Contraceptives

Vaginal Contraceptive Film (VCF) Is a square piece of thin film that releases a spermicide. VCF prevents pregnancy by killing sperm and blocking the opening of the cervix, which stops sperm from entering the uterus. Effectiveness Used alone, VCF is approximately 71% effective in preventing pregnancy. This means that 29 out of 100 women using it for one year will get pregnant

How to use VCF Must Be placed inside the vagina 15 min. to 1 hour before intercourse. It will wash away by vaginal fluid. Step 1 Make sure your fingers are thoroughly dry. Step 2 Remove one film from the package. Step 3 Fold the film in half and place it you’re your fingertip. Step 4 Slide your finger - covered with the VCF film -into your vagina as far as it can go. The film should rest on or near your cervix (at the top end of your vagina).

Norplant Is a birth control method used by women. Six match-sized capsules are surgically implanted underneath the skin of the underside of the upper arm. The capsules contain a hormone called "progestin," which slowly releases into the bloodstream and prevents pregnancy for up to 5 years. 99% effective

Do Now Take out folders What does FAM stand for? What makes up the FAM?

Fertility Awareness Method A collection of methods using your body's natural and normal functioning to determine the days of the month you are most likely to get pregnant. It is also called Natural Family Planning (NFP). Used both as a means of preventing pregnancy as well as targeting the most fertile time for getting pregnant.

How Does it Work? The calendar; basal body temperature; and cervical mucus methods are combined to give you the awareness of when your body is most fertile. As you become familiar with your body's ovulation and fertile periods, it provides you the opportunity to abstain from sexual intercourse or use a barrier method during that time.

How To Use FAM The first objective within fertility awareness is to become familiar with your menstrual cycle and to begin charting your fertility pattern. The average menstrual cycle is between 28 to 32 days, however there are two parts related to your cycle: before ovulation and after ovulation.

Charting Your Cycle Day 1: The first day of your menstrual flow is the beginning of your cycle. Day 7: By day 7 your egg is preparing to be fertilized by sperm. Days 11-21: (based on 28-day cycle) Hormones in your body cause the egg to be released from the ovary around this time. This process is known as ovulation. The egg travels through the fallopian tube towards the uterus. If sperm penetrates the egg, the fertilized egg will attach to the lining of the uterus and begin to grow. If fertilization does not happen the egg breaks apart. Day 28: Hormone levels drop around this day causing the lining of the uterus to be shed making up your menstrual flow.

Calendar Tracking Method Step 1: Plan on tracking your menstrual cycle for 8 to 12 months. Step 2: Day 1 will be the first day you start menstruation. Step 3: Pick the longest and shortest of the cycles from your monthly tracking. Step 4: The first day of your fertility period is determined by subtracting 18 days from the length of your shortest cycle. If 26 days was your shortest menstrual cycle, take 26 and subtract 18 to come up with the number 8. This means that the first day of your fertility window starts on the 8th day of your cycle.

Calendar Tracking Method Step 5: The last fertile day is determined by subtracting 11 from the length of your longest cycle. If 32 days was your longest menstrual cycle, take 32 and subtract 11 to reach the number 21. This means that the last day of your fertility period ends on the 21st day of your cycle. The time in between these is considered your fertility window. In the above example, your fertility period would be from the 8th day of your cycle to the 21st day of your cycle. Your ovulation is expected during this time frame. You cannot get pregnant everyday during this time, but it is sometime during this time frame that pregnancy can occur.

Basal Body Temperature Method It measures a change in the temperature that occurs after ovulation and remains elevated until your next period. By looking at charting from a few cycles, the temperatures can reveal a pattern from which ovulation can be anticipated.

