Contraception for high schoolers

1. Contraception
For High School Students
Erin McIntyre
Human Sexuality and Sex Education

2. Contraception…
• blocks conception (the fusion of an ovum
and sperm that creates a fertilized egg)
through the use of a device, substance or
method
• helps prevent unwanted pregnancies (~86
million unwanted pregnancies every year)
• helps protect you from sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs)

3. The types of contraception are…
• Barrier methods: physically blocks the sperm
from reaching the egg
• Hormonal methods: alter the biochemistry of
the woman’s body preventing ovulation and
makes it difficult for the sperm to reach the egg
• Natural methods: based on whether the sperm
and egg are present, or no sex during ovulation
• Surgical methods: female and male sterilization
which permanently prevents the union of sperm
and eggs

4. Some Barrier methods include…
• Male Condoms: prevent sperm from entering the
vagina
– Pros: easy to purchase, available without prescription
– Cons: diminish sensation and infere with spontaneity
– Effectiveness: pregnancies occur for 18/100 users
• With perfect use for the first year, there is only a 2% failure rate
• Female Condoms: prevent sperm from entering
the vagina
– Pros: gives the woman control, protects well from genital
warts or herpes, almost as effective as the male condom
– Cons: requires practice for proper positioning, can be
uncomfortable if positioned incorrectly, must be careful
with insertion of penis
– Effectiveness: First year failure rate is 21%

5. Some Hormonal methods
include…
• Injectable contraceptives: hormones injected into arm or
buttocks, given every 12 weeks
– Pros: highly effective, gives women privacy
– Cons: does not protect against STDs, menstrual irregularities, weight
gain, temporary infertility, reduction in bone density
– Effectiveness: perfect use failure rate is 0.2%, can increase to 6%
with typical use
• Hormonal IUD: Intrauterine device, is a small plastic object
placed in the uterus.
– Pros: highly reliable, require no attention except for a periodical
check of the string position, reduction in endometrial cancer rates,
can decrease blood flow during menstruation
– Cons: does not protect against STDs, can cause heavy menstrual
flow, menstrual flow, menstrual cramping, spontaneous expulsion of
the IUD for 4-6% of woman the first year, can cause pelvic
inflammatory disease
– Effectiveness: first year failure rate is 0.8%

6. Some Natural methods include…
• Abstinence: retaining from sex
– Effectiveness: 0% failure rate
• Fertility Awareness-Based methods:
women abstain from sex during the fertile
period of their menstrual cycle
– Effectiveness: 25% failure rate
• Withdrawal: male removes his penis
before ejaculation
– Effectiveness: 22% failure rate

7. Some Surgical methods include…
• Sterilization: permanent and highly effective
– Male: vasectomy (severing the ducts that transport
sperm from the testes to the seminal vesicle
• Performed by a physician, takes about 30 minutes
• Effectiveness: 0.15% failure rate
– Women: severing or blocking the oviducts thereby
preventing eggs from reaching the uterus and sperm
from entering the fallopian tubes
• Performed by physician, takes about 30 minutes
• Rate of minor complications: 6-11%
• Effectiveness: 0.5% failure rate

8. Emergency Contraception
• “Morning-after pill”
• Postcoital method used after unprotected sexual
intercourse
• Should only be used in case of emergency
• Inhibits ovulation by altering transport of the
sperm and egg – does NOT affect a fertilized
egg already implanted in the uterus
• Most effective within the first 12 hours but can
be taken up to 120 hours later
• Reduce pregnancy by 89%
• Can be bought at a pharmacy or doctor’s office

9. Reference
Insel, P. M., & Roth, W. T. (2013).
Contraception. Core concepts in health
(11th ed., pp. 143-173). New York, NY:
McGraw Hill.

10. Reference
Insel, P. M., & Roth, W. T. (2013).
Contraception. Core concepts in health
(11th ed., pp. 143-173). New York, NY:
McGraw Hill.