Unless you are actively trying to have a baby, you will always need to use birth control. Birth control is just as important for men as it is for women. If a man doesn't understand the basics of birth control, he won't be able to act responsibly. So while most of these methods do focus on female biology, it is essential for males to be just as much in the know. But also keep in mind that the woman is the one who will be using most of these methods, so she must be comfortable with her decision.
Barrier methods are exactly what they sound like--they involve putting something between the sperm and the egg.
The condom is the one birth control method where men will have to engage in the protective action. Condoms are best for people who want to protect themselves against STIs, STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) and those who do not want to take any pills or shots. Both men and women should know how to properly put a condom on. Here are the basic steps:
1. Store your condoms in a cool, dry place. 2. Put a drop or two of lubricant inside the condom. 3. If the penis is not circumcised, pull back the foreskin before rolling on the condom. 4. Place the rolled condom over the tip of the hard penis, leaving a half-inch space at the tip to collect the semen 5. Pinch the air out of the tip of the condom, as air bubbles may cause the condom to break. 6. Unroll the condom over the penis with the other hand all the way down to the base. 7. Smooth out any air bubbles.
The female condom is useful for a woman whose partner doesn't like wearing a male condom. The female condom basically works the same way as a male condom, except that it's larger and fits into a woman's vagina and over the vulva, capturing the semen. The female condom also interferes with sexual sensation less than the male condom.
A diaphragm is a soft, rubber dome that fits over the cervix, and it must be used with spermicide each time you have intercourse. You'll have to be fitted for a diaphragm by a gynecologist and shown how to insert/extract it. Diaphragms can be difficult to insert properly, especially because they're greased with spermicide. Diaphragms must be inserted at least 6 hours before sex and should stay in place 6 to 8 hours after intercourse. Eighteen out of 100 women get pregnant using diaphragms during the first year of use.
