Dresses, Dances, and National Teen Pregnancy Day

Protect Yourself from Prom Night

The school year is almost over and for many of us teens, this means one thing.  Yes, you guessed it. It is prom season –dress shopping, limo rides, dancing the night away, after parties – and I love it!

Right in line with this prom-craze atmosphere, is tomorrow’s National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and the theme this year is PROM!

There are a lot of awesome things about prom, but there are definitely some potential down sides. Did you know more than 2,000 teen girls in the United States get pregnant every day! Prom is no exception. I don’t know about you, but I would rather not be another statistic.

Many of us expect to "go all out" on prom night thinking what we do on one night won’t matter. This is totally not true, especially when it comes to having sex. So if you are even considering sex make sure protecting yourself from pregnancy and reducing your risk of STIs is on your prom checklist.

How do I talk to my partner about STDs and Birth Control?

Talking to your partner about your plans for the night before you head out for the party will make everything less stressful. Tell your partner about what you want to do, if anything at all, and make sure that you are both on the same page.

If you know that you or your partner have had sex with multiple partners, go get tested before prom night. Getting an STD test is super fast and easy. Just find your nearest clinic and make an appointment.

Not sure what to say?

Here are some ways to help you and your partner begin the sex conversation.

So if you do decide to have sex on prom night (or any other night for that matter), choose a birth control method that works for you and your partner.

If you are using a birth control method, check out the California Condom Access Project (a mail-in condom program) to stock up on free condoms and lube for the big night. If you end up having an accident (like a broken condom), consider emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy after having unprotected sex.

Relax, stay safe, and dance the night away!