What is contraception?
Contraception is any device or method used to prevent
pregnancy. Contraception’s not only necessary for birth control, but depending
on the type you use, it may provide a host of other sexual and general health
benefits as well, from clearing up acne to preventing STDs.
How do I choose?
There
are several factors for you to consider when choosing the best method of birth
control for you, including:
- Your health
- Frequency of sexual activity
- Doesn’t make you feel sick/have negative side
effects
- Doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable
- Easy for you to remember to take
- Effectiveness
Condoms
What: a thin sheath made of latex or polyurethane, placed on/over
the penis before intercourse to prevent pregnancy and reduce the risk of STDs.
How they work:
Condoms prevent pregnancy by covering the penis and keeping semen from entering
the vagina when a man ejaculates.
Benefits:
- inexpensive and easy to get
- safe, simple, and convenient
- lightweight and disposable
- do not require a prescription
- can help relieve premature ejaculation
- may help a man stay erect longer
- are a means of effective pregnancy
prevention
- reduce risk of STDs
Risks/Side Effects:
Condoms have no side effects except for people
who are allergic to latex. If
you are allergic to latex, you can use condoms or female
condoms made of plastic instead.
Female condoms
What: a thin
polyurethane pouch that is inserted into the vagina before having sex. Like a
male condom, the female condom prevents pregnancy by covering the vagina and
keeping the semen from entering the vagina during ejaculation. It can also
reduce the risk of STDs.
How it works: The female
condom has flexible rings at each end of the pouch. Before having sex, the ring
at the closed end of the pouch is inserted into the vagina, while the other end
stays outside the vagina.
Benefits:
- allow women to share responsibility
for preventing infection
- easy to get — can be purchased in
drugstores and some supermarkets
- can be used by people who are
allergic to latex
- can be used with oil-based as well
as water-based lubricants
- do not have an effect on a woman's
natural hormones
- may enhance sex play — the external
ring may stimulate the clitoris during vaginal intercourse
- stay in place whether or not a man
maintains his erection
- Reduces
the risk of sexually transmitted infection
- Can be
used for vaginal and anal intercourse
Risks:
- cause irritation of the vagina, vulva, penis, or anus
- slip into the vagina during vaginal
intercourse, or into the anus during anal intercourse
- reduce feeling during intercourse
- Can’t use at the same time as a male condom
Nuvaring
The Ring, a.k.a. NuvaRing
What: also known by
its brand name, the nuva ring is a small, flexible ring inserted into the
vagina once a month. It works to prevent pregnancy much like the pill, by
releasing estrogen and progestin hormones on a continual basis until a new ring
is inserted.
Benefits:
- Only needs
to be replaced once per month
- Highly
effective
- Easy to
get with a prescription
- Reduce and
regulate periods
- Reduce bad
menstrual cramps
- Reduce
acne
- Reduce PMS
symptoms
Many
of the same benefits of the pill, including protection against:
- bone thinning
- breast growths that are not cancer
- cysts in the breasts and ovaries
- ectopic pregnancy
- endometrial and ovarian cancers
- iron deficiency anemia
- pelvic inflammatory disease, which often leads to infertility when left untreated
- serious infection in the ovaries,
tubes, and uterus
Risks/Side
Effects:
- Vaginal
discharge
- Vaginitis
- Irritation
- Spotting
- Potential
increased risk of blood clots, heart attack and stroke.
Diaphragms
What: a shallow,
silicone/rubber dome with a flexible rim inserted into the vagina to cover the
cervix. It prevents pregnancy by blocking sperm from entering the uterus and
joining with an egg. In order to be as effective as possible, it should be used
with spermicide.
How it works: After being
filled with spermicide, the diaphgram is inserted as far up and back into the
vagina as possible, in a motion similar to inserting a tampon. A properly
placed/fitted diaphragm blocks sperm from reaching the uterus because it covers
the cervix, the narrow opening that connects the uterus to the vagina. Note:
Diaphragms often require a prescription and initial fitting by a health care
professional.
Benefits:
- Can be
carried in your pocket or purse.
- Generally
cannot be felt by you or your partner. (not your words)
- Has no
effect on a woman's natural hormones.
