Contraception combinations and their effectiveness

[QuestionableMotive]

My girlfriend and I are in our fundamental stage of exploring our sexual relationship.  Needless to say I'm flooded with questions and concerns.  She is on the pill, and I do wear a condom with spermicidal lubrication (each time).  My question is:  What is the effectiveness of these used in conjunction, as well as other methods of contraception?

[Pepper Schwartz, Ph.D.]

If she is on the pill , most experts agree that it is over 99 per cent effective against concieving a child. If you wear a condom with spermicidal treatment that should be effective against most sexually transmitted diseases. but some experts feel that spermicides should be avoided because they can irritate the walls of the vagina and make abrasion more possible and therefore entry of bacteria or a virus into the blood stream more likely  Condoms don't necessarily protect against all possible diseases but they sure make them a lot less likely. You are as well protected as you can be without having a mutual blood test and being positive about mutual monogamy. If you add those two additional behaviors you should be in a good medical situation.

[banter]

The FDA actually has a web site concerning the effectiveness of birth control methods - http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1997/conceptbl.html

You can also find an interesting discourse on the subject on Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contraception

I would say that using both types of contraception would lead to nearly 99% effectiveness PLUS it will prevent any kind of STD passing between you.

[Matt1978]

Sounds like you are completly safe in regards to STDs and pregnancy. Way to go! Enjoy the sexual part of your relationship and rest assured that you are plenty protected!