[Cianna Lindsay]

my boyfriend and i have had sex before but my close friend had a pregnancy scare so we decided to stop until i was at least on the pill. is 16 too young to start taking birth control? what are some of the effects?

[crumpethead]

It sounds like now would be an ideal time to start taking the contraceptive pill since you are sexually active. It doesn't make any difference what age you start taking it but you should always be aware that you need to be careful about sexually transmitted infections. So bearing this in mind, condoms are still the best way to prevent STI's. There are a multitude of different types of pills. Different types & brands suit different people. Sometimes it's a matter of trial & error over a period to find a pill that suits you. What may suit one person (without many side effects) may cause another person to gain weight, develope acne, decreased libido, become irritable or moody, or have irregular periods. It's important that you find a doctor who is experienced in women's health, as not all doctors are up to date with the lastest contraceptive pills available, and the range of pills is changing all the time.You will need to see your doctor to get started on a pill, so if you don't already have a regular doctor, treat this as an opportunity to establish an ongoing relationship with a doctor who will need to ensure that you have regular pap-smears, and monitor your ongoing health. They might also want to test you for STI's, especially chlamydia, as this is an infection that is often without symptoms but it can cause infertility if left untreated. It is becoming more common on young people these days.You might also want to consider the Implanon implant which lasts for 5 years. However, this can cause irregular bleeding and other side effects in some people. (weight gain, acne, irritability)