While a variety of effective birth control methods exist today, only abstinence can be guaranteed 100 percent effective and reversible, with no side effects. Abstinence, which means not having sex, also ensures that a person will not contract AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases. Depending on your age, marital status, religious beliefs, and other factors, abstinence may be a viable choice for you. Or, it may make sense in temporary circumstances such as immediately following the birth of a child, when a woman needs time to heal physically. Even when choosing an active sex life and using birth control, there are instances where abstinence may be required. For example, in natural family planning, a woman must avoid sex on her most fertile days. When starting birth control pills, it takes at least a week for the pills to become effective; until that time, abstinence or a backup method of contraception is advised. Also, a man who gets a vasectomy isn't automatically sterile. A waiting period of several weeks is required, and two negative sperm tests, before it's safe to have intercourse without using birth control. For more information on abstinence as a method of contraception, talk to a gynecologist or health care provider.
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