Tracking BBT Step 1: Take your temperature orally each morning before you become active. Step 2: Use a basal thermometer which recognizes small changes in your temperature. Your body temperature will only rise between 0.4 and 1 degree Fahrenheit when you ovulate. Step 3: Record you temperature every day on your fertility tracking calendar

Additional Notes on BBT If you record it every day, you will see that prior to ovulation your temperature is rather consistent. As you get closer to ovulation, you may have a slight decline, but it will be followed by a sharp increase after ovulation. The increase in temperature is the sign that ovulation has just occurred. Because the increase happens after you have ovulated, this method is best used by those who have time to track and study their charts for a couple months, to ensure the best chances of conception. Illness, lack of sleep, and alcohol or drug use can affect your temperature and make it difficult to establish an accurate reading

Cervical Mucus Method The consistency of your cervical mucus changes during the menstrual cycle. In the average cycle, there are 3 to 4 dry days following a 5 day menstrual flow (Vagina has menstrual bleeding and then will usually have 3 to 4 dry days where there is little to no cervical mucus produced).

Cervical Mucus Method Continued The mucus wetness increases daily, lasting approximately 9 days until the wettest day. Your mucus is easily recognized at this point. It should be abundant, slippery, clear, and very stretchy. It has been described as egg whites. Ovulation occurs when you have your peak day of stretchy mucus (within two days).

How To Track Cervical Mucus Step 1: Collect the mucus from the vaginal opening with your fingers by wiping them from front to back. Step 2: Record it daily on your fertility calendar by making note of the color (yellow, white, clear or cloudy), the consistency (thick, sticky, or stretchy) and the feel (dry, wet, sticky, slippery, stretchy). Step 3: Ovulation is recorded on the day that your mucus is clearest, slippery and most stretchy.

Group Discussion What is the difference between the morning after pill and abortion? What two types of methods are used with an abortion?

Emergency Contraception's Emergency contraception is not a form of abortion; it is used to prevent a pregnancy, not end one. It is not RU-486, the medication used to induce abortions.  Plan B One-Step is a specifically packaged emergency contraception.  If you are 17 or older, you can get Plan B from a pharmacist, without a prescription. Bring proof of your age Ella is a non-hormonal pill. It contains ulipristal, a non-hormonal drug that blocks the effects of key hormones necessary for conception. It is available only by prescription. IUD The IUD is a small, T-shaped device placed into the uterus by a doctor within 5 days after having unprotected sex. Most effective (1 out of 1,000 women become pregnant after insertion.)

The Abortion Pill Is a medicine that ends an early pregnancy. In general, it can be used up to 63 days — 9 weeks — after the first day of a woman's last period. The name for "the abortion pill" is mifepristone. It was called RU-486 when it was being developed. 97% effective

Types of In Clinic Abortion Aspiration. It is also known as vacuum aspiration. Aspiration is usually used up to 16 weeks after a woman’s last period. D&E — dilation and evacuation — is another kind of in-clinic abortion. D&E is usually performed later than 16 weeks after a woman's last period.

STERILIZATION Tubal sterilization Vasectomy 99.5-99.9% EFFECTIVE COST intended to permanently block woman's tubes where sperm join egg Vasectomy intended to permanently block man's tubes that carry sperm 99.5-99.9% EFFECTIVE Not effective against sexually transmitted infections — use latex or female condoms to reduce the risk. COST $2,000-$6,000/ tubal sterilization 240-$520/ vasectomy (Vasectomy costs less because it is a simpler procedure that can be done in the clinician’s office.)

Facts Oil based lubricants can harm latex condoms 1960 FDA approves birth control for contraceptive use. Emergency contraceptives prevent an estimated 1.7 million pregnancies Planned Parenthood # 1-800-230-PLAN (7526) or Phillipsburg Planned Parenthood # (908) 454-3000

Facts Continued Norplant is now called “Implanon” The Implant

Injectable Progestin Depo-Provera Lunelle (No longer sold in America) Is a shot of synthetic progesterone that is given every three months to change the natural menstrual cycle and prevent ovulation. Lunelle (No longer sold in America) Is an injection containing the synthetic hormones estrogen and progestin. It is a hormonal method of contraception obtained by prescription. (Shot is given each month)