"Not right now"

"Not right now"

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“Not right now” as a method for pregnancy prevention means not having penis-in-vagina sex. That means no sex where your partner’s penis goes into your vagina, and no other sexual activities that involve your partner’s semen (the whitish fluid that comes out of their penis when they ejaculate) getting on your vulva.

A quick anatomy lesson: the vulva is on the outside, and the vagina is on the inside. The vulva is actually ALL the sexual parts that are on the outside of your body, including the clitoris and the inner and outer labia (sometimes called the inner and outer lips). The vagina is on the inside—you can’t see it. It’s the stretchy tube that connects your vulva to your uterus. Your vagina is what period blood comes out of, and it’s what tampons go into (as well as fingers, toys, and penises, if you want them to).

“Not right now” is super effective at preventing pregnancy, but only if you use it perfectly—and it’s not the easiest method to use perfectly. But if you never have penis-in-vagina sex, you’re guaranteed to not get pregnant. And if you’re avoiding sexual activity with a partner (like oral sex, anal sex, or sharing toys) altogether, you’ll be safe from STIs, too.

Lots of people who are planning to say “not right now” to prevent pregnancy ultimately end up having penis-in-vagina sex. If you don’t have another birth control method in place because you weren’t planning on having sex, it’s easy to find yourself deciding to have unprotected sex in the heat of the moment. It’s totally okay to change your mind and decide you want to have sex! Even if right now, you don’t think you’ll change your mind, it’s a great idea to have a birth control method on hand that you can use at a moment’s notice, like condoms or internal condoms, and to get emergency contraception ahead of time just in case you need it.

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    “Not right now” as a method for pregnancy prevention means not having penis-in-vagina sex. That means no sex where your partner’s penis goes into your vagina, and no other sexual activities that involve your partner’s semen (the whitish fluid that comes out of their penis when they ejaculate) getting on your vulva. A quick anatomy lesson: the vulva is on the outside, and the vagina is on the inside. The vulva is actually ALL the sexual parts that are on the outside of your body, including the clitoris and the inner and outer labia (sometimes called the inner and outer lips). The vagina is on the inside—you can’t see it. It’s the stretchy tube that connects your vulva to your uterus. Your vagina is what period blood comes out of, and it’s what tampons go into (as well as fingers, toys, and penises, if you want them to). “Not right now” is super effective at preventing pregnancy, but only if you use it perfectly---and it’s not the easiest method to use perfectly. But if you never have penis-in-vagina sex, you’re guaranteed to not get pregnant. And if you’re avoiding sexual activity with a partner (like oral sex, anal sex, or sharing toys) altogether, you’ll be safe from STIs, too. Lots of people who are planning to say “not right now” to prevent pregnancy ultimately end up having penis-in-vagina sex. If you don’t have another birth control method in place because you weren’t planning on having sex, it’s easy to find yourself deciding to have unprotected sex in the heat of the moment. It’s totally okay to change your mind and decide you want to have sex! Even if right now, you don’t think you’ll change your mind, it’s a great idea to have a birth control method on hand that you can use at a moment’s notice, like [condoms](/birth-control/condom) or [internal condoms](/birth-control/internal_condom), and to get [emergency contraception](/birth-control/emergency_contraception) ahead of time just in case you need it.
    Not having penis-in-vagina sex is free!
    If you’re using “not right now” as your method, it simply means you’re not having penis-in-vagina sex. And if you decide to start having penis-in-vagina sex, that’s totally cool, too. Just make sure you’re protected with another form of birth control if you don’t want to get pregnant, and that you have a plan for STI protection, like using a condom. _Tips for making "not right now" work:_ * Find people you can talk to about your decision and lean on for support. * Talk about your decision with your partner before you’re in the heat of the moment. * Be totally straightforward and clear when talking about your limits. * If you want, you can explore other sexual activities you might enjoy just as much. * Keep in mind that it might be harder to stick with “not right now” if you’ve been drinking or using drugs.
    Every method of birth control has positives and negatives. And everyone’s different, so what you experience may not be the same as what someone else experiences.

    The Positive

    There are lots of things about birth control that are good for your body as well as your sex life. Here are some of the benefits of using "not right now":* It’s free. * If you aren’t having any type of sex, you are not at risk for STIs either.

    The Negative

    "Not right now" doesn't have any side effects, but there are some disadvantages:* It can be difficult to keep up over time. * It might be hard to stick to your plan if you’ve been drinking or using drugs.
    Do you have questions about "Not right now"? Visit Bedsider.org for answers to many of the most popular questions about this method of birth control.