abstinence birth control

What is abstinence

Sexual abstinence simply means no sexual contact or not having sex and refraining from sexual intercourse. A person who decides to practice abstinence has decided not to have sex or any type of intimate sexual contact. Because you’re not having any sexual contact, abstinence is 100 percent effective without any side effects. Some sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) spread through oral–genital sex, anal sex, or even intimate skin-to-skin contact without actual penetration (genital warts and herpes can be spread this way). So only avoiding all types of intimate genital contact — including anal sex and oral sex — can prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). This is called complete abstinence. Abstinence is easy to do as no action is required, but practicing abstinence does take willpower. You may want to have a back-up birth control method, such as condoms. To be effective, any method of contraception must be used consistently and correctly.

The cons of abstinence:

Requires willpower and discipline

How does abstinence work?

Abstinence is the most effective form of birth control. Abstinence prevents pregnancy because sexual intercourse does not take place. Abstinence involves refraining from any activity that leads to an exchange of body fluids. Periodic abstinence is often used by couples who are practicing the fertility awareness method of birth control as a means of preventing pregnancy during the fertile period of a woman’s cycle.

Effects of abstinence on females

If a man and a woman don’t have sex, then sperm can’t fertilize an egg and there’s no possibility of a pregnancy. Some forms of birth control depend on barriers that prevent the sperm from reaching the egg (such as condoms or diaphragms). Others interfere with the menstrual cycle (as birth control pills do). With abstinence, no barriers or pills are necessary because the person is not being sexually intimate with others.

You don’t have to be a virgin to practice abstinence. Sometimes people who have been having sex decide not to continue having sex. Even someone who has been having sex can still choose abstinence to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the future.

Effects of abstinence on males

None. For most people, abstinence is the absence of sexual contact altogether. It is the healthiest way to avoid pregnancy and more importantly, the best way to avoid contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

Benefits of abstinence

Abstinence means you don’t have sex at all. The advantages of abstinence are:

  • 0 percent chance of getting pregnant
  • Free
  • Protects you from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including HIV
  • Has no side effects or health risks
  • You don’t have to go to a doctor or clinic
  • You don’t need to buy devices or remember to take anything
  • Abstinence allows your relationship to grow without the pressures having sex can bring
  • Reduces emotional and psychological challenges related to relationships that involve sexual activity

Abstinence facts

Research suggests that 95% of Americans have participated in premarital sex 1). A recent study was conducted with teens who made a public pledge to abstain until marriage. The study followed up with the youth again six years after they made their pledge and found that over 60% had broken their vow to remain abstinent until marriage. The study also found that while the teens who took virginity pledges begin engaging in vaginal intercourse later than non-pledging teens, those same pledgers were more likely to engage in oral or anal sex than non-pledging teens. Most importantly, these pledgers were less likely to use condoms once they became sexually active. The study found that pledgers were less likely than non-pledgers to use contraception the first time they had sex and also were less likely than other teens to have undergone sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing and to know their sexually transmitted disease (STD) status. As a result, the sexually transmitted disease (STD) rates between pledgers and non-pledgers were statistically similar 2). These studies help conclude that abstinence from sex until marriage is an unrealistic expectation for the youth of America.

  • About three out of 10 young women become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 17, approximately 750,000 per year.
  • 25% of teen females and 18% of teen males did not use contraception the first time they had intercourse.
  • The interval between the time an adolescent female starts sexual activity and seeks health care services is approximately a year.
  • About 20% of adolescent pregnancies occur within one month of the beginning of sexual activity, and 50% occur within six months.
  • An estimated half of all new HIV infections occur in people under age 25.
  • Even though they only represent 25 percent of the sexually active population, 15 to 24 year olds acquire nearly one-half of all new sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) 3).

There has been a decrease in adolescent pregnancy that can be almost entirely attributed to improved contraceptive use. There has been an 84% decline in teen pregnancy since 1995 and the rates are lower than they have been in 65 years. Even still, United States leads all developed nations in teenage birth rate 4).

How can I be successful at abstinence?

Abstinence is most successful when you are diligent and use planning within your relationships.

To make it easier, try some of the following ideas:

  • Do things with friends or in groups
  • Go on double dates
  • Minimize physical affection that could lead to passion and desire, making it harder to abstain from sexual intercourse
  • Avoid situations where you are alone

What about teenagers and abstinence?

Relationships that involve sexual intercourse are filled with physical, emotional, and psychological risks. Abstinence provides teenagers the opportunity to avoid those risks. Individuals who abstain from sexual intercourse during their teenage years tend to have fewer sexual partners in their future.