- Is immediately effective and reversible.
Risks/Side
Effects:
- Must be in place every time a woman
has vaginal intercourse
- May need to be refitted
- May
be pushed out of place by some penis sizes, heavy thrusting, and certain sexual
positions
- May cause frequent urinary tract
infections
- Vaginal irritation
- May be difficult for some women to
insert
Spermicide
What: a substance
that contains chemicals to prevent pregnancy by stopping the sperm from moving
(reword) Spermicides are available in many different forms, including foam,
suppositories, cream, film, and gel. They can be used alone or along with other
barrier contraceptives (i.e., diaphragms).
How it works:
To insert, lie down or squat, and gently (not entirely your language). gently
insert the spermicide deep into your vagina using your fingers or an
applicator. For many types of spermicide, you need to wait 10 minutes after you
insert it before having sex.
Benefits:
- Can be
carried in your pocket or purse.
- Can be
used with other birth control methods to increase effectiveness
- Simple,
convenient, and easy to use once you learn how
- Does not
have an effect on a woman's natural hormones.
- Does not
require a prescription.
Risks:
- If not
used exactly as directed, spermicides may not form a good barrier over the
cervix, reducing their effectiveness
- May be
messy, or leak from the vagina
- May
irritate the penis or vagina
- Typically
only remain effective for a brief period of time (about an hour) after
insertion
Cervical Cap
What: A silicone
cup/cap fitted over your cervix, it prevents pregnancy by blocking the sperm
from joining with the egg. It can be left in place for up to 48 hours.
How it works: Much like the
diaphragm, it is inserted into the vagina and over the cervix to block the
sperm from reaching the uterus. To be most effective, it should be used with
spermicide.
Benefits:
- It can be
carried in your pocket or purse.
- Generally
cannot be felt by you or your partner.
- It is
immediately effective and reversible.
- No effect
on a woman's natural hormones.
- No
interruption of sex play — it can be inserted up to six hours ahead of
time.
Risks/Side
Effects:
- cannot be used during menstruation
- may be difficult for some women to
insert
- may be pushed out of place by some
penis sizes, heavy thrusting, and certain sexual positions
- must be in place every time a woman
has vaginal intercourse
- Vaginal irritation or infection
- Pain or discomfort
The Patch
The Patch a.k.a. OrthoEvra
What: a small
plastic patch applied to the skin, it releases estrogen and progestin hormones,
much like the Pill, to prevent pregnancy.
How it works: The patch is
applied to skin on the lower abdomen, butt, or upper body once a week. It
releases estrogen and progestin to thin the lining of the uterus and thicken
cervical mucus, which prevents pregnancy by keeping the sperm from attaching to
the egg.
Benefits:
- Only have to think about your birth control one
a week
- Reduce and regulate menstrual periods
- Reduce acne
- No hassle right before sex!!!
- Reduce bad menstrual cramps
- May offer protection against:
Risks/Side
Effects:
- allergic reaction/irritation at application site
- nausea
- upper respiratory infection
- menstrual cramps
- abdominal pain
- higher risk of heart attack, blood clots, and
stroke.
- bleeding between periods
- breast tenderness
- nausea and vomiting
- Risks for problems increase if you smoke,
have high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, etc.
Intrauterine Device
What: a small
plastic T-shaped device inserted into the uterus it prevents pregnancy by altering
the lining of the uterus and keeping the sperm from joining the egg. Once
inserted, it can remain in the uterus for up to 12 years. Note: it must be
inserted by a health care provider
How it works: It must be
inserted into the vagina by a health care provider, who will ensure that it’s
properly placed in the uterus. Mirena
IUD releases a small amount of progestin, a hormone, which contributes to the IUD’s
ability to prevent sperm from attaching to the egg in the same way as the Pill.
Benefits:
- Once the IUD is inserted, it requires no care
other than checking the strings attached to the IUD to ensure that it remains
in place. The strings are fine threads that hang into the cervix and can be
felt from the vagina.
- Long-lasting effectiveness - up to 12 years
- Reduce or regulate periods
Risks/Side
Effects:
- cramping or backache for a few days
- spotting between periods in the
first 3–6 months
- IUD can sometimes slip out of the
uterus, reducing effectiveness
- Infection (rare, happens during
insertion)
- Can push through the wall of the
uterus (very rare.)
