The population today, younger than twenty-five, is the most sexually active in the United States. The choices we make today involve many risks. To engage in sexual activity is a choice and with this choice, there are risks. In the case of the contraction of sexually transmitted diseases (STD's) and the incidences of unwanted pregnancies many options for protection are available including Ortho Evra, Implant rods which distribute hormones in a woman, Barrier condoms, and Hormonal methods which a patient takes orally. The barrier condom is the only method of contraception that protects against both STD's and pregnancy, but even with it alone there is still a small amount of risk. Therefore, a combination of two of these methods is a sexually active person's most reliable way of preventing both. When trying to avoid getting pregnant and contracting STD's it is much better to have protection and not need it than to need protection and not have it. .
Barrier methods of contraception include the male and female condom. Both the male and female condoms come in a variety of materials, the most common being latex. According to Beverly Winikoff's statistics, this form of protection, when used properly, is "ninety-eight percent effective" against unwanted pregnancies. "Condoms are very popular amongst the younger than twenty-five population. Until recently latex condoms were only available for males but now there are female condoms" (199,204). Barrier methods of contraception not only protect against pregnancy, but also reduce the contraction and spreading of STD's. With the invention of these contraceptive barriers and their availability there is no reason why protection is not an option. .
The most popular hormonal form of contraception is "The Pill". The contraceptive pill contains either a combination of two hormones, Estrogen and Progesterone (combined contraceptives) or progesterone alone (progesterone-only contraceptives).
