Short messages on Sexual health and Safety issues from Respect Yourself, the guidance site for young people to help make good decisions in life.
The Pill does not protect you against Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), which can lead to infertility. You need a condom as well to protect against STIs.
The Pill does not make you infertile. As with all forms of contraception, your normal fertility levels return after you stop taking the contraceptive pill.
There is no reason to take a break from the contraceptive pill – it does not build up in your body and will not affect your fertility permanently.
The contraceptive implant is more than 99% effective in preventing pregnancy, but does not protect you from getting Sexually Transmitted Infections.
The contraceptive implant (LARC) is a small flexible tube that’s inserted under the skin of your upper arm. It releases the hormone progestogen to prevent pregnancy. It is also known as “LARC”, or long-acting reversible contraception.
Contraception is a way of reducing the chances of you or your partner from getting pregnant. Condoms, “the Pill” and LARC are common types of contraception.
If you don’t take contraceptive precautions when having sex, the girl may get pregnant which may lead to complications if you are not both ready to be parents.
It is illegal for people in a ‘position of trust’ over us to have sex with under-18s in their care. This includes teachers, carers and doctors, who we trust to look after us.
A girl age 16 or over who has sex with a boy under 16 can be prosecuted for indecent assault (with a maximum sentence of 10 years).
Underage sex: if she is under 13 he could get life imprisonment – it is classed as “statutory rape”. There is no defence to this charge – even if a boy says the girl was willing or that he thought she was older than she was, it would not matter.