The document provides information on various birth control methods including abstinence, withdrawal, barrier methods, hormonal methods, long-term methods, and emergency contraception. It discusses how each method works, effectiveness rates for typical and perfect users, advantages, and disadvantages. Partner communication is highlighted as important when deciding whether and how to prevent pregnancy and STIs. Local health clinics for more information and services are also listed.

1. Birth Control Methods
Ms. Drew
SOCES Health
Fall 2012

2. Partner Communication
It takes two to have sex, and two to
decide and talk about:
•Whether or not to have sex
And if YES then,
•Birth Control
•Getting Tested for STIs
•Sexual History

3. Perfect vs. Typical
Perfect User: A person who uses the
method correctly and
consistently
Typical User: A person who uses the
method incorrectly or does
not use it every time

4. Benefits of Playing it Safe…
The only 100% method for
preventing pregnancy and
STIs is abstinence

5. Abstinence

6. Abstinence
What does abstinence mean?
 Everyone has a different definition on abstinence
 People can choose to be abstinent at different times in
their lives
 I define abstinence as no:
- oral sex,
- vaginal sex,
- anal sex, or
- genital-to-genital rubbing with another person
Effectiveness:
100%

7. Abstinence
Pros:
 No risk or worry about STI or pregnancy
 Allows relationship to develop without the pressure of sex
 No side effects or health risks
Cons:
 Can be hard to follow
 Many people fail to use protection when abstinence ends

8. Four Types of BC
 Information-based
 Barrier
 Hormonal
 Long-term

9. Withdrawal
How To Use:
 The man pulls out of his partner before he ejaculates
 He needs to ejaculate outside of his partner
 The man needs to know his body well in order to use
this method
Effectiveness:
Perfect User: 96%
Typical User: 73%

10. Withdrawal
Advantages:
 No health problems or side effects
 No supplies needed No STI
Protection
Disadvantages:
 Couple may feel it interrupts sex, the reason for its Latin name
coitus interruptus
 The man must take responsibility for this method

11. Barrier Methods
A barrier method is used during intercourse to
keep sperm from traveling through the cervix
and into the uterus

12. Male Condom
Available everywhere!

13. Male Condom
Made of latex, plastic, and sheepskin.
Sheepskin condoms do not provide STI protection
How To Use:
 Store at room temperature
 No exposure to heat or direct sunlight
 Only use water-based lubricants
 Allergy test can be done Effectiveness:
 Alternative to latex condom is polyurethane Perfect User: 98%
Typical User: 85%

14. Male Condom
Pros:
 It protects against both pregnancy and STIs
 Available in most drug stores and is affordable
Cons:
 May reduce sensitivity and spontaneity during intercourse
 May cause skin irritation

15. Female Condom
Advantages:
 Offers extra STI protection
 Can be inserted up to 8 hours before intercourse
Disadvantages:
 Some women do not feel comfortable with this method
 They can be expensive

16. Diaphragm
Advantages:
 It can be put in up to 6 hours before sex, so it doesn’t affect
spontaneity
 When taken care of, diaphragms last for a long time
Disadvantages:
No STI
Protection
 It is difficult for women to insert and remove
 Some couples are allergic to the contraceptive cream

17. Spermicides
Available in foams, jellies, vaginal films,
and suppositories
How To Use:
 Spermicides work by creating a chemical and physical
barrier inside the vagina by doing two things:
- contains Nonoxyl-9 which kills sperm or makes them immobile
- forming a temporary plug around the cervix
 Foams and gels can be used immediately.Vaginal films and
suppositories requires a 15 minute wait
Effectiveness:
Perfect User: 85%*
Typical User: 71%*
* Effectiveness rate increases when combined with a barrier method

18. Spermicides
 Each application is effective up to 1 hour, and
needs to be reapplied for each act of sex
 Need to remain in cervix for the next 6 hours

