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Birth Control Methods
Making the decision whether to have sex is personal. You should make up your own mind when the time is right for you. If you are not ready for sex, say so. If you think you are ready to have sex, or if you already have had sex, you should take steps to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Sex and Reproduction
Knowing what happens during your menstrual cycle will help you understand how the different methods of birth control work. A woman has two ovaries, one on each side of the uterus. Each month, one of the ovaries releases an egg into a fallopian tube. This is called ovulation. It usually occurs about 12–14 days before the start of the menstrual period. What Does NOT Work The following things DO NOT stop you from getting pregnant: • Douching does not prevent pregnancy—Squirting water or any other liquid into the vagina after sex does not kill sperm or prevent pregnancy. • Plastic wrap instead of a condom does not prevent pregnancy—Plastic wrap or a plastic bag can tear and let sperm escape. • Urinating right after sex does not prevent pregnancy—Urine does not pass through the vagina so it does not get rid of the sperm. • You can get pregnant the first time you have sex. • Having sex in a special position does not prevent pregnancy—No matter what position you have sex in, if the penis enters—or comes close to—the vagina, you can get pregnant. During sexual intercourse (sex), the man's penis goes into the woman's vagina. This can lead to ejaculation. When a man ejaculates ("comes"), his penis releases semen, which contains millions of sperm. If this happens during sex, the semen spurts into the vagina. Sperm in the semen can swim up the cervix and into the uterus and the fallopian tubes. If a sperm meets an egg in the fallopian tube, fertilization—joining of an egg and sperm—can occur. The fertilized egg then can travel to the uterus and attach to the lining. Once the fertilized egg has attached to the lining of the uterus, the woman becomes pregnant, even if it is her first time having sex. Birth control methods can be used to prevent pregnancy. Some methods also prevent STDs. You may have heard about "tricks" you can use to not get pregnant. Do not depend on them—they do not work. Types of Birth Control When choosing a type of birth control, you should know your options. Most women use methods that contain hormones, like the pill, the patch, the vaginal ring, the birth control shot, or the implant. Others use barrier methods, like condoms. Things to think about before choosing a method: • How easy is it to use? Some types of birth control require a prescription. This means that you have to visit a family planning center or other healthcare provider to get them. You may need an exam at the first visit, but many times you will not. It can depend on what type of birth control you are getting and whether you have had sex in the past. Hormonal Methods Some types of birth control use hormones to prevent pregnancy. Hormones are made by the body to control its functions. Most hormonal methods of birth control keep a woman's body from releasing an egg each month. If your body does not release an egg (ovulate), you cannot get pregnant. Some methods thicken the mucus in front of the cervix and prevent sperm from getting into the uterus. There are many types of hormonal methods. They are safe and work very well when used as directed. Hormonal methods of birth control prevent pregnancy about 99% of the time if they are used consistently and correctly. Hormonal methods of birth control do not protect against STDs. Oral contraceptives Often referred to as the "pill," these are the most popular hormonal method. You have to take a pill around the same time every day. The pill may make menstrual periods lighter and more regular and cramps less painful. They also may improve acne. Skin patch The patch is a small (1.75 square inches) adhesive patch that is worn on the skin to prevent pregnancy. A new patch is worn for a week at a time for a total of 3 weeks in a row. Then the patch is taken off for a week. The patch is worn on the buttocks, chest (excluding the breasts), upper back or arm, or abdomen. The patch can be worn during activities such as bathing, exercising, and swimming. Vaginal ring The ring is a flexible plastic ring that is placed in the vagina. It is worn inside the vagina for 21 days and then removed for 7 days. Then a new ring is inserted. Birth control shot This injection (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate [DMPA]) is given in the upper arm or buttock every 3 months. The birth control shot is a good choice for people who have trouble remembering to take a daily pill. Implant The implant is a small plastic rod about the size of a matchstick that is inserted under the skin of the upper arm. It protects against pregnancy for 3 years. Barrier Methods Barrier methods keep sperm from reaching the eggs. You must use barrier methods before each time you have sex. When used consistently and correctly, barrier methods prevent pregnancy about 85–98% of the time, depending on the method. Types of barrier methods include condoms, spermicides, diaphragms, sponges, and cervical caps. Condoms, sponges, and vaginal spermicides can be bought in drugstores. A diaphragm or cervical cap must be fitted to your body at a family planning center or other healthcare provider and requires a prescription. Condoms
Condoms come in male and female versions. The male condom ("rubber") is the most popular barrier method (see box). It covers the penis so that after a man ejaculates, the sperm stays inside the condom. Condoms are easy to put on and are available in many places, including family planning centers, and pharmacies, without a prescription. Condoms can be used alone or with other birth control methods to protect against STDs. Condoms that are made of latex and are coated with lubricant provide the best protection from STDs.