- Heavier or irregular periods
- Cost ($500-$1,000), although, it’s actually one
of the cheaper forms of birth control when time is factored in
- Higher risk of pelvic inflammatory disease
- mild
to moderate pain when the IUD is put in
Standard Days Method
Please note: this is for informational
purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional advice or medical
direction.
What: You use a calendar to track your monthly menstrual cycle,
which determines when your body ovulates, or releases an egg. Based on your
cycle, you only have sex during the days of the month when you’re not fertile
and thus least likely to get pregnant. During days when you’re
fertile/ovulating, you abstain from having vaginal sex or use other forms of
contraception, such as withdrawal, condom, or a cap.
How: Standard Days method works by keeping you from having sex
on days near and when your body’s ovulating, or releasing an egg, which is when
sperm can join with the egg and fertilize it, causing pregnancy. Everyone’s
fertile days, as well as the life spans of eggs and sperm, are different, but
knowing when you ovulate can help you avoid a pregnancy. The Standard Days
method is most effective if your periods are regular and fall within a 26-32
day cycle. Some
people use CycleBeads, necklaces containing different-colored beads to
designate “safe” and “unsafe” days, to help track their cycles.
Benefits:
- Cheap
- You don’t
need medication
- The stuff
you need to track your cycle – calendars, charts, or beads – is easy to
get.
Risks:
- Use of other forms of contraception, such
as hormonal contraception (i.e., Plan B), or IUDs, may make it less effective
- If your cycle’s irregular, you risk
having unprotected sex on a day that you may be fertile
Withdrawal
(pull-out method):
What: Also known as the pull-out method, this is a method in
which the man pulls his penis out of the vagina before ejaculating.
How it works: The man pulls out when he feels he is
about to ejaculate. He ejaculates, or comes, outside the woman’s vagina, making
sure his sperm doesn’t spill near or on his partner’s genitals. Keeping the
sperm out of the vagina prevents pregnancy.
Benefits:
- Can be used to prevent pregnancy
when no other method is available. (not your words)
- No medical or hormonal side effects.
- Safe, simple, and convenient
- Can increase effectiveness of other
types of birth control, such as the condom, diaphragm, or female condom.
Risks:
The biggest
risk is using withdrawal incorrectly. There are several ways this can happen,
including:
- if you
ejaculate prematurely
- if you
don’t know when to pull out
- are
inexperienced
- don’t
necessarily know how to gauge or control your level of sexual excitement
Emergency Contraception
a.k.a.
Plan B or the Morning-After Pill
What: an over-the
counter pill used only after unprotected sex.
How it works: It contains higher
dosages of estrogen and progestin, the same hormones used to prevent pregnancy
in ordinary birth control pills. So, it works in the same way as the pill, but
its higher concentration means it has a higher immediate effect, thinning the
uterus lining and thickening the cervical mucus to keep the sperm from
attaching to the egg. The sooner you
start it, the more effective it is./To be most effective, it should be taken as
soon as possible after having unprotected sex. Some forms of emergency
contraception can be taken up to 120 hours (5 days) after having unprotected
sex.
You may want to
use it if:
- The condom
broke or slipped off, and he ejaculated in your vagina.
- You forgot
to take your birth control
- Your
diaphragm or cap slipped out of place, and he ejaculated inside your
vagina.
- You
miscalculated your "safe" days.
- He didn't
pull out in time.
- You
weren't using any birth control.
- You were
forced to have unprotected vaginal sex.
Risks/Side
Effects:
- breast
tenderness
- irregular
bleeding
- dizziness
- headaches
- nausea
- vomiting
- no
protection against STDs
- If you
don’t have your period within three weeks after taking emergency
contraception, or have any pregnancy symptoms, you should take a pregnancy
test and consider contacting Rice's Health Services.
- Note:
emergency contraception should NOT be used as a form of ongoing birth
control.
The Pill
What: a pill taken orally once every day
How it works: The estrogen and progestin hormones in
the pill prevent the ovaries from releasing the egg by thinning the lining of
the uterus and thickening the cervical mucus, which blocks/makes it harder
for/prevents the sperm from joining/attaching to the egg. You take it daily, at
the same time every day.
