DO YOU KNOW ALL YOUR CONTRACEPTIVE OPTIONS?
Contraceptives (or birth control) allow you to enjoy sex without worrying about pregnancy. There are also other benefits and reasons that people use them. Click on the buttons below to learn about each type of contraceptive!
BIRTH CONTROL PILL
Effectiveness: 91%
What is it? : Birth control pills are a kind of hormonal medicines.
How do You Use it? : You take one pill a day. Makes sure you take it everyday, or it will not work.
What are the Benefits? : Can lessen acne and PMS symptoms, prevents bone thinning, ovarian cysts, anemia, and some cancers
What's the Catch? : It can cause spotting inbetween periods, sore breasts, nausea, and headaches
Does it Protect Against STIs? : Nope.
BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT
What is it? : An implant is a tiny rod about the size of a matchstick.It releases hormones in your body stopping you from getting pregnant.
How do You Use it? : A doctor inserts the implant in your arm.
What are the Benefits? : It typically lasts for 5 years, it only uses one hormone, and you can get pregnant right after you take it out.
What's the Catch? : It can cause irregular periods, headaches, breast pain, nausea, and weight gain.
Does it Protect Against STIs? : Nope.
Effectiveness : 99%
IUD (Intrauterine Device)
What is it? : An IUD is a tiny device that is put into your uterus to prevent pregnancy
How do You Use it? : A doctor or nurse inserts the IUD for you.
What are the Benefits? : You can get pregnant right after you take it out, hormonal IUDs can make your period lighter and lessen cramps, copper IUDs don't use hormones and can be used as emergency contraception.
What's the Catch? : It can be uncomfortable when inserted, there can be cramping and backaches right after being inserted, copper IUDs can cause heavier periods and worse cramps.
Does it Protect Against STIs? : Nope.
Effectiveness : 99%
What is it? : Depo-Provera is an injection you get can get once every 3 months.
How do You Use it? : The shot is given to you by a doctor or nurse.
What are the Benefits? : Can lessen the effects of periods, protect against ectopic pregnancy and uterian cancer, and you can get pregnant once you stop using it.
What's the Catch? : You might experience nausea, weight gain, headaches, sore breasts , depression, slight bruising where the shot was given.
Does it Protect Against STIs? : Nope.
Effectiveness: 94%
BIRTH CONTROL SHOT
What is it? : When wearing this patch, it releases hormones through your skin that prevent pregnancy.
How do You Use it? : Once a week, place a new patch on your belly, upper outer arm, buttocks (butt cheeks), or back. Make sure your skin is clean and dry, and that the patch is not expired.
What are the Benefits? : It can lessen cramps and improve periods, it also can help lessen and prevent: acne, cysts on breasts and ovaries, bone thinning, ecoptic pregnancy, certain cancers, infections of the reproductive systems, anemia, and PMS.
What's the Catch? : Within the first 2-3 months you may experience temporary symptoms like bleeding between periods, sore breasts, nausea, or headaches. In rare cases it can cause: heart attack, stroke, blood clots, and liver tumors. It’s important to talk to your doctor to decide whether or not you should use this type of contraceptive.
Does it Protect against STIs? : Nope.
BIRTH CONTROL PATCH
Effectiveness: 91%
Effectiveness: 79%
INTERNAL CONDOM
Effectiveness: 79%
INTERNAL CONDOM
What is it? : An internal condom works the same as a regular condom, but it goes inside the vagina or anus instead of on the penis.
How do You Use it? : Leave the ring in the condom unless you are using it for anal sex. Squeeze the ring and insert the condom like you would a tampon, in used anal insert condom deeply with fingers.
What are the Benefits? : Helps prevent STIs, it is latex-free, can increase sexual pleasure, and gives the person using the condom more control.
What's the Catch? : You have to use one everytime you have sexual, and it can be irritating for sensitive if you don't use lube.
Does it Prevent STIs? : Yes!
BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE
Effectiveness: 76-88% (depending on if you have been pregnant)
What is it? : It is a small sponge that sits deep in the vagina and contains a spermicide. It has a fabric loop that you pull to remove.
How do You Use it? : Wet sponge with clean water and squeeze gently until sudsy. Make sure it is totally wet before you insert it like a tampon.
What are the Benefits? : You can wear it for up to 24 hours, it gives the person wearing it control, and it is hormone-free.
