Amaze Videos: Contraception & Abortion

Screenshot from an Amaze video: a teal background with "Condoms" written at top and two cartoon drawings of a blue condom wrapper and a yellow condom Amaze Condoms

The following videos from Amaze explore several important questions about contraception and abortion. They are geared towards young people, aged nine to fifteen.

Birth Control: The Final Frontier 

What exactly is birth control? When should you use it? There are many things you should consider before having sex, including pregnancy prevention and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Birth control can help answer some of those questions. This video offers an overview of birth control, where you can get different birth control options, and how condoms can protect against STIs. Birth control is part of the larger conversation around consent and practicing safer sex.

 

Birth Control Basics: Condoms, The Pill & Patch 

If used regularly and correctly, short-term methods of contraception–such as condoms, birth control pills, and the patch–are highly effective at preventing pregnancy and lowering your risk of contracting STIs. 

 

Condoms: How To Use Them Effectively

External condoms (oftentimes simply called “condoms”) are an effective contraceptive method that can be used to prevent pregnancy and the spread of most STIs. Watch this video to learn more about how to use condoms, where to buy them, and the best types of lubricants to use with them.

 

Tips for Safer Sex and Pregnancy Prevention 

While condoms and the birth control pill are the most common forms of contraception, there are many other options available. There are two types of contraception methods. Short-term contraception must be used or taken regularly, such as condoms, the pill, or the patch. Long-term reversible contraception options can last for years, and they include intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants. Lastly, withdrawal (also known as the pull-out method) is a possibility, but it is one of the least effective methods for preventing pregnancy and it does not protect against STIs.

 

What Should You Do If You’ve Had Unprotected Sex?

It’s important to practice safer sex, but sometimes things happen. Maybe the condom broke or you forgot to take your daily birth control pill. If you’ve have unprotected sex, don’t panic. But, it’s important to know the possible outcomes of unprotected sex, such as unwanted pregnancy or the higher risk of an STI. The emergency contraception pill, also called Plan B or the “morning after pill,” is a pregnancy prevention option if taken up to 5 days after having sex (but the sooner the better). If you think you’ve been exposed to HIV, you can take PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis), but it must be taken within 72 hours. Lastly, if you are pregnant and need to meet with a medical professional, make sure you go to a clinic staffed by real nurses and doctors and not a “crisis pregnancy center.”

 

What Is Emergency Contraception (The Morning After Pill)? 

Emergency contraception, also called EC, the morning after pill, or Plan B, is a pill you can take after having sex to prevent pregnancy. The sooner you take the pill after sex, the more likely that it will work. You can get emergency contraception in pharmacies without a prescription. Emergency contraception is not the same as medication abortion, and it cannot terminate a pregnancy.

 

What Is An Abortion? 

Abortion is a safe way to end a pregnancy. A pregnant person may want to have an abortion for a variety of different reasons, maybe they already have children, maybe they can’t afford to have a child right now, or maybe they simply don’t want children at all. The decision to have an abortion is for the pregnant person to decide. There are two types of abortion options available, a medication abortion or a surgical abortion.

 

What Is Abstinence?

Abstinence is when a person chooses to not engage in sexual activity. There are a variety of reasons why one might choose to practice abstinence, including religion, avoidance of pregnancy and STIs, and not feeling ready to participate in sexual activity. Someone’s personal sexual choices, including abstinence, are valid and should be respected.