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.
PREGNANCY
How 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 to
have 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
Over-the-counter
Condoms can fail,
even with perfect
use. Some people
are allergic to latex.
• 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
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 Usage
1.
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
Over-the-counter
• 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
Spermicides
Over-the-counter
• 94% effective when used with a vaginal
barrier.
• Spermicides come in creams, jellies, gels,
foams, suppositories, and films.
Spermicides can
cause irritation of
the skin, and some
people can be
allergic to them.
• Not as effective when used without
another method of birth control and
does not prevent STDs
Diaphragm
Rx only
• 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
The Sponge
Over-the-counter

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
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 birth
control 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
Rx only
• 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)
Some women have
trouble remembering
to take their pill,
making it less
effective
• No protection against STDs
The Patch
Rx only
• 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
Some women experience irritation
at the patch site and many worry
it will fall off
Vaginal Ring
Rx only
• 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
The Shot – Depo Provera
Rx only
• 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
Some women
gain weight
while using the
shot, or have
heavy periods
• No protection against STDs
Contraceptive Implants
Rx only
• 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.
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 Pills
Rx 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 Contraception
Rx 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 Sterilization
Tubal Ligation
Vasectomy
These methods are considered permanent and generally are close to 100% effective
True or False?
Anyone can get surgically sterilized if he or she is
sure they don’t want to have biological children.
False
a 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