Birth Control Methods Mrs. Crusan Home Living
CONDOM DESCRIPTION: PLACED OVER AN ERECT PENIS. IT PREVENTS SEMEN FROM ENTERING THE VAGINA. HELPS PROTECT AGAINST STD’S. ACTS AS A BARRIER. METHOD: BARRIER EFFECTIVENESS: TYPICAL: 85% PERFECT: 97% HOW YOU OBTAIN IT: DRUG STORE, SUPERMARKET, OVER-THE- COUNTER. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: SLIGHT POSSIBILITY OF BREAKAGE OR LEAKAGE. LATEX ALLERGY. OTHER: THE RIM OF THE CONDOM MUST BE HELD AFTER INTERCOURSE SO THE CONDOM DOESN’T SLIP OFF AS THE PENIS IS WITHDRAWN. DON’T REUSE. STORE CORRECTLY, AS HEAT MAY DAMAGE IT OR CREATE A HOLE. PROTECTS AGAINST HIV TRANSMISSION.
DIAPHRAGM DESCRIPTION: LARGE RUBBER CAP WHICH COVERS THE CERVIX. MUST BE USED WITH SPERMICIDE. METHOD: BARRIER EFFECTIVENESS: TYPICAL: 84% PERFECT: 94% HOW YOU OBTAIN IT: FROM A DOCTOR. IMPORTANT TO BE FITTED AND GIVEN DIRECTIONS FOR USE. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: CAN BE AWKWARD TO INSERT AND REMOVE. OTHER: CAN BE INSERTED UP TO TWO HOURS BEFORE INTERCOURSE, MUST BE LEFT IN PLACE FOR SIX HOURS AFTERWARDS.
CERVICAL CAP DESCRIPTION: SMALL RUBBER CAP THAT COVERS THE CERVIX. MUST BE USED WITH SPERMICIDE. METHOD: BARRIER EFFECTIVENESS: NEVER BEEN PREGNANT: 86% GIVEN BIRTH: 71% HOW YOU OBTAIN IT: FROM A DOCTOR. IMPORTANT TO BE FITTED AND GIVEN DIRECTIONS FOR USE. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: CAN BE AWKWARD TO INSERT AND REMOVE. OTHER: CAN BE INSERTED UP TO TWO HOURS BEFORE INTERCOURSE, MUST BE LEFT IN PLACE FOR SIX HOURS AFTERWARDS.
CONTRACEPTIVE SPONGE DESCRIPTION: A SPERM BARRIER TREATED WITH SPERMICIDE. THE SPONGE PHYSICALLY STOPS THE SPERM AND THE CHEMICALS KILL THE SPERM. METHOD: BARRIER AND CHEMICAL EFFECTIVENESS: NEVER GIVEN BIRTH: 81%/84% GIVEN BIRTH: 68%/80% HOW YOU OBTAIN IT: OVER-THE-COUNTER AT A DRUGSTORE OR SUPERMARKET. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: CHEMICALS CAN CAUSE IRRITATION. OTHER: IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE.
SPERMICIDAL FOAMS, JELLIES, AND CREAMS DESCRIPTION: SPERMICIDES ACT AS A PHYSICAL BARRIER AND CONTAIN A SPERM – KILLING CHEMICAL. METHOD: SPERMICIDE EFFECTIVENESS: TYPICAL: 71% PERFECT: 85% HOW YOU OBTAIN IT: OVER-THE-COUNTER AT A DRUGSTORE OR SUPERMARKET. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: MAY CAUSE IRRITATION. OTHER: MUST BE INSERTED DEEP INTO THE VAGINA AND MUST BE USED EVERY TIME INTERCOURSE OCCURS.
