PREGNANCY PREVENTION METHOD: ARTIFICIAL AND NATURAL

A. ARTIFICIAL

1. MALE CONDOM

Latex male condoms are the

classic methods of barrier
contraception, but they can be
made of natural animal membrane, polyurethane, silicone, or other synthetic material.
During ejaculation, a condom is designed to catch semen, stopping it from entering
the vagina.

Pros

 STD prevention
 Extremely easy to purchase
 Inexpensive, some are even free! The average condom costs about $1.
 Very easy to use
 Spices up your sex life! Male condoms can provide increased sensation for both partners.
Try experimenting with different styles, shapes, flavors, and textures of male condoms.
 Can be used for oral, anal, and vaginal sex.
 Can be used with other birth control methods

Cons

 One-time use
 Required every time you have sex
  Must be used properly in order for effectiveness
 Not as effective as other birth control method

2. Female Condom

Looking for a way to enhance your

sex life and practice safe sex? This
birth control option is a plastic,
pouch-like device inserted in the
vagina before sex that offers clitoral
stimulation. The female condom can
also be inserted into the anus prior
to anal sex. The female condom has
flexible rings at each end that can
stimulate the clitoris during vaginal
sex.

How Do Female Condoms Work?

Female condoms can be inserted up to 8 hours prior to sexual activity, and they are very simple
to use. Female condoms can be inserted by a partner as part of foreplay. To insert a female
condom, first apply lubricant or spermicide to the outside of the closed end. Next, squeeze the
sides of the ring at the closed end and insert it into the vagina like a tampon. Push the inner ring
into the vagina as far as it can go, until it reaches the cervix. The outer ring will hang about an
inch from the vagina. Once the pouch is inserted, the ring at the closed end holds it in the vagina
and sperm is prevented from entering the vaginal canal.

Don’t worry if you feel the condom move side to side, that is normal. You should definitely stop
intercourse if the penis slips between the condom and the vagina or if the outer ring is pushed
into the vagina. Once your partner has ejaculated, squeeze and twist the outer ring to keep the
semen in the pouch. Gently pull the female condom out of the vagina or anus and throw it away.

How Effective Are Female Condoms?

 Typical use: 79% effective

Pros

 STD prevention
 Safe, simple, and convenient
 Extremely easy to purchase
 Inexpensive, about $4 each
 Offers clitoral stimulation
 Allows additional foreplay

Cons

 Not as effective as other birth control methods

 May cause irritation of the vagina, vulva, penis, or anus
 Reduced sensation during intercourse
 Crackling or popping noise may occur during intercourse
3. Diaphragm
Although not as popular as other
birth control methods, the diaphragm
is another way to prevent conception.
The diaphragm is a rubber dome that
is inserted into the vagina and placed
over the cervix before sexual
activity. When the diaphragm is in
place, the opening to the uterus is
blocked and the sperm is unable to
join with an egg.

How Is the Diaphragm Used?

Inserting the diaphragm is not as simple as condoms, but practice makes perfect. Start by
washing your hands with soap and water. Put about a tablespoon of spermicide in the cup and
around the rim. Find a comfortable position and separate the lips of the vulva with one hand.
With the other hand, pinch the rims of the diaphragm to fold it in half. For a firmer grip, place
your index finger in the center of the fold. Push the diaphragm as far up and back into the vagina
as possible. Make sure your cervix is covered and tuck the edge of the diaphragm behind the
pubic bone.

The diaphragm must be left in for six hours after the last time you had sex. If you have sex more
than six hours after the last time you had sex, leave it in but put more spermicide deep into the
vagina. Do not leave the diaphragm in for more than 24 hours.

To remove the diaphragm, start by washing your hands with soap and water. Place a finger into
your vagina and hook the rim of the diaphragm. Pull the diaphragm down and out and wash it
with mild soap and warm water to prevent infection.

How Effective Is the Diaphragm?

