Contraceptive Guide to Pregnancy

Did you know that if you DON'T use any contraceptive method at all , you have an 80-90% chance of getting pregnant? OK so that was no big surprise but are you really sure you know about EVERY way in which you CAN become pregnant? If you are taking an effective oral contraceptive, like say, Alesse you will be well protected against pregnancy but it is a good idea to skim through the list below just in case you didn't come top of the class in sex ed. or you have stopped taking an oral contraceptive pill and your periods have not yet returned.

• You can still get pregnant the first time you have intercourse, whether you have an orgasm or not
• You can still get pregnant if your partner pulls out of your vagina before he comes- tiny drops of semen can 'leak' out of the penis prior to full ejaculation and those little swimmers have only one mission in mind- to get to your egg!
• You can still get pregnant if you are on your 'period' (either at the end or during the following week)
• You can still get pregnant if you have had a baby and are only partially breastfeeding (it is not advisable to take Alesse or any other brand of oral contraceptive while breastfeeding, until you have been given the 'all clear' from your doctor as hormones can pass through your breast milk so you risk harming your baby)
• You can still get pregnant regardless of the position in which you have sex
• You can still get pregnant if you douche (squirt fluid into your vagina to wash it out)- a practise not recommended.

If you are 'menopausal' and think you are at the end of your 'contraceptive career' be very careful about stopping your oral contraceptive regime- at least until your periods have been absent for 2 years or 1 year if you are over 50.
Oral contraceptives, like Alesse, need to be initially prescribed by your health care provider or doctor then you can buy them online or wherever is most convenient for you. Make sure you have a good supply (3 months is ideal) and if you're the forgetful type, set your mobile phone alarm or PC calendar at work to remind you to take a pill at the same time each day. Alesse, as you know, is an oral contraceptive that contains two synthetic hormones to stop you from getting pregnant- Levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol are the active, generic ingredients found in Alesse. Is Alesse 100% foolproof as a form of birth control? No, although if used correctly, Alesse, like most oral contraceptive pills will afford you close on 99% protection.
Had Unprotected Sex? Don't Panic!

If you think your contraceptive may have failed for whatever reason or you have been vomiting (therefore your estrogen level that month has not been kept high enough to prevent ovulation) - all is not lost so stay calm. As soon as you can, get a prescription for the emergency contraceptive pill.

Emergency Contraceptive Pill - NOT to substituted for your regular pill but to be taken only after unprotected sex. This oral contraceptive can be taken up to 72 hours after sex and contains a much higher dose of hormones (estrogen) than 'normal' contraceptive pills ( so the side effects are often stronger and more unpleasant too). The earlier you take emergency contraceptive pills the more effective they are. You can still get pregnant if you have taken the emergency pill but then had sex again during the same menstrual cycle.
You DO need to use protection against STD's if you have multiple sexual partners- yes, even with 'no care', long lasting contraceptive methods like IUD's and implants. The spermicide, Nonoxynol 9 does NOT protect against HIV when used with condoms.