I.U.D (INTRAUTERINE DEVICE) DESCRIPTION: INTRAUTERINE DEVICE THAT IS THOUGHT TO SOMEHOW INTERFERE WITH THE SPERM’S ABILITY TO REACH THE EGG OR WITH A FERTILIZED EGG’S ABILITY TO IMPLANT. SOME RELEASE A SYNTHETIC HORMONE. METHOD: HORMONAL EFFECTIVENESS: TYPICAL: 98% PERFECT: 98.5% HOW YOU OBTAIN IT: INSERTED BY A DOCTOR. ONCE INSERTED IT MAY PREVENT PREGNANCY FOR SEVERAL YEARS. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: CAN CAUSE INCREASED BLEEDING AND CRAMPS. NOT RECOMMENDED FOR WOMEN WHO STILL WANT TO HAVE CHILDREN. PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE. OTHER: COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS IF A PREGNANCY OCCURS. COPPER GOOD FOR 12 YEARS, OTHERS 3-5 YEARS.
VAGINAL RING DESCRIPTION: THE VAGINAL RING IS A SMALL, FLEXIBLE RING A WOMAN INSERTS INTO HER VAGINA ONCE A MONTH. IT IS LEFT IN PLACE FOR 3 WEEKS AND REMOVED FOR THE REMAINING WEEK EACH MONTH. METHOD: HORMONAL EFFECTIVENESS: TYPICAL: 92% PERFECT: 99% HOW YOU OBTAIN IT: BY PRESCRIPTION POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: BLEEDING BETWEEN PERIODS, BREAST TENDERNESS, NAUSEA AND VOMITING. IRRITATION OR INFECTION. OTHER: RING IS CAPABLE OF SLIPPING OUT. IF THIS OCCURS (3 OR MORE HOURS OUT) A BACKUP METHOD OF BIRTH CONTROL SHOULD BE USED FOR 7 DAYS.
IMPLANT DESCRIPTION: AN IMPLANT IS A THIN, FLEXIBLE PLASTIC IMPLANT ABOUT THE SIZE OF A MATCHSTICK. IT IS INSERTED UNDER THE SKIN OF THE UPPER ARM. IT PROTECTS AGAINST PREGNANCY FOR UP TO 3 YEARS. METHOD: HORMONAL EFFECTIVENESS: TYPICAL: 99% PERFECT USE: 99% HOW YOU OBTAIN IT: YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER WILL NUMB A SMALL AREA OF YOUR ARM WITH A PAINKILLER AND INSERT THE IMPLANT, WHICH TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: IRREGULAR BLEEDING, LONGER & HEAVIER PERIODS FEWER & LIGHTER PERIODS (ABOUT 1 IN 3 WOMEN WILL STOP HAVING PERIOD ALL TOGETHER). OTHER: EXPENSIVE ($400-800) BUT LASTS 3 YEARS.
BIRTH CONTROL SHOT DESCRIPTION: THE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT IS AN INJECTION OF A HORMONE THAT PREVENTS PREGNANCY IN 3 MONTH INCREMENTS. ALSO KNOWN AS DEPO-PROVERA. METHOD: HORMONAL EFFECTIVENESS: TYPICAL: 97% PERFECT: 99% HOW YOU OBTAIN IT: BY PRESCRIPTION FROM A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. INJECTION IS GIVEN AT DOCTOR’S OFFICE. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: IRREGULAR BLEEDING MOST COMMON SIDE EFFECT. OTHERS INCLUDE: CHANGE IN SEX DRIVE, DEPRESSION, HEADACHE, NAUSEA & TENDER BREASTS. OTHER: BECAUSE SHOT IS LONG LASTING MAY TAKE A LONG TIME TO GET PREGNANT AFTER STOPPING USE (9-12+ MONTHS).
THE PILL DESCRIPTION: A PILL COMPOSED OF SYNTHETIC HORMONES THAT STOPS THE OVARY FROM RELEASING AN EGG. METHOD: HORMONAL EFFECTIVENESS: TYPICAL: 92% PERFECT: 99% HOW YOU OBTAIN IT: BY PRESCRIPTION FROM A DOCTOR. FILL PRESCRIPTION OR RECEIVE FROM A FAMILY PLANNING CLINIC. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: NAUSEA, BREAST TENDERNESS, WEIGHT GAIN. DANGEROUS TO USE IF OVER 35 AND/OR YOU ARE A SMOKER. OTHER: DO NOT USE SOMEONE ELSE’S PILLS. NORMAL MENSTRUAL CYCLES STILL OCCUR. HELPS TO REGULATE PERIODS AND CAN REDUCE SOME PMS SYMPTOMS. MUST BE TAKEN DAILY.