19. Spermicides
Advantages:
 They are affordable and available at most drug stores
 They provide lubrication during sex
No STI
Protection
Disadvantages:
 May cause skin irritation which can increase risk of STIs
 They can be messy

20. HORMONAL METHODS
 Only for women
 Requires a doctor’s prescription

21. Hormonal Methods
Contains hormones similar to estrogen and progesterone
and work in combination to do the following:
1 Prevents ovulation
2 Thins uterine lining to prevent implantation
3 Thickens cervical mucus

22. Possible Side Effects
Side effects vary from woman to woman.
Most side effects disappear after 3
months.
Possible side effects include:
 Changes in menstrual cycle
 Nausea
 Breast tenderness
 Mood Changes
 Drug interaction with certain medications
If any of these bother you, talk to your clinician.
You can switch to another brand with a lower dosage of
hormones, or try a different type of birth control

23. Birth Control Pill
Contains estrogen and progesterone
How To Use:
 Start as directed by your clinician
 Use back-up method when starting
 Pill must be taken orally, every day, at the same time
 If miss taking 1 pill, follow instructions on package
Missed pills may not only increase the risk of pregnancy Effectiveness:
but may also increase your chance of experiencing some Perfect User: 99.7%
side effects, such as bleeding between periods
Typical User: 92%

24. Birth Control Pill
Advantages:
 The pill regulates a woman’s period
 Periods are lighter with less cramps
 It does not interrupt sex
No STI
Protection
Disadvantages:
 Some women have a hard time remembering to take the pill
 Some women experience side effects

25. Birth Control Patch
Also called Ortho-Patch
Contains estrogen and progestin
How To Use:
 Wear on body (see next slide)
 Use back-up method when starting
 Change patch each week for 3 weeks
No patch the fourth week and woman gets period
 Do not wear in same spot twice Effectiveness:
Perfect User: 99.7%
Typical User: 92%

26. Birth Control Patch
Only wear the Patch in the following areas of the body

27. Birth Control Patch
Advantages:
 Only have to remember birth control once a week
 Periods are lighter with less cramps
No STI
Disadvantages:
Protection
 Can be noticed on body
 Some women experience side effects, including skin irritation

28. Birth Control Ring
Also called Nuva-Ring
Contains estrogen and progestin
How To Use:
 Worn inside the vagina for 3 weeks
 Fourth week the ring is removed and woman gets her period
 Use back-up method when starting
 Stays inside vagina, even during sex
Effectiveness:
Perfect User: 99.7%
Typical User: 92%

29. Birth Control Ring
Advantages:
 Only have to remember birth control once a month
 Periods are lighter with less cramps
 Private No STI
Protection
Disadvantages:
 Some women do not feel comfortable inserting this method
 Some women experience side effects

30. Birth Control Shot
Also called Depo-Provera
Contains progestin only
How To Use:
 The injection is given in the arm or buttocks by a clinician
 Use back-up method when starting
 Each injection lasts 3 months (11-13 weeks). Must return
to medical center for next injection
Effectiveness:
Perfect: 99.7%
Typical: 97%

31. Birth Control Shot
Important Guidelines:
 Fertility may be delayed for up to 18 months
 Users may experience irregular bleeding and spotting
 After one year, 50% of users stop menstrual bleeding
 This method is not recommended for more than
2 continuous years

32. Birth Control Shot
Advantages:
 Only have to remember birth control 4 times a year
 Good method for smokers and women over 35
 Very Private
No STI
Protection
Disadvantages:
 Some women do not like change in menstrual cycle
 Some women experience side effects, including increased appetite

33. Progestin-Only Methods
Contains the hormone progestin and are safe for
women who have an increased risk for blood clots
and heart problems
For women who:
- Smoke
- Over the age of 35 years old
- Breastfeeding women
Progesterone only methods include:
- Mini-Pill/ progesterone-only pills (POPs)
- Depo-Provera
- Mirena IUD

