A friend and i were talking about contraceptives this weekend. She's getting married in September and is really worried about not yet getting pregnant. They have been in a long distance relationship and the honest truth is the longest amount of time they've been together has not been more than 10days at a time. So i'm guessing she's very concerned about sha spending time with the guy before they get married.

Anyway, ignorance is a really bad thing sha...i on the other hand plan on having a baby right away so i haven't thought about or have plans for contraceptives. She then mentioned that if at all, well, we don't plan on having kids every 9 months right?

Very Correct!

So she's been doing research on it and i'm amazed at some of the things she mentioned...i had to look it up myself and these are some of what i found....(Now some of these may not be news to many....but it is to me...sorry....)

courtesy: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/sex_relationships/facts/contraception_which.htm

What are the most popular types of contraception?
The Pill including the mini-Pill
Male condom
Vasectomy
Female sterilisation
The coil (intra-uterine device)
Withdrawal method
Persona and other variations of the rhythm method
Contraceptive injection
Mirena (intra-uterine system)
Skin patch
The cap or diaphragm
Female condom
The league table changes from time to time, depending on factors such as Pill scares and the introduction of new methods.For instance, the number of women using Depo-provera (the contraceptive injection) seems to have increased a little since 2000.

What works and what doesn't?
With the exception of withdrawal (coitus interruptus), the above methods have the blessing of family planning experts because when used properly, they prevent pregnancy.However, while the rhythm method is okay for well-motivated couples who have been trained in its use by a qualified natural family planning teacher, for the rest of us, it’s a bit risky.

Also very risky are certain non-approved methods, for instance, using spermicides (chemical pessaries, creams or foams), or douching your vagina after sex.Practices like ‘doing it standing up’ or ‘coughing a lot afterwards’ or ‘trying not to come’ don’t work, and will simply lead to unwanted pregnancy.

How effective are the various methods?Some contraceptive methods are more effective in preventing pregnancy than others, while only condoms offer protection against sexually transmitted infections.

The following figures will give you some idea of which kinds of contraception are the most efficient at protecting you against pregnancy.
Vasectomy - Almost 100 per cent
Female sterilisation- Almost 100 per cent
The Pill-Almost 100 per cent
Contraceptive injection-Almost 100 per cent
IUS (Mirena)- 98 to 99 per cent
IUD (the coil) -97 to 98 per cent
The mini-Pill- Around 98 per cent
Male condom - 90 to 98 per cent
Female condom - 90 to 98 per cent
Diaphragm with spermicide - 90 to 96 per cent

None of the methods is 100 per cent effective, which means the only guaranteed way of preventing conception is to not have sex!(hehehehe) You should also remember that some methods are quite complicated to use, (this is the very reason why i don't like these things, there will always be one "but")and no method is as safe as the figures quoted if you don’t follow the instructions carefully.For example, if you are taking the Pill, you shouldn’t miss taking a tablet. If you are using condoms, you should make sure you put them on before sex starts – not half way through.(why?) If you’re relying on the contraceptive injection, you need to turn up for your jab on time. (what if there is traffic on the way there?)Every method can fail if you don’t take care.

What about new methods of contraception?Other methods of contraception will be available in the future. Below are two recent developments.
The vaginal hormone ring - The vaginal hormone ring (NuvaRing) has been tried out extensively since 2001. It is approved in 32 countries, but not yet in the UK.You keep it in your vagina for three weeks out of every four. During the week you take it out, you will have your period.Like the Pill, it contains two hormones. (and with hormones, your estrogen level is increased causing different kinds of emotions you may not be used to)We don’t know what its long-term effects will be.The most common side effects are known to be:
vaginal inflammation – 14 per cent
headache – 10 per cent
Discharge – 6 per cent
Nausea – 5 per cent.The ring hasn't been generally released in Britain, though you can get it through a few private gynaecologists.As is common with hi-tech methods of contraception, the ring has attracted legal action. In 2008, a lawsuit was launched by a husband who claims that his wife died as a result of using it.

The male Pill The male Pill is still at least five years away from general release, despite the fact that it keeps making headlines.At present, it’s an injection, not a pill.It’s unlikely to reach the British market before 2013.