The best way to practice safe sex is by using condoms, as condoms can prevent contracting sexually transmitted infections and diseases (STIs/STDs), while also preventing pregnancy. However, there is also the option of using other contraceptives such as birth control.
Safe sex is also a matter of feeling emotionally safe. To read more on how to practice emotionally safe sex, Click here(consent)
The safest method one can use to ensure that they are sexually protected involves them using a condom. Condoms are an effective barrier towards sexually transmitted infections such as HIV/AIDS although not 100% effective as abstinence, as the condom can break during intercourse. This is rare, though.
Condoms don’t protect against the risk of getting infections like Human Papillomavirus (HPV) that cause genital warts and potentially cervical cancer. This is due to the fact that the virus can be found on the skin that isn’t protected by the condom.
Condoms are also good in preventing pregnancy in comparison to use of contraceptives. This is because they form a physical barrier that prevents sperms from entering the vagina
Other benefits of the condom is that;
There are different types of contraceptives – among them are:
Most of the methods are available at all health centres. Talk to your doctor about what contraceptive might be right for you.
Some like condoms are available easily in almost all chemists and kiosks. Other more radical methods such as tubal ligation (female sterilization) require a trained health specialist in a hospital set up only.
Emergency pills or ‘morning after pills’ are drugs readily available at all hospitals, health centres and chemists. They are after sex to prevent a pregnancy from developing. Instances when taken include: After a rape incidence, unprotected sex or contraceptive failure e.g. burst condom during intercourse, missed birth control pills.
Note that the emergency pill should not be used on a regular basis but only in case of emergency since they contain a high amount of hormones which is harmful for your body. The emergency pill should not be abused as every-day contraceptives.
No. There’s no evidence that long-term use of the birth control pill interferes with fertility.
Currently in Kenya there is no specific legislation on the age of starting the use of contraception. However, the legal age for consent stands at 18 years, therefore indirectly guiding the age of onset. Despite this, condoms are easily available for teenagers at designated public places and pharmacies.
There are legislative efforts trying to fix the age and set a legal frameworks to contraception acquisition. Notable was the Reproductive Health Care Bill 2014. If such a law is passed and the age for contraception access it lowered, safe sex among teenagers should be enhanced.
According to the Reproductive Health Care Bill 2014, parental consent is not mandatory in the provision of reproductive health care services to adolescents who seek it, including contraception.