BIRTH CONTROL

MYTHS Taking a borrowed BCP for a few days before sex is a reliable form of birth control You can’t get pregnant if you have unprotected sex before or after your period During sexual relations sperm enter the vagina only during ejaculation Breast feeding prevents ovulation You can not get pregnant the first time you have sex

Which Method Is Best For You? How important is it not to become pregnant? How safe is the method? How easy, will I use it every time? How much will it cost, can I afford it? How will my partner feel? Will I feel embarrassed? How do I feel about touching my body? How often do I have sex? Do I need protection from STDs? Do I have more then one partner? Do I have religious or moral beliefs about birth control?

Coitus Interruptus/Withdrawal Man withdraws before ejaculation Pre-ejaculation fluid contains sperm and may contain the HIV virus Free Requires will power High failure rate 200-300 pregnancies per 1000 women

Condoms Prevent semen from entering the vagina Available since 1500’s Latex condoms prevent STDs Most common form of birth control 99% effective if combined with spermicidal cream or jelly Never use Vaseline or petroleum jelly only a water based lubricant

Condoms Heat destroys the rubber, don’t store in car or wallet Check expiration date May decrease sensation for the man and interfere with spontaneity

Condoms

Female Condoms Lubricated sheath with flexible rings on each side Inserted into vagina like a diaphragm 26% failure rate Used by women when men will not wear condoms

Female Condoms

Foams, Creams, Jellies Destroys sperm, spermicidal Placed deep in vagina near the cervix Inserted ½ hour before intercourse, after one hour it looses its effectiveness Cheap and easy to use No protection from STDs

Vaginal Douching Offers no protection from pregnancy or STD Increases the risk of PID, cervical cancer

Oral Contraceptives Approx 10.4 million use the pill Prevents ovulation Usually a combination of estrogen and progesterone Uterine wall does not develop adequately and cervical mucous thickens Packets of monthly supply Very effective

Oral Contraceptives Disadvantages Weight gain Nausea Swollen breasts Headache Yeast infections Slight increase in blood clots Antibiotics reduce effectiveness Requires prescription from MD or NP Cost

Intrauterine Devices IUD 95-98% effective Very old form of birth control Interferes with implantation of egg Inserted by MD May cause bleeding, Cramping Backaches Perforation of uterus infections

Diaphragm Dome shaped cup of thin rubber stretched over a metal ring Covers the cervix, blocks sperm from entering Used with spermicidal cream Requires fitting by medical professional Inserted no more then 2 hours before sex and should be left in 6 hours after sex so spermicide can kill sperm Must be refitted after childbirth

Cervical Cap Small rubber or plastic cup Fits over cervix Used with spermicidal cream

Cervical Cap

Norplant Six flexible match stick sized capsules Placed under the skin of upper arm Progesterone released in a steady dose for five years 99% effective Expensive May cause scarring Side effects possible Weight gain Acne Headache

Norplant

Depo-Provera Injection 3 months protection from pregnancy 99% effective Inhibits ovulation Side effects similar to Norplant May take several months to a year to regain fertility

Birth Control Patch 1 ¾ square inch patch applied to skin Continuous delivery of hormones to prevent ovulation Patch applied the day after your period ends Replaced every week for three weeks Fourth week there is no patch 99% effective Similar side effects as the pill Monthly supply costs 30-35$ Initial medical exam is 35-125$

Vaginal Ring Soft flexible plastic ring you place inside the vagina Contains hormones that are slowly released Prevents ovulation Placed for 3 weeks and removed the fourth week Similar side effects to birth control pills Costs is 30-35$ month

Natural Family Planning Avoid sex during ovulation Temperature method Slight increase in temp before ovulation and slt decrease after ovulation Take basal body temp each morning before getting out of bed Calendar method Ovulation occurs 13-15 days before next period Avoid sex during this period

Billings Method Cervical mucous evaluation Preovulation Ovulation Mucous white slippery Ovulation Easy to form elastic band with secretions Looks like egg whites Post ovulation Secretions look cloudy and sticky Sex during pre and post ovulation period Natural family planning has high failure rate, 150-300 pregnancies out of 1000 women/yr

Billings Method

Vasectomy Cut the vas deferens Takes about 30 min in MDs office Should be considered permanent, very difficult to reverse the operation Need to use other form of birth control until the sperm count is zero

Vasectomy

Tubal Ligation Tie off the fallopian tubes Prevent the egg from going to the uterus Out patient surgery Considered permanent

Tubal Ligation

Abortion Political issue Should not be used as a method of birth control Almost ½ of American women will have at least one abortion by the age of 45 Each year 46 million women have abortions worldwide 60% occur in nations where it is legal 25% occur where it is banned 15% occur where it is allowed to save a woman’s life 19 million have an “unsafe” abortion and 600,000 die from complications Illegal abortions may end in the death of the woman or infertility due to scarring and infection

Abortion

Morning After Pill Prevents fertilized egg from implanting First dose within 72 hours of sex followed by a second dose 12 hours later Usually offered in ED to rape victims Prevents 89% of unwanted pregnancies

RU 486/Mifepristone Abortion pill Can be taken up to 49 day of pregnancy Causes the uterus to shed its lining Can be prescribed by any MD or NP