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 nonhormonal 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
 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
 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)