VASECTOMY DESCRIPTION: THE VAS DEFERENS IS CUT AND TIED OR CAUTERIZED. NO SPERM IS IN THE SEMEN. THE OPERATION IS DONE IN A DOCTOR’S OFFICE (UROLOGIST) AND TAKES 15-20 MINUTES. NO-INCISION METHOD NOW. PUNCTURE. METHOD: STERILIZATION EFFECTIVENESS: TYPICAL: 99% PERFECT:99% HOW YOU OBTAIN IT: SEE AN UROLOGIST. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: INITIAL DISCOMFORT AT THE SITE OF THE SURGERY. USUALLY SOME SWELLING AND TENDERNESS FOR FIRST 3-5 DAYS. OTHER: A VASECTOMY CAN BE REVERSED. NOT ALWAYS EFFECTIVE. TAKES APPROX. 3 MONTHS FOR SPERM TO CLEAR OUT.
TUBAL LIGATION DESCRIPTION: THE FALLOPIAN TUBES ARE CUT AND TIED OR CAUTERIZED. THE EGG CANNOT BE FERTILIZED BY THE SPERM. NEW METHOD “ESSURE” REQUIRES NO SURGERY. MICROINSERTS. METHOD: STERILIZATION EFFECTIVENESS: TYPICAL: 99% PERFECT:99% HOW YOU OBTAIN IT: THIS PROCEDURE USUALLY REQUIRES GENERAL ANESTHESIA AND IS AN OUTPATIENT PROCEDURE. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: INITIAL DISCOMFORT. MAY NEED ASPIRIN OR IBUPROFEN FOR FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS. OTHER: OVULATION AND MENSTRUATION STILL OCCUR. TEST AFTER 3 MONTHS TO CHECK BLOCKAGE.
RHYTHM METHOD DESCRIPTION: INTERCOURSE IS AVOIDED DURING OVULATION FERTILITY AWARENESS EFFECTIVENESS: TYPICAL: 60% PERFECT:75% HOW YOU OBTAIN IT: KEEP TRACK OF MENSTRUAL CYCLE ON A CALENDAR OR SEE A GYNECOLOGIST OR FAMILY PLANNING CLINIC FOR ADVICE. OBSERVATION OF BODY SIGNS, TEMPERATURE, AND MUCUS. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: NONE OTHER: IT IS DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE WHEN OVULATION OCCURS. THEREFORE, THIS IS A RISKY METHOD OF BIRTH CONTROL, ESPECIALLY FOR TEENAGERS SOPHISTICATED TESTING KITS NOW AVAILABLE .
WITHDRAWAL METHOD DESCRIPTION: THE PENIS IS PULLED OUT OF THE VAGINA PRIOR TO EJACULATION. EJACULATION OCCURS OUTSIDE THE VAGINA. METHOD: NONE EFFECTIVENESS: TYPICAL: 63% PERFECT: 75% HOW YOU OBTAIN IT: NOT APPLICABLE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: OTHER: VERY RISKY METHOD BECAUSE EVEN IF ONE TINY DROP OF SEMEN OR PRE-CUM FLUID COMES IN CONTACT WITH VAGINAL FLUID, PREGNANCY CAN OCCUR.
ABSTINENCE DESCRIPTION: NO INTERCOURSE. METHOD: NONE EFFECTIVENESS: TYPICAL: 100% PERFECT: 100% HOW YOU OBTAIN IT: NOT APPLICABLE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: NOT APPLICABLE OTHER: THIS IS THE ONLY 100% EFFECTIVE METHOD OF BIRTH CONTROL.
OTHER HORMONAL PATCH PLAN B