ALLISON GRIFFITHS
AUDIENCE: HIGH SCHOOLHEALTH CLASS
Types of Contraception
Statistics
Almost half of all pregnancies in the UnitedStates are unplanned.
There are many safe and highly effectivemethods of contraception (birth control) available toprevent unintended pregnancy.
In the United States, most women ofreproductive age use birth control. Between 2006–2008, 99% of women who had ever had sexualintercourse had used at least one method of birthcontrol.
Contraception Methods
Intra Uterine Device
Pill
Patch
Ring
Injection/Shot
Implant
Male Condom
Female Condom
Diaphragm
Cervical Cap
Withdrawal
Spermicides
Tubal Ligation
Vasectomy
TranscervicalSterilization
Morning After Pill
Natural FamilyPlanning
Abstinence
Intra Uterine Device IUD
Copper IUD:
Small device that isshaped in the form of a“T.”
Doctor places it inside theuterus to preventpregnancy. It can stay inyour uterus for up to 10years.
99% effective atpreventing pregnancy.
The Pill
The Pill
Contains the hormonesestrogen and progestin.
Prescribed by a doctor.
Taken at the same timeeach day. The pill is 92–99% effective at preventingpregnancy.
Patch
The Patch
Worn on the lower abdomen,buttocks, or upper body (but noton the breasts). You put on anew patch once a week for threeweeks. During the fourth week,you do not wear a patch, so youcan have a menstrual period.
Prescribed by a doctor.
Releases hormones progestinand estrogen into thebloodstream.
92–99% effective at preventingpregnancy, but it appears to beless effective in women whoweigh more than 198 pounds.
Hormonal Vaginal Contraceptive Ring
The Ring
Releases the hormonesprogestin and estrogen.
Place the ring inside yourvagina. You wear the ringfor three weeks, take it outfor the week you have yourperiod, and then put in anew ring.
92–99% effective atpreventing pregnancy.
Injection or Shot
Injection or Shot
Women get shots of thehormone progestin in thebuttocks or arm every threemonths from their doctor.
97–99% effective atpreventing pregnancy.
Implant
The Implant
Single, thin rod that isinserted under the skin of awomen’s upper arm.
Contains progestin that isreleased into the body over3 years.
99% effective at preventingpregnancy.
Male Condom
Male Condom
Worn by the man.
Keeps sperm from getting intoa woman’s body.
Latex condoms, the mostcommon type, help preventpregnancy and HIV and otherSTDs as do the newersynthetic condoms. “Natural”or “lambskin” condoms alsohelp prevent pregnancy, butmay not provide protectionagainst STDs, including HIV.
85–98% effective atpreventing pregnancy.
Female Condom
Female Condom
Worn by the woman.
Helps keeps sperm fromgetting into her body.
Packaged with a lubricant andis available at drug stores.
Can be inserted up to eighthours before sexualintercourse.
79–95% effective atpreventing pregnancy whenused consistently andcorrectly, and may also helpprevent STDs.
Diaphragm or Cervical Cap
Diaphragm or Cervical Cap
Placed inside the vagina tocover the cervix to block sperm.
Diaphragm is shaped like ashallow cup.
Cervical cap is a thimble-shapedcup.
Insert before sexual intercoursethem with spermicide to blockor kill sperm.
Diaphragm is 84–94% effectiveat preventing pregnancy.
Visit your doctor for a properfitting because diaphragms andcervical caps come in differentsizes.
Spermicides
Spermicides
Work by killing sperm andcome in several forms—foam,gel, cream, film, suppository,or tablet.
Placed in the vagina no morethan one hour beforeintercourse. You leave them inplace at least six to eight hoursafter intercourse.
Can use a spermicide inaddition to a male condom,diaphragm, or cervical cap.
71–82% effective at preventingpregnancy.
Withdrawal
Withdrawal or “PullOut Method”
Male partner remove hispenis before he ejaculates.Ejaculation occurs outsidethe vagina reducing thelikelihood that semen willreach the uterus.
18-19% effective atpreventing pregnancy
Female Sterilization: Tubal Ligation
Tubal Ligation
A woman can have herfallopian tubes tied (or closed)so that sperm and eggs cannotmeet for fertilization.
Can be done in a hospital or inan outpatient surgical center.You can go home the same dayof the surgery and resumeyour normal activities within afew days.
This method is effectiveimmediately.
Male Sterilization: Vasectomy
Vasectomy
Done to keep a man’s sperm fromgoing to his penis, so his ejaculatenever has any sperm in it that canfertilize an egg.
This operation is simpler than tyinga woman’s tubes. The procedure isdone at an outpatient surgicalcenter. The man can go home thesame day. Recovery time is lessthan one week. After the operation,a man visits his doctor for tests tocount his sperm and to make surethe sperm count has dropped tozero; this takes about 12 weeks.
Another form of birth controlshould be used until the man’ssperm count has dropped to zero.
Transcervical Sterilization
Transcervical Sterilization
Thin tube is used to thread atiny device into each fallopiantube.
Irritates the fallopian tubesand causes scar tissue to growand permanently plug thetubes.
Can take about three monthsfor the scar tissue to grow, souse another form of birthcontrol during this time.
Return to your doctor for atest to see if scar tissue hasfully blocked your fallopiantubes.
Emergency Contraception
The Morning After Pill
NOT a regular method of birthcontrol.
Emergency contraception can be usedafter no birth control was used duringsex, or if the birth control methodfailed, such as if a condom broke.
Women can take emergencycontraceptive pills up to 5 days afterunprotected sex, but the sooner thepills are taken, the better they willwork.
There are three different types ofemergency contraceptive pillsavailable in the United States. Someemergency contraceptive pills areavailable over the counter for women17 years of age or older. If youngerthan 17 years, emergencycontraceptive pills are available byprescription.
Natural Family Planning or Fertility Awareness
Natural Family Planning orFertility Awareness
Understanding your monthlyfertility patter can help you plan toget pregnant or avoid gettingpregnant. Your fertility pattern is thenumber of days in the month whenyou are fertile (able to get pregnant),days when you are infertile, and dayswhen fertility is unlikely, butpossible. If you have a regularmenstrual cycle, you have about nineor more fertile days each month. Ifyou do not want to get pregnant, youdo not have sex on the days you arefertile, or you use a form of birthcontrol on those days.
75–99% effective at preventingpregnancy.
Abstinence
Abstinence
This method means nothaving vaginal intercourseat any time.
The only 100% effectiveway to prevent pregnancy.
