CONTRACEPTION/BIRTH CONTROL METHODS

How does pregnancy begin?

• Conception– When an woman’s egg is fertilized by a man’s sperm. The

usual way this occurs is through sexual intercourse.

• Implantation– When a fertilized egg implants into the

lining of the woman’s uterus. – Approximately 50% of all

fertilized eggs do not implant.

PREGNANCYHow does a woman know if she

has become pregnant?

Possible signs of pregnancy:– Breast soreness

– Missed period

– Nausea (“morning sickness”) A positive pregnancy test (urine) will show up one or two days after a missed period.

PREGNANCY

• Pregnancy is divided into 3 trimesters, each one being about 12 weeks long.

• Pregnancy lasts 38-40 weeks

PREGNANCY• The first 12 weeks of pregnancy are very

important for the developing fetus.

• During pregnancy, it is important for a pregnant woman to avoid the following:

• Alcohol and drugs, including tobacco• Certain over-the-counter and prescription medications• Certain foods and activities

True or False?

Teenagers need to know about things like birth control because most are having sex.

FALSE! Less than ½ of high school

students have had sex.

Unplanned Pregnancy• About ½ of all pregnancies in the

United States are unplanned and occur to women of all childbearing ages (15-45 years old).

•In the United States, nearly 750,000 teens become pregnant each year.

True or False?

Becoming a parent at an early age could make it difficult for a young person

to reach his or her goals.

TRUE!

What DOES NOT work to prevent pregnancy?

• Rinsing out the vagina after intercourse (douching)

• Plastic wrap instead of a condom

• Urinating after intercourse

• Having sex in a particular position

• Withdrawing (“pulling out”) before ejaculation

Why use contraception?• A sexually active

couple has about a 85% chance of becoming pregnant within one year without using any type of birth control.

Things to consider before using contraception

• Where do I get the method?

• How much will the method cost and who will pay?

• How do I use the method?

• How effective is the method at preventing pregnancy and STDs?

• Does the method have any potential side effects that could harm me?

Categories of contraception• Abstinence• Natural• Barrier• Hormonal• Intrauterine Devices • Surgical

Abstinence• Abstinence = not engaging in sexual

intercourse for a specified amount of time

• Some people choose to abstain from sex until they are married or have reached their educational goals. Others choose abstinence because it is the healthiest option when it comes to protecting their sexual health and relationships.

• Abstinence is the only 100% effective way to prevent pregnancy

How can a girl know when she is “fertile?”

Is there a safe time to have sex each month?

It’s difficult for a girl to know when she is ovulating-or fertile.

There is no absolutely safe time tohave sex without the risk of

pregnancy.

Natural Birth Control Methods Methods used to prevent pregnancy that do not require any sort of

medical device or medication.

In order to effectively prevent pregnancy, these methods require:

– significant knowledge about ovulation and menstrual cycles

– Consistent personal awareness of body changes

Natural methods are NOT recommended for teens

Barrier Methods

• Any method that prevents the male’s sperm from reaching the female’s egg by creating a barrier.

• Barrier methods must be used consistently and correctly to help prevent pregnancy.

Male Condoms• 85%-97% effective for preventing

pregnancy; a condom must be used correctly and with every act of intercourse to be effective.

• Helps to prevent some sexually transmitted infections

• Latex, lubricated condoms are the most effective type of condom

Condoms can fail, even with perfect use. Some people are allergic to latex.

Over-the-counter

True or False?

It’s a good idea to use some lotion with a condom to prevent it from breaking, right?

FALSE!only use a water based lubricant with condoms.

Lotions and oils can ruin latex.

Correct Condom Usage1. Use a new condom for each act of intercourse.

2. Put the condom on an erect penis before any sexual contact occurs (either partner can put the condom on).

3. Check the condom package for air and expiration date.

4. Make sure the condom will unroll the correct way onto the erect penis.

5. Pinch the tip of the condom.

6. Use proper water-based lubrication to prevent breakage.

7. Hold on to the base of the condom and withdraw while the penis is still erect.

Female Condom• 80-95 % effective

• This is a polyurethane barrier device that is placed inside a woman’s vagina prior to intercourse.

• Helps to prevent some STDs Female condoms can be awkward, noisy, and might not be used correctly

Over-the-counter

Spermicides• 94% effective when used with a vaginal

barrier.

