Hi there,
Thank you so much for your letter. It sounds like you've been having trouble finding the answer to your question. I'm really glad you wrote in because I'm sure a lot of people will be wondering the same thing.
Yes, you can definitely get contraception if you haven't had sex before. In fact, I would say that's a great time to get some contraception! It's possible to get sexually transmitted infections and/or become pregnant the very first time you have sex, so it's important to think about how to protect yourself before you start a sexual relationship. I would hope that any doctor or nurse you spoke to about contraception would be really pleased to know that you are being wise enough to think about it now.
It might be that you're not actually in a relationship at the moment, and that's okay too. It's good to take responsibility for thinking about contraception now, so that you can be clear in your own mind about what you want to happen if and when you do have sex. Sometimes a doctor will suggest certain types of contraception (for example, the pill) to help with something other than preventing pregnancy. For example, the pill can be helpful for some girls who have very painful periods. So not everyone who is using contraception is thinking about being sexually active.
There are lots of different types of contraception and they all have different advantages and disadvantages. The implant won't suit everyone, so it's good to be thinking ahead and finding out if this is a method that would work for you. Remember that it will only protect against pregnancy, but it won't prevent sexually transmitted infections. If you are planning to have sex with a partner, the two of you will need to talk together about how you are going to protect each other's health.
I think you'd find it really useful to look at the contraception page in Explore. Take a look at Brook, too, for more information about contraception and sexual health. You can even speak to them direct by phone, webchat or text.
Take care
Sam
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You can ask me about anything you want, there's nothing too big or small. I read every single letter but I can only answer a few each week. My replies are published here on my page.
