medicine clinics some GP surgeries some young people's services Find a sexual health clinic You can also buy condoms from: pharmacies supermarkets websites vending machines in some public toilets some petrol stations Always buy condoms that carry the BSI kite mark and the European CE mark.

If you're under 16 years old Contraception services are free and confidential, including for people under the age of