• Spermicides come in creams, jellies, gels, foams, suppositories, and films.

• Not as effective when used without another method of birth control and does not prevent STDsSpermicides can

cause irritation of the skin, and some people can be allergic to them.

Over-the-counter

Diaphragm• 80%-94% effective when used with spermicide

• Must be fitted by a woman’s health care provider

• Covers the cervix to create a barrier between the sperm and the egg.

• No protection against STDs

Rx only

The Sponge 80%-91% effective (more effective for women who have not ever

given birth)

This is a barrier method that a woman places inside her vagina before each act of intercourse and removes after intercourse.

The sponge contains spermicides, which can be irritating for some people.

Does not protect against STDs

Over-the-counter

Hormonal Contraception• ALL hormonal methods of birth control work

mainly by altering a woman’s natural hormones, so that…

– Ovulation, or the release of an egg each month, is prevented

– The lining of a woman’s cervix and uterus are changed to make them less friendly to sperm or to a fertilized egg

Potential side effects of Hormonal Contraception

Common side effects might include:

– Breast soreness– Nausea– Headache– Mood changes

Potential side effects of Hormonal Contraception

Rare, but serious side effects of hormonal birthcontrol methods can also occur:

– Blood Clots– Stroke– Death

Smoking while using hormonal birth control is particularly risky.

Potential side effects of Hormonal Contraception• Using hormonal methods might also lead to:

– Clearer skin

– Lighter and shorter menstrual periods

– Fewer symptoms of PMS (cramps, etc.)

– Reduced chance of getting certain types of cancer

The Pill• 95%-99% effective

• For as long as the woman does not wish to become pregnant, a pill must be taken every day, at around the same time each day (with a seven day break every 21 days to allow for a menstrual period)

• No protection against STDsSome women have trouble remembering to take their pill, making it less effective

Rx only

The Patch

Some women experience irritation at the patch site and many worry it will fall off

• 99% effective when used correctly

• The hormones are absorbed from the patch and into the woman’s skin.

• Applied weekly (with a patch free week every 3 weeks to allow for a menstruaal period) for as long as the woman does not wish to become pregnant.

• No protection against STDs

Rx only

Vaginal Ring

• 99% effective when used correctly

• A woman must insert and remove the vaginal ring herself about once a month for as long as she does not want to become pregnant.

• No protection against STDs

Rx only

The Shot – Depo Provera

Some women gain weight while using the shot, or have heavy periods

• 99% effective if used correctly

• Injected into a woman’s buttock muscle about every 3 months for as long as she does not wish to become pregnant

• No protection against STDs

Rx only

Contraceptive Implants

• Implanon is a single, flexible plastic rod that is surgically placed under the skin in the woman’s upper arm, and release hormones constantly into the body.

• 99% effective

• Can be left in place for up to 3 years at a time.

Rx only

True or False?

There is nothing a woman can do to prevent pregnancy once unprotected intercourse has happened. She’ll just have to wait and see.

False, she can obtain and take emergency contraception.

Emergency Contraceptive PillsRx and over-the-counter

• A woman can take EC within 120 hours (5 days) of unprotected intercourse. It can help prevent pregnancy.

• EC works by:• Temporarily stopping ovulation OR• Preventing a fertilized egg from implanting

• EC will not end a pregnancy once a fertilized egg has implanted. If a woman takes EC, she may still become pregnant.

Intrauterine ContraceptionRx only

• IUC is 98-99% effective.

• IUC can be used long-term, but is still reversible.

• An intrauterine device (IUD) is a small device inserted through a woman’s vagina and into her uterus by a doctor.

• IUC works by creating an environment inside the uterus that is unfriendly to sperm and/or a fertilized egg.

Voluntary Surgical SterilizationTubal Ligation

These methods are considered permanent and generally are close to 100% effective

Vasectomy

True or False?Anyone can get surgically sterilized if he or she is sure they don’t want to have biological children.

Falsea person must be 21 years old and sign a consent form.

Options for pregnancy

• Continue pregnancy and parent the child.

• Continue pregnancy and make an adoption plan.

• End the pregnancy by having a medical procedure called an abortion.

For more information• www.larimer.org/health

• www.managingcontraception.com

• The Larimer County Department of Health Family Planning Clinics