Benefits:
- Make periods lighter
- Simple, convenient, easy to take
- Reduce/regulate menstrual cramps
- Reduce acne
- Reduce PMS symptoms
- Protects against pelvic inflammatory disease, which often leads to infertility when left untreated
some protection
against:
- bone thinning
- endometrial and ovarian cancers
- serious infection in the ovaries,
tubes, and uterus
- iron deficiency anemia
- cysts in the breasts and ovaries
Risks/Side Effects:
- Breast tenderness
- Nausea
- Changes in your cycle (period)
- Changes in mood
- Weight gain
- High blood pressure
- Blood clots
- Heart attack
- Strokes
- Bleeding
- Spotting between
periods
Your
doctor may advise you not to take the pill if you:
- Have a history of blood clots
- Have a history of breast, liver, or
endometrial cancer
- Have certain
health conditions, including: heart disease, stroke, liver disease, blood
clots, severe or uncontrolled diabetes, certain types of migraines, and
severe hypertension
- Taking antibiotics
The Shot
What: the shot,
also known as Depo-Provera, is an injection of progestin that you get in your
arm every three months to prevent pregnancy.
How it works: Progestin, also one of the
hormones commonly used alongside estrogen in other forms of contraception,
prevents pregnancy by thinning the lining of the uterus, which keeps the sperm
from attaching to the egg.
Benefits:
- Lasts for
three months
- Safe,
effective, and convenient
- Easy to
get with a prescription
- There is
no daily pill to remember.
- Reduces
the risk of uterine cancer, anemia, and pelvic inflammatory disease
Risks/Side
effects:
- Bloating/weight
gain
- Irregular
periods
- Spotting
- Headaches
- Depression
- Loss of
interest in sex and hair loss
- Loss of
bone density
- Some less
common, more serious side effects include: nausea, depression, headaches,
and/or change in appetite. If you experience any of these, or suspect
serious side effects stem from your use of the shot, discontinue use and
contact your health provider.
The Sponge
What: A foam sponge
inserted into the vagina before having sex, it prevents pregnancy by covering
the cervix and releasing spermicide.
How it works: It’s inserted into the vagina
before having sex. By covering the cervix, it prevents sperm from reaching the
uterus and attaching to an egg.
Benefits:
- Can be
carried in pocket or purse.
- Generally cannot
be felt by you or your partner.
- Has no
effect on a woman's natural hormones.
- Does not
interrupt sex play
- Safe,
easy, and convenient to use
- Don’t need
a prescription
- Doesn’t
need to be fitted by a health care provider
Risks/Side
Effects:
- May be difficult for some women to
insert
- May break before being properly
removed
- Vaginal irritation.
- Make sex too messy or too dry.
Abstinence
People define abstinence in different ways –
some people think of abstinence as abstaining from certain kinds of sex
behaviours, while others define it as not having any type of sexual interaction
with a partner.
For the purposes of this website, we will define
abstinence as not having any kind of sexual activity with a partner. When
abstinence is practiced continuously, it’s 100% effective against pregnancy,
STDs, and sexual complications.
People can choose to be abstinent at any point
in their lives, even after they’ve been sexually active. There are many reasons
people abstain from having sex, and the reasons may change depending on the
situation.
Some of the reasons people choose
abstinence include:
- preventing
pregnancy
- preventing
STDs
- wait until
they're ready for a sexual relationship
- wait to
find the right partner
- have fun
with romantic partners without sexual involvement
- focus on
school, career, or extracurricular activities
- personal,
moral, or religious beliefs and values
- get over a
breakup
- heal from
the death of a partner
- follow
medical advice during an illness or infection
References
“Birth Control.”
KidsHealth.org. http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/contraception/contraception_condom.html
“Birth Control.”
National Institutes of Health.http://health.nih.gov/topic/BirthControlContraception
Sexually
Transmited Diseases. Center for Disease Control. http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/unintendedpregnancy/contraception.htm
“Birth Control
FAQ.” Womenshealth.gov. http://womenshealth.gov/faq/birth-control-methods.cfm#hormet