Hi there Doctor Dan! I am a virgin and me and my boyfriend are thinking of having sex. Needless to say, I have some final questions. First of all, is the pill as effective as a condom? I know that he has no diseases, and he says that eventually, (some other time) he would like to go as far as to cum inside me. I love him very much and I have no problem with this, as long as I DONT GET PREGNANT. Also, I'm not very good at oral sex, my friends are always telling me that the underside of the head of the penis is very sensitive, like the clitoris. Is this true? Thank you so much Doctor Dan!

Nizzie, 19 Female

Hello Nizzie! Great to see that you are about to embark on your first sexual encounter, and I am glad that you are asking about birth control beforehand!

To answer your question, the pill is statistically about as effective as a condom, however it offers NO protection against disease. Therefore you must be completely sure that your man has no STD's before you rely on it as your sole source of birth control. If you are concerned about pregnancy I suggest using both the pill and a condom to increase your safety net.

You should also know that NO method of birth control is completely safe. Emergency contraception is available for those type of accidents. You should also be aware of the possible side effects of the pill, so I have outlined the pill's nature below:-

The Pill is the most popular type of birth control. There are many different brands of The Pill and they come in packs of 21 or 28 pills. One pill is taken every day. The first 21 pills have a combination of synthetic estrogen and progesterone hormones. The Pill stops ovulation, preventing the ovaries from releasing eggs. The Pill also thickens cervical mucus, making it harder for sperm to enter the uterus. The hormones in the Pill prevent fertilization. The last 7 pills of a 28-day pack have no hormones and are called spacer pills. The Pill is 97-99.9% effective as birth control. It does not protect against reproductive tract infections, including HIV/AIDS.

When started within 6 days of the start of a period or within 6 days after an abortion, The Pill is effective immediately. If the Pill is started at other times, it will be effective after one month. To lower the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, condoms can be used while taking The Pill.

Starting The Pill:

There are several ways to begin taking The Pill. One common way is to start on the first day of your period or the first day after an abortion. Some women prefer to start on the first Sunday after they begin their period or the first Sunday after an abortion.

Continuing:

Take one pill every day until you finish an entire pack. Try to link taking The Pill with a regular activity that you do at the same time every day, like eating a meal or brushing your teeth. If you have a 28-day pack, start a new pack immediately after you finish the old one. If you have a 21-day pack, take one pill every day for 21 days, no pills for 7 days, then start the new pack immediately.

Cautions

Some women may not be able to take The Pill because of the risk of serious health problems. Women who are over 35 and smoke or who have any of the following conditions should not take The Pill:

History of heart attack or stroke
Blood clots
Unexplained vaginal bleeding
Known or suspected cancer
Known or suspected pregnancy
Liver disease
Women who are under 35 and smoke, have migraines, gallbladder disease, hypertension, diabetes, epilepsy, sickle cell disease, elective surgery, a history of blood clots, liver or heart disease may not be able to take The Pill. Your clinician or doctor can decide.

Women who use The Pill have a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. The effects of The Pill on breast cancer are still unknown. The Pill lowers a woman's chance of developing ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, and pelvic inflammatory disease.

Side Effects

As the body adjusts to hormonal changes created by The Pill, women often experience some minor side effects, including:

Irregular bleeding or spotting
Nausea
Breast tenderness
Weight gain and/or water retention
Spotty darkening of the skin
Mood changes
Side effects usually disappear after 2-3 cycles. If your side effects are bothersome after 2-3 cycles or if heavy bleeding occurs, continue taking your pills and call the clinic for an appointment to talk about your prescription.

Drug Interactions

The effectiveness of the Pill is lowered when taken with certain medications, including antibiotics, anti-seizure, tuberculosis, and migraine medications. If you are taking any medications, tell your clinician. When taking medications that may interfere with BC, consider adding a backup method of birth control, like condoms and spermicide. As with all drugs, it is useful to inform all your medical providers if you are using hormonal birth control.

Danger Signs

Women who experience any of the following symptoms while taking The Pill should call the clinic immediately:

Abdominal pains (severe)
Chest pain or shortness of breath
Headaches (severe)
Eye problems, such as blurred vision
Severe leg or arm pain or numbness
Missed Pills: Late Start

The most common way women get pregnant while using The Pill is starting late.

1 day late starting the next package: Take 2 pills as soon as you remember and one pill each day after. Use a backup form of birth control for two weeks.
2 days late starting the next package: Take 2 pills per day for 2 days, then continue as usual. Use a backup form of birth control for two weeks.
3 or more days late starting the next package: Call the clinic for instructions.
Missed Pills: During the Cycle

1 pill missed: Take it as soon as you remember and take your next pill at your usual time. This may mean taking two pills in one day.
2 pills missed in a row in the first two weeks: Take two pills on the day you remember and two pills the next day. Finish the rest of the pack as usual. Use a backup form of birth control for one week.
2 pills missed in a row in the third week: Keep taking one pill every day until Sunday. On Sunday, set aside the rest of the pack, including the spacers, and start taking a new pack of pills. Use a backup form of birth control for one week.
3 or more pills missed in a row anytime: Keep taking one pill every day until Sunday. On Sunday, set aside the rest of the pack and start taking a new pack of pills. Use a backup form of birth control for two weeks.
Missing any of the last 7 pills of a 28-day package will not raise your risk of pregnancy. Skip the pills you missed, but be sure you start your next pack on time.

Missed Periods

Missing a period does not always mean that you are pregnant. If you do miss a period, think about how likely a pregnancy is. Also consider the risks related to continuing birth control pills. Pregnancy is more likely:

in the first few months of Pill use
if you missed taking any Pills
if you are taking another medication (especially antibiotics)
if you have been sick (vomiting and/or diarrhea)
If you forgot one or more pills and do not have a period that month, we recommend that you have a sensitive pregnancy test done at a clinic.

If you miss two periods in a row, it could either be normal or a sign of pregnancy. Pregnancy tests are recommended right away. If you become pregnant while on The Pill, there is probably no risk of birth defects.

Future Fertility

Women who want to become pregnant may stop using The Pill at any time. Fertility may return immediately or after a few months.

Advantages

Periods may be lighter or more regular.
Easy to use.
Does not harm future fertility.
Does not interrupt sex play.
May protect against uterine and ovarian cancers.
May reduce acne.
Can be used for Emergency Contraception.

Disadvantages

Does not protect against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.
Must be taken every day.
Less effective when taken with some drugs.
Raised risk of heart attack and stroke.
Requires a prescription.

As for your second question about oral sex, yes the underside of the head of a penis is very sensitive, however the whole penis head is sensitive to touch. So are the testicles, which you can play with or lick and suck while you jerk his penis. This can be very satisfying for a guy! Also have you considered massaging his prostate while sucking him off? This can create mind blowing orgasms for a guy, however it requires you to put your finger into his ass, which some girls are turned off by.

Love Doctor Dan