Welcome back to the FreeTrainers.com Tip of the Week. With the dramatic increase in sexually active teens and the rise in teen members at FreeTrainers.com, we like to share some advice on sex and the use of birth control. Making a decision whether to have sex is a tough one.  You should make up your own mind about when is the right time. If you're not ready for sex, say so. It's okay to wait. But, if you think you are ready to have sex, or if you already have, you should take steps to avoid pregnancy. Thousands of teenagers become pregnant each year because they do not use birth control.  This article talks about the different types of birth control that teenagers can use. It may help you choose which is right for you.  Sex and Reproduction  During sexual intercourse, the erect penis goes into the vagina and moves in and out. This moving in and out of the penis can lead to orgasm.  When a boy has an orgasm and ejaculates ("comes"), his penis releases semen, which contains millions of sperm. If this happens during intercourse, the semen spurts into the vagina. Sperm in the semen can swim up to the uterus and fallopian tubes where they can fertilize an egg. If the couple isn't using any birth control, the girl can become pregnant. A girl can get pregnant any time she has sex - even her first time.  The only way to not get pregnant is to not have sex. If you do have sex, use birth control every time. This lowers your chance of getting pregnant. Both boys and girls should think about birth control.  What Type? Hormonal Methods  One type of birth control is hormonal. Hormonal methods keep a girl's body from releasing eggs. If your body does not release an egg, you can't get pregnant. All hormonal methods must be prescribed by a doctor. They prevent pregnancy about 99 percent of the time. However, they do not protect against STDs (sexually transmissible diseases).  There are three kinds of hormonal methods..  Oral contraceptives (the "pill") are the most popular hormonal method. You have to take one pill once a day and finish one pill-pack every month. The pill: - Is safe and works very well when taken each day - May make menstrual periods lighter - May make cramps occur less often  The birth control shot (Depo-Provera) is given in your arm or buttock every three months. You will need only four shots each year. During the three months that the shot is working, you don't have to do anything else to prevent pregnancy.  Birth control implants (Norplant) are six soft capsules the size of matchsticks that are placed under the skin of your arm by a doctor. These provide birth control for up to five years. The capsules can be taken out whenever you want. Barrier Methods  Another kind of birth control you can choose is barrier methods. They keep sperm from reaching the eggs. You must use barrier methods right before each time you have sex.  The male condom ("rubber") is the most popular barrier method. It covers the penis so that after a boy ejaculates, the sperm stays inside the condom. Condoms prevent pregnancy about 85 percent of the time. Condoms made of latex are best because they protect against most STDs. They work even better when used with a spermicide. Condoms also: - Are cheap to buy and easy to use - Can be bought in a drugstore - Have no side effects  There is also a condom for females. It is a thin plastic pouch that lines the vagina. The female condom is easy to buy in drugstores, too.  Spermicides are chemicals that are put into the vagina to kill sperm. They work best when used with a condom. Spermicides: - Must be put in the vagina just before you have sex - Can be bought in drugstores - Come as foam, gel, cream, suppositories and film  The diaphragm is a round rubber dome that fits inside the vagina and covers the cervix. It is always used with a spermicide. Diaphragms: - Must be prescribed by a doctor - May be put in place up to six hours before you have sex Birth Control Myths  You may have heard about "tricks" you can use to not get pregnant after sex (see box). Don't depend on them - they do not work. Birth Control in an Emergency  If you have sex without using any birth control, or if the condom breaks during sex, you can use emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy. This is only used in an emergency - not for your regular birth control.  The most commonly used method for teens is a high dose of birth control pills. This will prevent pregnancy in most cases. The pills must be taken within three days of having sex.  If you need emergency contraception, call your doctor's office or go to a hospital emergency room. Tell them you need treatment right away. You should also be tested for STDs. What Doesn't Work  The following things DO NOT stop you from getting pregnant:  Douching - Squirting water or any other liquid into the vagina after sex does not kill sperm or stop pregnancy.  Plastic wrap instead of a condom - Plastic wrap tears and lets sperm escape.  Urinating right after sex - Urine does not pass through the vagina so it does not get rid of the sperm.  Having sex during your period - You can get pregnant any time of the month.  Having sex for the first time - You can get pregnant even if you've never had sex before.  Having sex in a special position - No matter what position you have sex in, if the penis enters - or comes close to - the vagina, you can get pregnant.  Withdrawing ("pulling out") before ejaculation - Boys leak fluids from their penises before and after ejaculation. These fluids can carry enough sperm to cause pregnancy. Another Thing to Think About  You should also know how to avoid getting STDs. These are diseases that are spread by sexual contact - having sex with someone who has one. STDs can make you unable to have a baby later on. Some are painful. Some can even kill you. Examples of STDs are gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, herpes, and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). HIV causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). Most STDs, like syphilis and gonorrhea, can be cured right away. Others, like herpes and AIDS, cannot be cured.  Anyone who has sex can get an STD. You can get the same STD more than once. You can have more than one STD at a time. Protecting Yourself  First of all, the only sure way to protect yourself from an STD is not to have sex. But if you are having sex, protect yourself by using a latex condom every time. Use a condom even if you're using other birth control methods. A condom used with a spermicide offers even better protection. Use a spermicide with nonoxynol-9. This helps kill the germs that cause STDs.  You can also protect yourself by not having sex with many different people. The more partners you have, the higher your chance of getting an STD. How to Use a Condom  Using a condom the right way can prevent pregnancy and protect you and your partner against STDs. A condom should put on before you have sex, not during.  To use the male condom, place the rolled-up condom over the tip of the erect penis. Hold the end of the condom to allow a little extra space at the tip. With the other hand, unroll the condom over the penis.  Right after ejaculation, hold the condom against the base of the penis while it is withdrawn from the vagina. Then throw the condom away.  To use the female condom, squeeze the inner ring between your fingers and insert it into the vagina (like a tampon). Push the inner ring into the vagina as far as it can go. Let the outer ring hang about an inch outside your body. Guide the penis through the outer ring.  Right after ejaculation, squeeze and twist the outer ring and pull the pouch out gently. Like the male condom, it should be thrown away - never use it again. Talk to Your Partner  Before you have sex, talk to your partner about using condoms. Don't be shy - be direct. Be honest about your feelings and needs. You can talk about it in many ways:  "You know, it makes sex even better for me knowing that both of us are protected. Let's use a condom."  "I'd really like to have sex with you as long as we use condoms. Condoms protect both of us."  If your partner refuses to use a condom, do not have sex. A person who doesn't care about protecting your health isn't worth your sexual involvement. This article has been reprinted from MEDEM - The Medical Library