 Typical use: 88% effective

Pros

 Low cost ($15-$75 every two years)

 Can be used during breastfeeding
 Immediately effective and reversible birth control
 Cannot be felt by you or partner
 Reusable

Cons

 No STD protection
 Requires a doctor visit for fitting
 Cannot use during menstruation
 May be difficult to insert
 Must be placed prior to sex, every time
 Spermicide may have side effects

The Caya Diaphragm

The old-school latex diaphragm has had a makeover! Caya is a new diaphragm that is made out
of silicone, which provides a more comfortable and durable product. Caya also has an updated
design that makes insertion and removal easier.

4. Cervical Cap

A cervical cap is another barrier method of

contraception. It is smaller than a diaphragm and fits
over the cervix. Like the diaphragm, a cervical cap is
used with spermicide. The cervical cap blocks the
opening to the uterus and prevents sperm from joining with an egg. FemCap is the only brand of
cervical cap available in the United States.

How Is a Cervical Cap Used?

Inserting the cervical cap can be tricky. Start by washing your hands with soap and water. Put
one-quarter teaspoon of spermicide in the cervical cap and on the brim. Put one-half teaspoon in
the folded areas between the brim and the dome. Find a comfortable position and separate the
lips of the vulva with one hand. With the other hand, squeeze the rim of the cap together. Slide
the cervical cap dome-side down into your vagina, with the long brim entering first. Push down
toward the anus and then up onto the cervix. Make sure the cervix is completely covered.

The cervical cap must be left in for six hours after the last time you had sex. If you have sex
more than six hours after the last time you have sex, leave it in but put more spermicide deep in
your vagina. Do not leave the cervical cap in for more than 48 hours.

To remove the cervical cap, start by washing your hands with soap and water. It is easiest if you
squat down and pull the removal strap while rotating the cervical cap. You can push the dome
with your finger to break the suction and pull the cervical cap out. Wash it with mild soap and
warm water.

How Effective Is the Cervical Cap?

 Typical use: 88% effective

Pros

 Low cost ($0-$75 every two years)

 Can remain in place up to 48 hours
 Cannot be felt by you or your partner
 Can be used during breastfeeding
Cons

 No STD protection
 Requires a doctor visit for fitting
 Cannot use during menstruation
 May be difficult to insert
 Must be placed prior to sex, every time
 Spermicide may have side effects

5. Today Sponge

This is not the same type of sponge you

use to wash the dishes! The Today
Sponge is a small, doughnut-shaped,
foam sponge saturated with spermicide.
The sponge is inserted into the vagina
and placed against the cervix. A nylon
loop attached to the bottom of the
sponge makes removal extremely
simple. The sponge covers the cervix
and blocks sperm from entering the
uterus. The Today Sponge is the only
available birth control sponge in the
United States.

How Is the Today Sponge Used?

The Today Sponge is much easier to use than a diaphragm or cervical cap. The sponge can be
inserted up to 24 hours prior to sexual activity. To insert the Today Sponge, start by washing
your hands with soap and water and also wet the sponge with at least two tablespoons of clean
water. Gently squeeze the sponge in order to activate the spermicide. Next, fold the sides of the
sponge up and away from the loop to make it look long and narrow. Use your finger to slide the
sponge far back into your vagina. Once the sponge is inserted, it will unfold and cover the cervix.
You can slide your fingers around the edge of the sponge to make sure it is in position.

The Today Sponge must be left in place for at least six hours after the last time you have sex. Do
not leave the Today Sponge in for longer than 30 hours.
To remove the Today Sponge, start by washing your hands with soap and water. Luckily, the
sponge is a lot simpler to remove than the diaphragm and cervical cap. Put a finger inside your
vagina and through the loop. Gently pull out the sponge. The sponge is not reusable, so make
sure to always throw it away after removal.

How Effective Is the Today Sponge?

 Typical use: 88% effective for women who have never given birth
 Typical use: 76% effective for women who have given birth

Pros

 Immediate effectiveness
 Prescription and doctor visit not required
 Cannot be felt by your or your partner
 Can be used during breastfeeding

Cons

 No STD protection
 May be difficult to insert
 May cause vaginal irritation
 May make sex too messy because of the required liquid
 May make cause vaginal dryness
6. Birth Control Pills

The birth control pill, “the pill”, is the

most common method of hormonal
contraception. The birth control pill is
taken daily and most pills use a
combination of estrogen and progestin
hormones.

