You already go to your friends for insight on your relationships. If you’re considering birth control, your friends can also be a great resource for advice, options and support.
Sometimes they are the easiest people to talk with about sex and birth control. Who knows? Maybe they’ve even had a Stork run-in of their own. Friends may be able to offer some great input on how they’re avoiding the Stork (and if they can’t, keep reading because you’ll be good a resource for them!).
If a friend comes to you, and you can’t answer all of their questions, refer them to a Health Care Provider. A clinic is an excellent place for both of you to get more information on birth control and discuss your best options.
Whether you’re asking your friend for advice or giving them some advice of your own, S.O.D.S. has compiled some helpful hints on how to bring up the topic of birth control with friends so neither of you compromise your body, budget and future ambitions.
How to Get the Conversation Started
- Send your friend an e-card to start the conversation.
- Use examples from movies, magazines, music or television. After two characters fall into bed in a movie or on TV, ask your friend when you thought the characters talked about birth control. Or ask your friend if they’ve noticed that their favorite movie star is pregnant.
- Use real-life people as examples. Come on, you were going to gossip about them anyway, so why not use other people’s successes and mistakes to guide your conversation? “Did you hear so-and-so is trying a new type of birth control?” “Did you know that insert name just got pregnant or just got his girlfriend pregnant?”
I Started the Conversation, Now What?
- Ask your friend about the birth control they are using or have ever used and why. What has and hasn’t worked for them in the past?
- Tell your friend about the birth control option you were considering and ask them if they have heard anything about it.
- Ask your friend to come with you to your doctor visit or offer to go with them for additional support.
