Want No Children? Practice Abstinence or Use Contraceptives

Though I strongly advocate sexual abstinence for singles (and for married couples who want no children), I realize that some people who desire to remain childless lack the discipline to practice abstinence. I urge such persons to use contraceptives consistently and properly.

Abstinence
First and foremost, I urge persons who can to practice abstinence.

• Abstinence has worked for millions of people, including me, through help from what I call the higher power of God, the teachings of parents and others, and logically reading and applying the advice from articles in newspapers, magazines, websites, etc.
• No other method of birth control is 100% effective at preventing pregnancy or the spread of venereal diseases.
• Furthermore, persons who lack the discipline to practice abstinence also often lack the self control, training, or access to use contraceptives properly and consistently.

Many years ago, when I was in about the fifth grade, a girl indicated a desire to have sex with me. I thought about the risk of a pregnancy (and of possible diseases and loss of reputation) and allowed logic to overrule any momentary emotional attraction. I think I had gotten my knowledge through reading newspaper and magazine articles about pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Through the grace of God, I practiced abstinence then and have since. Others can do the same if the teachings are provided, reinforced by others, and teens receive alternatives to the time alone in situations that can lead to succumbing to temptation.

Contraceptives
However, using contraceptives can reduce the likelihood of pregnancy substantially. As I understand it, measures of the effectiveness of contraceptives are typically based on the assumption that couples are having sex on average twice a week over a one year period. Thus, a birth control pill touted as being 99.5% effective would be expected to prevent 99.5% of couples using it from experiencing a pregnancy over the course of a year, if they have sexual intercourse twice a week and the female always takes the birth control pill.   

Using two or more methods of birth control in combination reduces the likelihood of pregnancy even more. Writing hypothetically, persons using a birth control pill that has a 99.5% effectiveness rate in combination with condoms with a 97% effectiveness rate consistently and properly would lead to a .995 + (1-.995)(.97)=.99985 or 99.985% effectiveness.

Proper use during each sexual encounter of multiple methods of birth control can be very effective in greatly reducing the likelihood of pregnancy. Male or female sterilization through a vasectomy for males or a female tubal ligation can be effective, too, but like any surgery there are some risks. Also, it may take months for all semen to clear out after a vasectomy, so alternative contraceptive methods need to be used until then. Furthermore, even vasectomies and tubal ligations are not 100% effective as pointed out by various articles on websites, including WebMD articles titled  "Vasectomy"  and "Tubal Ligation and Tubal Implants."

Final Thoughts
With more effective and more frequent teaching about abstinence that leads far more persons who desire no children to practice abstinence, better access to contraceptives, consistent and proper use of those contraceptives, and more discipline by youths accompanied by better supervision, we can dramatically decrease undesired pregnancies.

I am pro-life, but even pro-choice persons desire to avoid the expense, risk, and pain of an abortion if reasonably possible. If both sides could unite to increase the number of people practicing abstinence and increase contraceptive use by those who can't/won't practice abstinence, we can virtually eliminate unwanted pregnancies.

Assuming legalized abortion (except for rare occasions involving major health risks to the mother and/or child) is a necessary evil, underestimates the effectiveness of proper education, access and use of contraceptives, and of the ability of adoptions, foster parenting, and orphanages to handle a relatively small number of unwanted pregnancies. Improved prenatal care and support for single parents can help, too.

NOTE: This article is expanded and adapted from portions of two comments I made on October 14, 2010 on Newsvine.com, a website that no longer exists. This article was last updated on May 18, 2019.