How Do Birth Control Pills Work?

Understanding how birth control pills work can be pretty confusing. Basically, birth control pills
are made of hormones, and hormones are chemicals made in our bodies. Our hormones control
how different parts of our bodies work. Birth control pills contain a small amount of man-made
estrogen and progestin hormones, which work to prevent eggs from leaving the ovaries. If there
is no egg to join the sperm, there is no pregnancy. Birth control pills also make the cervical
mucus thicker, which keeps sperm from joining with the eggs.

Side Effects of Birth Control Pills

Some women have side effects with the birth control pill, but their bodies are usually able to
adjust over time. Common side effects of birth control pills include the following:

 Bleeding between periods

 Breast tenderness
 Nausea and vomiting
  Change in sexual desire

Birth control pills rarely cause serious problems, but here are a few health problems caused by
birth control pills:

 Blood clots
 Increased potassium in your blood
 Heart attack
 Stroke
 High blood pressure
 Liver tumors
 Gallstones
 Yellowing of the skin or eyes

Remember, these serious side effects are extremely uncommon.

Types of Birth Control Pills

There are two types of birth control pills, combination pills and the minipill. Combination pills
contain both estrogen and progestin, and the minipill contains only progestin. The amount of
estrogen in combination pills can vary. Depending on the type of combination pills, there may be
21 active pills and seven inactive pills or 24 active pills and four inactive pills. The minipill only
comes in one formula, and all pills in the pack are active.

How Effective Are Birth Control Pills?

 Typical use: 91% effective

Pros

 Very effective
 May reduce menstrual cramping
 May lead to lighter periods
 Cost may be covered by your health insurance
 Doesn’t interrupt sexual activity
Cons

 No STD protection
 Cost is $15 to $50/month, if not covered unde your health insurance
 Requires a doctor visit and prescription
 Side effects
 Must be taken daily

7. Birth Control Patch

The birth control patch is another type

of hormonal contraceptive. The patch
is thin and beige, like a bandage, and
contains the same hormones as birth
control pills.

How Is the Birth Control Patch

Used?

The birth control patch is applied to the skin and left in place for a week. The patch is extremely
easy to use! You can either stick it to the skin of your buttocks, stomach, upper outer arm, or
back. Make sure to avoid oils, lotions, and makeup around the area you chose. The patch is
changed weekly for 3 weeks, then for the fourth week no patch is worn.

The patch contains estrogen and progestin, which prevent pregnancy by keeping the eggs in the
ovaries and thickening the cervical mucus. Keeping the eggs in the ovaries make them
inaccessible to the sperm, meaning no pregnancies.

Birth Control Patch Side Effects

Some women have side effects with the birth control patch, but their bodies are usually able to
adjust over time. Common side effects of the birth control patch include the following:

 Bleeding between periods

  Breast tenderness
 Nausea and vomiting
 Change in sexual desire
 Skin irritation

Birth control patches rarely cause serious problems, but here are a few rare serious side effects of
the birth control patch:

 Blood clots
 Heart attack
 Stroke
 High blood pressure
 Liver tumors
 Gallstones
 Yellowing of the skin or eyes

Remember, these serious side effects are extremely uncommon.

How Effective Is the Birth Control Patch?

 Typical use: 91% effective

Pros

 May reduce menstrual cramping

 May lead to lighter periods
 Applied only once a week
 Cost may be covered by your health insurance

Cons

 No STD protection
 May cost up to $80/month, if not covered by your health insurance
 Side effects
 Requires a doctor visit and prescription
8. Vaginal Ring (NuvaRing)

The vaginal ring is a small, flexible ring that

contains the same hormones as the pill and
patch, estrogen and progestin. The hormones
in the vaginal ring keep the eggs from leaving
the ovaries and thicken the cervical mucus,
which prevents pregnancies. It is worn inside
the vagina to prevent pregnancies. The
vaginal ring is also known as NuvaRing, its
brand name.

