What should I do before I have sex?
Never have sex unless you are absolutely sure you want to. If you are thinking about having sex, make sure to take steps to stay healthy.
Birth Control
How Can I Prevent Pregnancy?
You can prevent pregnancy by getting birth control from a health care provider before you have sex and using that birth control in the correct way. You can also pick up condoms from a health care provider or pharmacy. After unprotected sex, you can use emergency contraception to try to prevent pregnancy.
How do I get Birth Control?
You can ask your regular doctor about birth control during a check-up. Or, you can make an appointment just to talk about birth control. If you’re worried about cost and keeping the visit private, find a clinic in your area that may be able to help.
What type of birth control should I take?
There are many different types of birth control, so your health care provider can help you decide which one is right for you. For more information on the different types of birth control and to explore what might be important to you, visit Bedsider for a comprehensive guide.
If I don’t want to or can’t go to a doctor, how can I get birth control?
In California, you can go to a pharmacy to get birth control that you can give yourself, like the pill or the patch. You also can get birth control from an online pharmacy. You won’t be able to get birth control that a doctor needs to insert, like an IUD, from a pharmacy.