34. LONG – TERM METHODS
There are three types:
1.) Implanon for women only
2.) IUD for women only
3.) Sterilization for men and women
Long-term methods are recommended for men
and women who want to wait at least 3 years
before having children or do not want any
children in the future

35. Implanon
A thin match-stick size rod made of soft plastic.
It is inserted beneath the skin of the arm, and a
very small amount of the hormone progestin
goes
into the bloodstream all the time.
How To Use:
 Consult with a clinician and have inserted at the medical
center
 Lasts up to 3 years. Must be removed by a clinician
Effectiveness:
99.2%

36. Implanon
Advantages:
 Good long term method
 Very Private
No STI
Disadvantages: Protection
 May cause pain and/or a scar in the area of insertion
 It may cause irregular vaginal bleeding

37. IUD: Copper-T
Small, flexible device that is covered with
copper. The IUD is inserted into the uterus
with the strings outside the cervix
How To Use:
 Consult with a clinician and have inserted at the medical center
 Must check strings regularly to make sure the IUD is in place
 Lasts up to 12 years. Must be removed by a clinician
Effectiveness:
99.2%

38. Hormonal IUD
Also called Mirena IUD. Similar to Copper-T, but
is coated with the hormone, progestin
Mirena releases progesterone and lasts up to 5 years
Effectiveness:
99.9%

39. The IUD
Advantages:
 Good long term method
 Very Private
No STI
Disadvantages: Protection
 Can increase a woman’s risk of STIs
 Some women experience side effects, including vaginal bleeding

40. Tubal Ligation
Procedure:
 Out-patient surgery performed in a medical center
 Requires general anesthesia
 Fallopian tubes are blocked, preventing the egg
from entering the uterus
 Recovery time ranges from 2 days to a week
 Effective immediately Effectiveness:
99.5%

41. Tubal Ligation – Types of Procedures
There are many types of
procedures and each type
carries different risks and
benefits. Fallopian tubes
are either cut, burned, or
blocked with rings, bands,
or clips

42. Tubal Ligation
Pros:
 Permanent method of birth control
 Cost effective in the long-run
Cons:
No STI
 May not be reversible Protection
 Some health risks, including abnormal bleeding and
ectopic pregnancy

43. Vasectomy
Available at Planned Parenthood
Procedure:
 Out-patient surgery performed in a medical center
 Local anesthesia is used to numb the area
 Vas deferens tubes are blocked, preventing the sperm
from traveling out of the body
 Recovery time ranges from 1 day to less than a week
 Effective after 10-20 post-vasectomy ejaculations Effectiveness:
and semen analysis 99.9%

44. Vasectomy – Types of Procedure
In most procedures,
the surgeon will make small
incisions in the skin of the
scrotum,
cut the vas deferens and a small
part may
be removed. They are either
sealed or left open-ended.
No-scalpel vasectomy is also
available, with little bleeding
and no stitches needed.

45. Vasectomy
Pros:
 Permanent method of birth control
 Simpler and less expensive than woman sterilization
 Fast recovery
Cons: No STI
 May not be reversible
Protection
 Some health risks, including swelling and early
failure

46. Emergency Contraception
 Not a form of everyday contraception
 Taken only in cases of birth control failure, rape,
incest
 Take up to five days after sexual contact
 High dose of hormones
Ella, Next Choice or Plan B
For more information go to ec.princeton.edu
1-888-NOT-2-LATE

47. Emergency Contraception
Pros:
 Can be purchased ahead of time
 Avoid abortion or pregnancy
Available at pharmacies and health clinics to 17 and older
Under 17 need a prescription , no parental notification required
Cons:
 $40
 Some side effects – nausea and cramping

48. local health clinics
• Valley Community Clinic
888-763-4070 or 818-763-4070
www.teen411.com or www.jovenes411.com
• Planned Parenthood Los Angeles
Canoga Park and Van Nuys
www.pplosangeles.org 1-800-576-5544
• Los Angeles Department of Health Services
www.ladhs.org