How Is the Vaginal Ring Used?

NuvaRing is fairly easy to use. Start by washing your hands with soap and water. Next, insert the
NuvaRing into your vagina by pressing the sides of the ring together and pushing the ring into
your vagina. Don’t worry about the exact location of the NuvaRing, it doesn’t matter. A
NuvaRing is inserted into the vagina and left in place for three weeks.

After three weeks, remove the NuvaRing by hooking your finger under the forward rim and
pulling it out. You will then go one week without NuvaRing, this usually corresponds to when
you will have your period. After exactly one week, insert a new NuvaRing into your vagina.
How Effective Is the Vaginal Ring?

 Typical use: 91% effective

Vaginal Ring Side Effects

Some women have side effects with NuvaRing, but their bodies are usually able to adjust over
time. Common side effects of NuvaRing include the following:

 Bleeding between periods

 Breast tenderness
 Nausea and vomiting
 Change in sexual desire
 Irritation of the vaginal

NuvaRing rarely cause serious problems, but here are a few rare serious side effects of
NuvaRing:

 Blood clots
 Heart attack
 Stroke
 High blood pressure
 Liver tumors
 Gallstones
 Yellowing of the skin or eyes

Remember, these serious side effects are extremely uncommon.

Pros

 May reduce menstrual cramping

 May lead to lighter periods
 Cost may be covered by your health insurance

Cons

 No STD protection
  May cost up to $80/month, if not covered by your health insurance
 Side effects

9. Birth Control Shot (Depo-Provera)

A hormonal injection called Depo-Provera

can protect against pregnancy for three
months.

How Does the Birth Control Shot Work?

A doctor will inject you with Depo-Provera every 12 weeks in the arm or buttocks. The hormone
in the birth control shot, progestin, will work with the body to prevent pregnancy. Depo-Provera
keeps the eggs from leaving the ovaries and makes the cervical mucus thicker. Keeping the
sperm from the eggs will prevent pregnancy.

How Effective Is the Birth Control Shot?

 Typical use: 94% effective

Birth Control Shot Side Effects

Some women have side effects with Depo-Provera, but their bodies are usually able to adjust
over time. Common side effects of Depo-Provera include the following:

 Irregular bleeding
 Breast tenderness
 Change in appette or weight gain
 Depression
 Hair loss or increased hair on face or body
 Headache
 Nausea
 Change in sexual desire
 Irritation of the vagina

Pros

 Very effective
 Only injected once every 12 weeks
 Does not contain estrogen
 Cost may be covered by your health insurance

Cons

 No STD protection
 Side effects
10. Birth Control Implant (Implanon and Nexplanon)

The same hormone in the birth control

shot can be delivered in an implant.
Implanon and Nexplanon are brands of
birth control implants. The hormone in
the implant, progestin, works with the
body to prevent the eggs from leaving
the ovaries. Since the eggs stay in the
ovaries, the sperm is unable to join the
egg.

The implant is a small, matchstick-sized

device implanted beneath the skin of the
upper arm. A doctor will numb a small
area of your arm and insert the implant. After 4 years or any time before this that you wish, the
implant will be removed by a doctor.

How Effective Is the Birth Control Implant?

 Typical use: 99.95% effective

Pros

 Long-lasting
 Very effective
 Can be used while breastfeeding
 Cost may be covered by your health insurance

Cons

 No STD protection
 May cost up to $800, if not covered by your health insurance
 Irregular bleeding for the first 6-12 months
 May cause longer, heavier periods

11. IUD (Intrauterine Device)

The IUD, or intrauterine

device, is a small, T-shaped
device inserted by a doctor
into the uterus. It prevents
pregnancy for a number of
years. ParaGard is the name
for an IUD that contains
copper and can be in place for
up to 10 years. There are
three types of hormonal
IUDs. Mirena is inserted for
up to 5, and Skyla and Liletta
are effective for up to 3 years.
All types of IUDs are highly
effective.
How Does an IUD Work?

