Girls and guys are not equally held responsible for reproductive health and family planning; girls are often in charge of all of the responsibility. Girls are the ones that frequent the family planning clinics, take birth control, and can become pregnant.
But since it takes two to make a baby, guys need to be equally responsible for information on birth control and reproductive health. It is important for a guy to know as much about birth control as a girl does, specifically knowing more than just about condoms.
Guys should know about the different types of hormonal and non-hormonal birth control methods. Sometimes using birth control can have a significant impact on a girl’s body and emotions, and it is important for a guy to be aware of how the use of the pill, or the patch or the Depo shot might affect their partner.
It is important to educate one another. Guys, find out more about what type of birth control your partner is using or is thinking about using. Even if you don’t currently have a partner, get informed about birth control for future reference.
And girls, talk to you partner about birth control. Clue your guy in on what type of birth control you are using or are thinking about using and how it might affect your body.
You can learn more about the different types of birth control on TeenSource.
And watch out because in the future, girls might not be the only ones using hormonal birth control, researchers are currently developing and testing a hormonal birth control method for men!