The female condom is a thin plastic pouch that lines the vagina. It may be put in place up to 8 hours before you have sex. It also available at a family planning center and may be bought in pharmacies. The female condom is best suited for women whose partners will not use a male condom. Spermicides These are chemicals that are put into the vagina to kill sperm. Spermicides come as foam, gel, cream, suppositories, and film. They must be put in the vagina just before you have sex (10–30 minutes before for suppositories and film). Diaphragm The diaphragm is a round rubber dome that fits inside the vagina and covers the cervix. It always is used with a spermicide. A diaphragm may be put in place up to 6 hours before you have sex (but spermicide must be added within 2 hours before sex). It must be left in place at least 6 hours after sex, but not more than 24 hours. Cervical Cap The cervical cap is a small, thin latex or plastic dome shaped like a thimble. It fits tightly over the cervix. The cervical cap can remain in place for up to 48 hours. Like the diaphragm, it also must be used with a spermicide. Less spermicide is needed, though, and it does not need to be added before each act of sex. After sex, the cap should be left in place for 6 hours but not longer than 48 hours. Sponge The sponge is a doughnut-shaped device made of soft foam that is coated with spermicide. It is pushed up in the vagina to cover the cervix. The sponge is effective for up to 24 hours. It is good for more than one act of sex during this time. The sponge must be removed within 30 hours of the time it is inserted. But it must be left in at least 6 hours after the last act of sex. Intrauterine Device - IUD The intrauterine device, also called an IUC (Intrauterine Contraception), is a small, T-shaped, plastic device that is inserted into your uterus at a family planning center or other healthcare provider and left inside the uterus. Two types are available in the United States: the hormonal and the copper. The hormonal IUD must be replaced every 5 years. The copper IUD can remain in the uterus for as long as 10 years. IUDs prevent pregnancy about 99% of the time, but they do not protect against STDs. Once the IUD is inserted, nothing else needs to be done to prevent pregnancy. The two types work in different ways, but both help prevent the sperm from joining with an egg and cause changes in the uterus that keep an egg from implanting in the wall of the uterus. It has a string that can be checked to be sure the device is in place. Birth Control in an Emergency If you have sex without using any birth control, if the birth control method did not work (for instance, the condom broke during sex), or if sex was forced, you can use emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy. This is used only in an emergency—not for regular birth control. The most common method is one in which special birth control pills that contain higher doses of hormones than regular birth control pills are used. This will prevent pregnancy in most cases. The pills work best if taken within 120 hours (5 days) of having sex. The sooner they are used, the more effective they are. If you are already pregnant, emergency contraception will not work. If you are aged 18 years or older, emergency contraception can be obtained at a family planning center or purchased at a pharmacy, without a prescription. If you are younger than age 18 years and need emergency contraception, call a family planning center or a doctor’s office or hospital emergency room. Tell them you need emergency contraception. A Family Planning Center or some healthcare providers will give you a prescription for emergency contraception before you need it. This way, you will have it on hand if you do need it. Your Parents and Your Privacy In most states, minors (people younger than age 18 years) have the right to make choices about birth control without their parents' permission. Ask your healthcare provider at a family planning center or doctor’s office if the visit will be kept private. To help you make choices that are right for you talk to an adult that you trust. Often, the best way for a teen to have privacy and to afford birth control is to go to a Family Planning Center. Family Planning Centers may provide free birth control. Talk to Your Partner Before you have sex, talk to your partner about using condoms. This is the best way to prevent STDs, sexually transmitted diseases. Do not be shy—be direct. Be honest about your feelings and needs. You can talk about it in many ways, for instance: • "You know, it makes sex even better for me knowing that both of us are protected. Let's use a condom." • "I'd really like to have sex with you as long as we use condoms. Condoms protect both of us." Finally... If you are a teenager, you face many decisions. To help you make choices that are right for you, talk to someone you trust, such as your parents, your healthcare provider at a family planning center or doctor’s office, or your school counselor. If you decide to have sex, use birth control and protect yourself against pregnancy and STDs. No matter which method of birth control you choose, be sure that you know how it works and how to use it. Glossary Cervix: The lower portion of the uterus that extends into the upper vagina. Fallopian Tube: One of two tubes through which an egg travels from the ovary to the uterus. Fertilization: Union of an ovum (egg) and a sperm. Also known as conception. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs): Diseases that are spread by sexual contact. Also called Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). Uterus: An organ located in the female pelvis that contains and nourishes the developing fetus during pregnancy. Vagina: The tube that forms the passage between the cervix/uterus and the vulva. It receives the penis during sexual intercourse and serves as the delivery passage for birth and for menstrual flow. |
Have a really high insurance deductible?Then you need to read this.Need an appointment?More informationA No-nonsense birth control pill information sheet (pdf 20 kb) The different types of birth control - Printable birth control brochure (pdf 319 kb) Sexually Transmitted Diseases - Printable STD brochure (pdf 207 kb)
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