Both the copper and the hormonal IUDs work by preventing the sperm from joining an egg. For
women using a hormonal IUD, the eggs are unable to leave the ovaries and the cervical mucus is
thickened. This means that the eggs and sperm will not join together.

How Effective Is an IUD?

 Typical use: 99% effective

Pros

 Long-lasting
 May reduce period cramps
 Cost may be covered by your health insurance
 May reduce menstrual flow

Cons

 No STD protection
 Requires doctor visit and costs up to $1000 (lasts up to 10 years, depending on the type)
 Mild to moderate pain when IUD is inserted
 Spotting between periods from the first 3-6 months
 Irregular periods in the first 3-6 months (with Mirena or Skyla)
 Heavier periods and worse menstrual cramps (with ParaGard)
 May slip out of place
12. Tubal Ligation

Tubal ligation, having “your tubes tied,” is

a permanent birth control option for
women who are certain they do not want
to have children in the future. Tubal
ligation is a surgical procedure that blocks,
ties, or cuts the fallopian tubes so eggs do
not travel into an area where contact with
sperm is possible.

How Effective Is Tubal Ligation?

 100% effective
Pros

 Highly effective
 Permanent

Cons

 No STD protection
 Surgery required
 May not be reversible
 Costly

13. Tubal Implants

Tubal implants are small metal springs or

sponges are placed inside the fallopian tubes to
block them and permanently prevent pregnancy.
Tubal implants do not require surgery; they are
guided through the vagina, cervix, and uterus
until they are lodged in a fallopian tube. The
implants are made of metal or silicone and
cause scar tissue to form and block the fallopian
tubes. It takes a few months for the scar tissue
to form. Once the scar tissue has formed, the
eggs will not be able to travel from the ovaries
to the fallopian tubes, where eggs are normally
fertilized by sperm.

How Effective Are Tubal Implants?

 100% effective
Pros

 Permanent
 Surgery not required
 Very effective

Cons

 No STD protection
 Delay of a few months until effective
 May not be reversible
 Costly
 May increase risk of infection

14. Vasectomy

Vasectomy is a permanent birth

control option for men. Vasectomy
is the surgical closure of the vas
deferens, the tubes that transport
sperm from the testes. Instead of
ejaculating sperm, the body will
absorb the sperm and release
sperm-free ejaculate.

How Effective Is Vasectomy?

 Nearly 100% effective

Pros

 Effective
  Permanent

Cons

 No STD protection
 Surgery required
 May not be reversible
 Not immediately effective

15. Emergency Contraception

If you need protection after having sex,

you may want to consider an emergency
contraception. Emergency contraception
can be hormonal or non-hormonal and it
is used after sex to protect against
pregnancy if no birth control was used.

Emergency Contraceptive Pill

Examples of emergency contraceptives include Plan B, Plan B One-Step, and Next Choice. All
of these contain a high dose of a hormone used in birth control pills, and they must be taken
within 72 hours of sexual activity. Ella is a new type of emergency contraception that uses a non-
hormonal drug and can be used up to 5 days after sexual activity.
Copper T IUD

The Copper T IUD is one of the most effective methods of emergency contraception. There are
no hormones in the Copper T IUD. There is a tiny copper filament wrapped around the T shape
of the IUD that prevents the sperm from coming in contact with the eggs.

How Effective Are Emergency Contraception’s?

 Pills- 89% effective if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex

 Copper T IUD- 99% effective
 B. NATURAL

Withdrawal (Pulling Out) Method

The withdrawal method

or "pulling out,"
involves the man
withdrawing his penis
prior to ejaculation. If
using the withdrawal
method, be careful to
make sure that no
semen leaks into the
woman’s vulva. It is
very important for men to understand their own sexual response and know
when they are going to ejaculate.

How Effective Is the Pulling Out Method?

 Typical use: 86% effective

Pros

 Free
 Does not involve drugs or medical procedures

Cons

 No STD protection
 Difficult to do correctly
 Requires self-control, experience, and trust
 Not recommended for men who ejaculate prematurely