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What Mothers and Daughters Should Know About Birth Control
By Carma Haley
Abstinence
The only method of birth control that is 100 percent effective each and every time it is used is abstinence. Abstinence is free, there is no medical exam needed and this method of contraception protects against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Both males and females can practice abstinence for birth control and even though sexual intercourse is avoided, abstinence allows for other intimate contact to be continued while still providing complete protection.
"For an unmarried teenager, I believe that the best form of birth control is abstinence," says Marie Geiger, a freelance writer from western Pennsylvania. "Do I think it is the most realistic option? Not for everyone. Abstinence will only work for a teen [who] believes in the benefits of waiting to have sex. I wish someone had really emphasized this with me. My daughter is only 4 now, but I think about these things a lot. Based on my experience and from a women's health viewpoint, I will make sure that she is aware both of how her reproductive system works and what the options are that are available for preventing pregnancy once she is in a position to be worried about that. She will know her options -- all of them."