Remaining abstinent as a teenager means that you will be less likely to:

  • Contract a sexually transmitted disease, which may also lead to infertility
  • Develop cancer of the cervix
  • Experience an unplanned pregnancy

How can my partner get to know me?

Sexual intercourse is not the only way two people can get to know each other. Too often, people open this door for drawing closer to one another only to regret the decision later, because they did not really know each other at all.

Intimacy can be developed through a variety of means such as:

  • Talking and listening
  • Sharing joys, hurts, dreams, goals, wishes and other aspects of life
  • Honesty and respect for one another
  • Having fun and playing together

Why should someone choose abstinence?

Abstinence is chosen by women and men for a number of reasons. If you are a teenager, it is the best way to avoid being a pregnant teen or getting an STD.

Some of the reasons people choose abstinence are noted below:

  • Honor of personal, moral, or religious beliefs
  • Wait until they are married and in a monogamous and committed relationship
  • Pursue school, career, and other activities
  • To avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases

How can I express my affection?

Intimacy and affection can be expressed in a number of ways other than sexual intercourse. Kissing, hugging, massaging, and holding hands are some of the ways that couples express their affection in a physical manner. Intimacy and affection can also be expressed in other ways such as:

  • Conversations
  • Cards, letters, and love notes
  • Support in your partner’s activities
  • Creative and fun dating
  • The caution with any physical affection is that it can lead to passion and a desire for something more.

How well does abstinence work?

Abstinence is 100% effective in preventing pregnancy if used correctly and consistently. Abstinence prevents the transmission of sexually transmitted infections 100% of the time when practiced appropriately and consistently. Although many birth control methods can have high rates of success if used properly, they can fail occasionally. Practicing abstinence ensures that a girl won’t become pregnant because there’s no opportunity for sperm to fertilize an egg.

Table 1. Types of birth control comparison

Method Number of pregnancies per 100 women within their first year of typical use1Side effects and risks*

*These are not all of the possible side effects and risks. Talk to your doctor or nurse for more information.

How often you have to take or use
Abstinence (no sexual contact)Unknown

(0 for perfect use)

No medical side effectsNo action required, but it does take willpower. You may want to have a back-up birth control method, such as condoms.
Permanent sterilization surgery for women (tubal ligation, “getting your tubes tied”)Less than 1
  • Possible pain during recovery (up to 2 weeks)
  • Bleeding or other complications from surgery
  • Less common risk includes ectopic (tubal) pregnancy
No action required after surgery
Permanent sterilization implant for women (Essure®)Less than 1
  • Pain during the insertion of Essure; some pain during recovery
  • Cramping, vaginal bleeding, back pain during recovery
  • Implant may move out of place
  • Less common but serious risk includes ectopic (tubal) pregnancy
No action required after surgery
Permanent sterilization surgery for men (vasectomy)Less than 1
  • Pain during recovery
  • Complications from surgery
No action required after surgery
Implantable rod (Implanon®, Nexplanon®)Less than 1
  • Headache
  • Irregular periods
  • Weight gain
  • Sore breasts
  • Less common risk includes difficulty in removing the implant
No action required for up to 3 years before removing or replacing
Copper intrauterine device (IUD) (ParaGard®)Less than 1
  • Cramps for a few days after insertion
  • Missed periods, bleeding between periods, heavier periods
  • Less common but serious risks include pelvic inflammatory disease and the IUD being expelled from the uterus or going through the wall of the uterus.
No action required for up to 10 years before removing or replacing
Hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs) (Liletta, Mirena®, and Skyla®)Less than 1
  • Irregular periods, lighter or missed periods
  • Ovarian cysts
  • Less common but serious risks include pelvic inflammatory disease and the IUD being expelled from the uterus or going through the wall of the uterus.
No action required for 3 to 5 years, depending on the brand, before removing or replacing
Shot/injection (Depo-Provera®)6
  • Bleeding between periods, missed periods
  • Weight gain
  • Changes in mood
  • Sore breasts
  • Headaches
  • Bone loss with long-term use (bone loss may be reversible once you stop using this type of birth control)
Get a new shot every 3 months
Oral contraceptives, combination hormones (“the pill”)9
  • Headache
  • Upset stomach
  • Sore breasts
  • Changes in your period
  • Changes in mood
  • Weight gain
  • High blood pressure
  • Less common but serious risks include blood clots, stroke and heart attack; the risk is higher in smokers and women older than 35
Take at the same time every day
Oral contraceptives, progestin-only pill (“mini-pill”)9
  • Spotting or bleeding between periods
  • Weight gain
  • Sore breasts
  • Headache
  • Nausea
Take at the same time every day
Skin patch
(Xulane®)
9

