Plan 123

Even when following this Plan and being very careful with your partners, you should get tested for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)/AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), HPV (human papillomavirus), chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis at least once per year, and after each sexual relationship ends. If your sexual lifestyle is more active, or you are less strict about forcing the men you sleep with to get tested, or you don't trust that the men were faithful, then you’ll want to get tested every three months.

Many STDs can be cured, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Early detection can help you get treated before any of the negative effects can occur. For many others, though, like HIV, HPV, and herpes, there are no cures, but early detection and treatments can dramatically reduce the negative effects.

This page at Planned Parenthood has much more information about types of birth control, but here’s a short list:

1. Implant - 99% effective

   The implant is a tiny, thin rod that is implanted under the skin in your arm. It releases a small amount of progestin over time to prevent you getting pregnant and works for up to four years. It is not permanent and can be removed early.

2. DIU - 99% effective

   A small T-shaped implant that is put into your uterus to prevent pregnancy. It’s long lasting, but can be removed at any time. There are two primary types: Copper and Hormonal.

   The Copper DIU has no hormones and works by changing the way sperm cells move so they can’t get to an egg, and is good for up to 10 years.

   The Hormonal DIUs are similar in style but release hormones to prevent pregnancy, similar to other birth control methods, and last between 3 and 6 years.

3. Shot - 99% effective

   The shot contains progestin and prevents ovulation, and thus protects against pregnancy. The shot is good for three months at a time. It’s safe, convenient, and private.

4. Patch - 99% effective

   A small but visible patch that is placed on your skin, usually on your belly, butt, arm, or back. It releases estrogen and progestin and prevents you from getting pregnant. You wear the patch for three weeks, then you get a week off before you repeat the cycle.

5. Pill - 99% effective

   A small pill that you take every day that prevents ovulation. Besides preventing pregnancy, the pill has lots of other health benefits, too. The pill is cheap and easy to get.

6. Vaginal Ring - 91% effective

   A small, flexible ring that is worn inside the vagina and releases hormones to prevent ovulation.

7. Condom - 85% effective

   While better than nothing, condoms should not be relied upon as your sole method of birth control. However, they will help prevent STDs, which most other forms of birth control do not, so they should still absolutely be used in addition to another form of birth control.

8. Pull Out Method / Coitus Interruptus - 78% effective

   For withdrawal to work as well as possible, it must be done correctly every single time. Always. So he must always pull out before ejaculation, and always make sure to ejaculate (cum) away from your genitals. This is important because pregnancy can happen if even a tiny bit of semen gets in the vagina.

   This method is very risky and, while better than nothing, should not be relied upon, as it will fail roughly one out of four attempts. Plus, just because a man says he will pull out doesn't mean he actually will.

Condoms are wonderful tools and should absolutely be used with you aren’t 100% sure about your sexual partner. If you met someone at the bar, if you’re just starting a relationship, or you suspect that maybe your partner is sleeping with other people, use a condom!

However, in order for condoms to work correctly, they have to be put on properly, and the truth is that most people, men and women, don’t know how to do that. Here is a link which shows how to correctly put on a condom.

Even with this knowledge, however, condoms are still not enough! Why?

Condoms won’t always be used. Especially after a night at the bar, or with a particularly machista man, there will be times when you’ll forget to use one, or be convinced not to use one. While you will still be open to infections, if you follow the Plan you will at least be protected against unwanted pregnancies.

Accidents happen and condoms will occasionally break, making them completely ineffective. While putting on a condom correctly will decrease the risk of breaking, accidents can still happen. Because people don’t know how to use condoms properly and they can occasionally break, overall condom effectiveness is only about 85%. That means that, on average, using only condoms will fail more often than once every seven times that you have sex.

No, not at all. It’s not any more anti-Catholic than going to the doctor when you don't feel well. No matter what, you should be doing this! God wants us to be healthy and safe.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

God says we should take care of our bodies the way we take care of our churches and temples, many of which have been standing for hundreds of years. We should take care of ourselves just as well!

Most Christian churches and denominations accept and promote the use of birth control, so birth control is not anti-Christian. According to the Catholic church, though, using birth control is usually not permitted. However, in recent years, the church has become more tolerant and understanding. The Pope has said that using birth control is sometimes permissible and not considered a sin, and it is preferable to having unwanted babies. In fact, many Catholic priests will refuse to baptise a baby born to a single mother!

We are not perfect creatures, and God knows that we’re going to fall short of perfection. But that’s okay, because God will forgive you for any sin.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

If you think you are going to have sex before marriage, then you should be intelligent and responsible. It would be far worse to get an STD or to get pregnant before you’re ready than it would be to protect yourself and your health. God understands and forgives.

Acts 3:19
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,