What's the Catch?: You have to insert it everytime you have sex, you have to leave it in for 6 hours after you've had sex, and the spermicide can irritate skin and make you more vunerable to STIs.
Does it Protect Against STIs? : Nope.
Effectiveness: 71%
SPERMICIDE
What is it? : Spermicide can come in a cream, gel, film, foam, or suppository form. When put into the vagina, it stops sperm from reaching the egg.
How do You Use it? : Apply 15 minutes before sex, insert deeply into vagina, and reapply each time you have sex.
What are the Benefits? : It is an affordable option, and doesn't have hormones.
What's the Catch? : You have to reapply every time, it can irritate skin and increase risk of STIs, and it can be messy.
Does it Protect Against STIs? : Nope.
What is it? : A condom in a thin latex sack that you wear on your penis during sex to protect against STIs and pregnancy.
How do You Use it? : First check the expiration date, before putting on make sure the rim is on the outside (it should look like a tiny hat), pinch the tip of the condom and roll down shaft to base. Remember to take the condom off while you are still hard, so it doesn't fall off inside the person. Dispose of condoms in the garbage.
What are the Benefits? : It's an affordable option, and it works best when paired along with other contraceptives (like spermicide or the pill).
What's the Catch? : You have to use a new condom each time you have sex. Some people may have an allergic reaction to the latex.
Does it Prevent STIs? : Yes!
CONDOM
Effectiveness: 85%
CERVICAL CAP
Effectiveness: 71-86% (depending on
whether or not you've been pregnant before)
What is it? : A cervical cap is a small cup that fits over the cervix. It is made out of soft silicone which makes it very flexible.
How do You Use it? : After putting a thin layer of spermicide on the top rim, squeeze the sides and insert it into your vagina like a tampon. Make sure the strap is faced down so you will be able to pull it out later. Your doctor or nurse will also be able to walk you through how to use it .
What are the Benefits? : You can reuse it for up to a year, and it is a hormone-free option.
What's the Catch? : It can be difficult to use, you have to use spermicide with it, after you've gone through a pregnancy, miscarriage, or abortion you need to have it resized.
Does it Protect Against STIs? : Nope.
DIAPHRAGM
Effectiveness: 88%
What is it? : A diaphragm is a flexible cup that covers the cervix, and when paired with spermicide, prevents pregnancy.
How do You Use it? : After putting spermicide into the cup, pinch the rim and bend the diaphragm in half, then insert the diaphragm as far as into the vagina as deep as it can go, making sure to cover the cervix. You can insert the diaphragm up to 2 hours before sex. Leave it in at least 6 hours after sex for it to be most effective, but not longer than 24 hours.
What are the Benefits? : It gives the wearer more control, it's a non-hormonal option, and it lasts up to 2 years.
What's the Catch? : You have to use insert it everytime you have sex, it can be hard to use, spermicide can be irritating to skin and increase risk of STIs, and you might need to get it resized.
Does it Protect Against STIs? : Nope.
Fertility Awareness Methods (FAMs)
Effectiveness: 76-88%
There are three methods used by FAMs to track an ovulation cycle. By tracking this cycle, you are able to see which days are safe to have sex and which days are more likely for you to become pregnant. You track this information yourself, and you should consult your doctor to make sure you are understanding your recorded data correctly. For best results, you should use all three methods.
Temperature Method: When you are ovulating your temperature increases from around 96-98 degrees to 97-99 degrees. This methods tracks your temperature to see which days you are ovulating (aka more likely to get pregnant).
Cervical Mucus Method: This method tracks the changes in your vaginal mucus (discharge) over an ovulation cycle to see which days you are more and less likely to get pregnant.
Calendar Method: This tracks the length of the ovulation cycle over several months to determine which days you are more and less likely to get pregnant.
WITHDRAWAL METHOD
(The Pull Out Method)
Effectiveness: 78%
The Pull Out Method is when the penis is pulled out of the vagina before ejaculation. This prevents the semen from entering the vagina and resulting in pregnancy. This methods works best when used with other birth control options like condoms or the pills. It also does not protect against STIs that are spread by skin contact or the transfer of bodily fluids (in this case precum).
This method may not be very effective if you experience premature ejaculation. This is quite common in younger people, so it's best to use this method along with a contraceptive in case there is an accident.
THIS INFORMATION WAS FOUND ON PLANNEDPARENTHOOD.ORG