Birth Control Methods

Warm-Up• How often and when should girls do a

breast self-exam?

• How often and when should guys do a testicular self-exam?

Abstinence• What it is: Choosing not to be sexually

active for a time (usually until marriage).

• How it works: Completely eliminates the chances of being pregnant or having an STD. Must be practiced consistently

• Effectiveness: 100% against pregnancy and STDs

Birth Control Pills• What it is: Birth control pills, often

called "The Pill", are pills that a woman takes daily to prevent pregnancy. They are made of hormones similar to those found naturally in a woman's body.

• How it works: The Pill works mainly by preventing the ovary from releasing an egg.

• Effectiveness: 95 to 99.9% against pregnancy, No STD protection

Seasonale – New Pill

• What it is: A pill containing estrogen and progestin, taken daily in 3-month cycles of 12 weeks of active pills followed by one week of inactive pills. Menstrual periods occur during the 13th week of the cycle. May have more unplanned bleeding and spotting between periods than with 28-day oral contraceptives.

• How it works: Same as other birth control pills.

• Effectiveness: 98-99% against pregnancy, No STD protection

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Depo Provera – The Shot

• What it is: Depo Provera is a shot that a woman gets 4 times a year (every 12 weeks) to prevent pregnancy.

• How it works: It contains medicine that is like progesterone - a hormone that is naturally present in a woman's body. The shot works mainly by preventing the ovary from releasing an egg.

• Effectiveness: 99.7% against pregnancy; No protection against STDs.

The Patch• What it is: A thin plastic patch

-- about the size of a matchbook - that a woman wears on her skin to prevent pregnancy.

• How it works: Hormones absorbed through the skin prevent the ovary from releasing an egg.

• Effectiveness: 99% against pregnancy; No STD protection

The Ring (Nuva)• What it is: A small, flexible

plastic ring - about 2 inches wide - that a woman places in her vagina each month to prevent pregnancy.

• How it works: It releases hormones that work mainly to prevent the ovary from releasing an egg.

• Effectiveness: 98 to 99% against pregnancy; No STD protection

The IUD• What it is: A small, T-shaped piece of

flexible plastic that fits inside a woman's uterus to prevent pregnancy. There are 2 types of IUD's: copper and progestin (a hormone found in birth control pills). The copper IUD lasts 10 years and the progestin IUD lasts 5 years.

• How it works: IUDs work mainly by preventing fertilization, and interfering with the sperm's ability to reach the egg.

• Effectiveness: 98 to 99.9% against pregnancy, No STD protection

Spermicide• What it is and how it works: A

chemical that kills sperm that comes in foams, film, creams, jellies and suppositories. Spermicide is inserted deep into the vagina just before having sex. Spermicides provide some pregnancy protection when used alone, but they are much more effective when used with another method, like the condom, diaphragm or cervical cap.

• Effectiveness: 74% against pregnancy

The Cervical Cap• What it is: A small latex cup that a

woman inserts into her vagina before sex. It fits snugly over the woman's cervix. It is smaller than the diaphragm and is used with spermicidal cream or jelly.

• How it works: Barrier method. It blocks sperm from entering the cervix

• Effectiveness: 80 to 90% against pregnancy, minimal STD protection

The diaphragm• What it is: A soft latex dome

inserted into the vagina before sex. It fits over the cervix and always needs to be used with spermicidal cream or jelly.

• How it works: Barrier method. It blocks sperm from entering the cervix.

• Effectiveness: 80 to 94% effective against pregnancy, minimal STD protection

Condoms• What they are: Condoms are

thin barriers made of latex, plastic, or natural membranes. There are both male and female condoms. The male condom fits over a man's penis. The female condom fits inside a woman's vagina.

• How they work: By preventing sperm from entering the vagina and reaching an egg.

• Effectiveness: 86 to 98%--male condom; 79 to 95%-- female condom; Good STD protection

Warm Up• Without looking at your notes, how do

hormonal birth control methods work?

• Why is it important to use a condom every single time?

Condom Application

• Read expiration date• Store in a cool, dry place• Don’t open packages with teeth or sharp

fingernails• Squeeze reservoir tip• Roll on correct way and don’t re-roll if you start

incorrectly• Never use oil-based lubricants• Never re-use condoms• Don’t use two together

Emergency Contraception• What it is: This is NOT a regular

method of birth control and should never be used as one. EC (sometimes called "the morning after pill") is a special dose of birth control pills that prevents pregnancy up to 5 days after unprotected sex. The sooner EC is taken, the more effective it is. EC is very safe. It is not an abortion pill.

• How it works: Mainly by preventing the ovary from releasing an egg.

• Effectiveness: 75 to 89% against pregnancy; No STD protection.

Risks???• The pill, ring and patch:

Dizziness; nausea; changes in menstruation, mood, and weight; rarely, cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, blood clots, heart attack, and strokes

• Latex products: allergic reactions, misuse

• Diaphragm & cervical cap: toxic shock syndrome if left in too long

• Spermicide: urinary tract infections

• Emergency contraception: Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, headache

• IUD: Cramps, bleeding, pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, perforation of uterus