May be less effective in women weighing 198 pounds or more2

  • Skin irritation
  • Upset stomach
  • Changes in your period
  • Changes in mood
  • Sore breasts
  • Headache
  • Weight gain
  • High blood pressure
  • Less common but serious risks include blood clots, stroke and heart attack; the risk is higher in smokers and women older than 35
Wear for 21 days, remove for 7 days, replace with a new patch
Vaginal ring (NuvaRing®)9
  • Headache
  • Upset stomach
  • Sore breasts
  • Vaginal irritation and discharge
  • Changes in your period
  • High blood pressure
  • Less common but serious risks include blood clots, stroke and heart attack; the risk is higher in smokers and women older than 35
Wear for 21 days, remove for 7 days, replace with a new ring
Diaphragm with spermicide (Koromex®, Ortho-Diaphragm®)12

If you gain or lose than 15 pounds, or have a baby, have your doctor check you to make sure the diaphragm still fits.

  • Irritation
  • Allergic reactions
  • Urinary tract infection (UTI)
  • Vaginal infections
  • Rarely, toxic shock if left in for more than 24 hours
  • Using a spermicide often might increase your risk of getting HIV
Insert each time you have sex
Sponge with spermicide (Today Sponge®)12

(among women who have never given birth before)

or

24

(among women who have given birth)3

  • Irritation
  • Allergic reactions
  • Rarely, toxic shock if left in for more than 24 hours
  • Using a spermicide often might increase your risk of getting HIV
Insert each time you have sex
Cervical cap with spermicide (FemCap®)23
  • Vaginal irritation or odor
  • Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
  • Allergic reactions
  • Rarely, toxic shock if left in for more than 48 hours
  • Using a spermicide often might increase your risk of getting HIV
Insert each time you have sex
Male condom18
  • Irritation
  • Condom may tear, break or slip off
  • Allergic reactions to latex condoms
Use each time you have sex
Female condom21
  • Irritation
  • Condom may tear or slip out
  • Allergic reaction
Use each time you have sex
Withdrawal — when a man takes his penis out of a woman’s vagina (or “pulls out”) before he ejaculates (has an orgasm or “comes”)22
  • Sperm can be released before the man pulls out, putting you at risk for pregnancy
Use each time you have sex
Natural family planning (rhythm method)24
  • Can be hard to know the days you are most fertile (when you need to avoid having sex or use back-up birth control)
Depending on method used, takes planning each month
Spermicide alone28

Works best if used along with a barrier method, such as a diaphragm

  • Irritation
  • Allergic reactions
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Frequent use of a spermicide might increase your risk of getting HIV
Use each time you have sex

Protection Against STDs

Abstinence protects people against STDs. Some sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) spread through oral–genital sex, anal sex, or even intimate skin-to-skin contact without actual penetration (genital warts and herpes can be spread this way). So only avoiding all types of intimate genital contact — including anal sex and oral sex — can prevent STDs. This is called complete abstinence.

Consistent abstinence means that someone practices abstinence all the time. Having sex even once means that the person risks getting an infection.

Only complete and consistent abstinence can totally prevent pregnancy and protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Because a person does not have any type of intimate sexual contact when he or she practices complete and consistent abstinence, there is no risk of passing on a sexually transmitted infection.

Abstinence does not prevent AIDS, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C infections that come from nonsexual activities, like using contaminated needles for doing drugs, tattooing, or injecting steroids.

Practicing abstinence

Not having sex may seem easy because it’s not doing anything. But peer pressure and things you see on TV and in the movies can make the decision to practice abstinence more difficult.

If it seems like everybody else is having sex, some people may feel they have to do it, too, just to be accepted. Don’t let kidding or pressure from friends, a girlfriend, a boyfriend, or even the media push you into something that’s not right for you. The truth is that most teens are not having sex.

A couple can still have a relationship without having sex. If you’ve made a decision not to have sex, it’s an important personal choice and the people who care about you should respect that.

You may have questions about making this choice or about other methods of birth control. Your doctor or nurse — or an adult you trust, such as a parent, teacher, or counselor — can help provide some answers.

Abstinence side effects

There are no side effects or health risks related to abstinence.

References   [ + ]

Health Jade