Your Contraceptive Options

Oral Contraceptives (“The Pill”)

• Most popular method of birth control
• Pills contain estrogen and progestin and are taken once a day.
• Require a prescription
• Work by preventing ovaries from releasing eggs

Effectiveness: 99.7%, if used perfectly; with typical use, 92%.

Advantages

• Effective and reversible
• Make periods more regular and reduce cramping
• Decrease risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer

Disadvantages

• Must be taken everyday
• Women over 35 who smoke can’t use them.
• May increase risk of blood clots
• Do not prevent sexually transmitted infections 

Transdermal Patch

• A patch placed on the skin
• Estrogen and progestin are released slowly and are absorbed through the skin.
• Requires a prescription
• Works by preventing ovaries from releasing eggs

Effectiveness: 99.7% if used perfectly; with typical use, 92%

Advantages

• Effective and reversible
• Makes periods more regular and reduces cramping
• Applied once a week

Disadvantages

• Must be taken everyday
• Women over 35 who smoke can’t use them.
• May increase risk of blood clots

Male Condom

• A soft disposable sheath that fits over the erect penis
• Physical barrier that prevents exchange of bodily fluids

Effectiveness: 98%, if used perfectly; with typical use, 85%.

Advantages

• Available without a prescription
• Protects against sexually transmitted infections  
• May help prevent rapid ejaculation

Disadvantages

• Must be available at time of intercourse
• Must be stored and handled properly
• May slip or break

Female Condom

• A soft disposable sheath that is placed in the vagina before vaginal intercourse
• Lines the vagina and prevents exchange of bodily fluids

Effectiveness: 95%, if used perfectly; with typical use, 79%.

Advantages

• Available without a prescription
• Protects against some sexually transmitted infections 

Disadvantages

• Must be available at time of intercourse
• Require proper insertion technique
• May make noise during intercourse
• May slip or break

Vaginal Contraceptive Ring

• Flexible ring inserted into the vagina for three weeks and removed for one “ring-free” week 
• Estrogen and progestin are absorbed through the vagina.
• Requires a prescription

Effectiveness: 99.7% if used perfectly; with typical use, 92%

Advantages

• Effective and reversible
• Makes periods more regular
• Applied once a month

Disadvantages

• Possible side effects include irregular bleeding, breast tenderness, and headaches
• Does not prevent sexually transmitted infections 

Injectable Contraceptive

• Injection given in the buttocks four times a year
• Prevents ovaries from releasing eggs
• Contains progestin only
• Requires a prescription and injection by a healthcare professional

Effectiveness: 99.7% if used perfectly; with typical use, 97%

Advantages

• Effective and reversible
• May be suitable for breastfeeding women
• Does not contain estrogen
• Decreases risk of endometrial cancer

Disadvantages

• May cause irregular bleeding
• May cause a decrease in bone mineral density
• May cause weight gain
• May cause a delay in getting pregnant when stopped
• Does not prevent sexually transmitted infections
• A healthcare professional must give injections

Intrauterine System (Mirena)

• A T-shaped device that sits in the uterus and releases the hormone progestin
• Prevents sperm from fertilizing the egg
• Can be left in place for five years
• Requires a prescription and insertion by a physician

Effectiveness: 99.9%

Advantages

• Effective and long lasting, but still reversible
• Does not contain estrogen
• Decreases menstrual bleeding and cramping

Disadvantages

• Possible side effects include irregular bleeding or spotting
• Does not prevent sexually transmitted infections
• A physician must insert and remove

Intrauterine Device or "IUD" (ParaGard)

• A T-shaped copper device sits in the uterus
• Prevents sperm from fertilizing the egg
• Can be left in place for five years
• Requires a prescription and insertion by a physician

Effectiveness: 99.2%

Advantages

• Effective and long-lasting, but still reversible
• Does not contain hormones
• May decrease the risk of endometrial cancer

Disadvantages

• Possible side effects include irregular bleeding or spotting
• Does not prevent sexually transmitted infections
• A physician must insert and remove

Female Sterilization

• A surgical procedure to permanently close or block the fallopian tubes
• Tubes are blocked by applying a clip or a ring or by burning them

Effectiveness: 99.5%

Advantages

• Permanent
• Very effective

Disadvantages

• Permanent and difficult to reverse
• Possible risks of surgery include risk of bleeding, infection, or damage to organs in the pelvis (bowels, bladder, blood vessels, etc.)
• Does not prevent sexually transmitted infections 

Male Sterilization (Vasectomy)

• Minor surgical procedure to close or block the tubes that carry sperm to the penis
• No sperm is released in the man’s ejaculate and the egg cannot be fertilized

Effectiveness: 99%

Advantages

• No significant long term side effects
• Less invasive and more cost effective than female sterilization

Disadvantages

• Difficult to have reversed
• Does not prevent sexually transmitted infections
• Not effective immediately; need to have follow-up test to show that no sperm are present

Sponge 

• A soft foam sponge that contains a spermicide to disable sperm
• Placed inside the vagina over the cervix; effective for 12 hours

Effectiveness: For women who have not given birth: 91%, if used perfectly; with typical use, 84%. For women who have given birth: 80%, if used perfectly; with typical use, 68%.

Advantages

• Does not contain hormones
• Can be used by women who smoke or are breastfeeding
• Available in stores and pharmacies

Disadvantages

• Must be available at time of intercourse
• Some users may experience vaginal irritation
• Does not prevent sexually transmitted infections

Spermicide

• Creams, jellies, suppositories, or foam inserted into the vagina
• Contains ingredients that disable sperm

Effectiveness: 82%, if used perfectly; with typical use, 71% (however, very effective, when used in combination with a condom).

Advantages

• Does not contain hormones
• Can be used by women who smoke or are breastfeeding
• Available in stores and pharmacies

Disadvantages

• Must be available at time of intercourse
• Some people may be allergic.
• Does not prevent sexually transmitted infections
• Should be used with other forms of contraception

Diaphragm 

• Latex dome that is positioned in the vagina over the cervix 
• Blocks entry to the uterus so sperm cannot fertilize egg 
• Must be left in vagina for six to eight hours after intercourse 
• Requires a prescription and sizing performed by a healthcare professional 

Effectiveness: 94%, if used perfectly; with typical use, 84%.

Advantages

• Does not contain hormones
• Can be used by women who are breastfeeding
• Available in pharmacies

Disadvantages

• Must be available at time of intercourse
• May increase risk of recurrent urinary tract infections
• Requires proper insertion technique
• Does not prevent sexually transmitted infections

Cervical Cap

• Thimble-shaped silicone cap that fits over the cervix
• Blocks entry to the uterus so sperm cannot fertilize egg 
• Must be left in vagina for six to eight hours after intercourse
• Requires a prescription and sizing by a healthcare professional

Effectiveness: For women who have not given birth: 91%, if used perfectly; with typical use, 84. For women who have given birth: 74%, if used perfectly; with typical use, 68%.

Advantages

• Available without a prescription
• Protects against some sexually transmitted infections 

Disadvantages

• Must be available at time of intercourse
• Require proper insertion technique
• May make noise during intercourse
• May slip or break