Should I think about family planning
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Many girls with disabilities grow up with no information about sex or family planning. Yet most women with disabilities can become pregnant— even those with no feeling in the lower body. So if you plan to have sex and do not want to become pregnant, you will need to use a family planning method.
Here are some guidelines for deciding which family planning method might be best for you:
If you have had a stroke, or cannot walk and you must sit or lie down all the time, do not use hormonal methods, such as birth control pills, injections, or implants. They can cause problems with blood clots.
If you have no feeling or only a little feeling in your belly, do not use anintra-uterine device (IUD). If it is not put in correctly, or if there is a possibility you might get a sexually transmitted infection, it can cause an infection. Without feeling you may not be able to tell that you are infected.
If you cannot use your hands well, it may be difficult for you to usebarrier methods, such as the diaphragm, the female condom, or foam. If you feel comfortable asking your partner, he may be able to put them in for you.
If your disability changes over time, you may need to change your family planning method as your disability progresses.
Condoms not only prevent pregnancy, they keep you from getting sick with STIs or HIV.