Birth Control Guide

BIRTH CONTROL GUIDE

If you do not want to get pregnant, there are many birth control options to choose from. No one product is best for everyone. Some methods are more effective than others at

preventing pregnancy. Check the pregnancy rates on this chart to get an idea of how effective the product is at preventing pregnancy. The pregnancy rates tell you the number of

pregnancies expected per 100 women during the first year of typical use. Typical use shows how effective the different methods are during actual use (including sometimes using

a method in a way that is not correct or not consistent). The only sure way to avoid pregnancy is not to have any sexual contact. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best

method for you.

FDA

Use

FDA-Approved

Number of

Use

Some Risks or

*

Methods

pregnancies expected

Side Effects*

*

This chart does not list all of the risks and side effects for each product.

(per 100 Women)*

S te riliza tio n S u rg e ry

Le ss th a n 1

O n e tim e p ro ce d u re .

Pain

fo r W o m e n

P e rm a n e n t.

B le e d in g

In fe ctio n o r o th e r c o m p lica tio n s a fte r s u rg e ry

S te riliza tio n

Le ss th a n 1

O n e tim e p ro ce d u re .

Pain / cra m p in g

Im p la n t fo r W o m e n

P e rm a n e n t.

P elvic o r b a ck d isc o m fo rt

V agin al b le e d in g

S te riliza tio n S u rg e ry

Le ss th a n 1

O n e tim e p ro ce d u re .

Pain

fo r M en

P e rm a n e n t.

B le e d in g

In fectio n

IU D C o p p e r

Le ss th a n 1

In se rte d by a h e a lth c a re p ro vid e r.

C ra m p s

Lasts up to 1 0 ye a rs.

H eavier, lo n g e r p e rio d s

S p o ttin g b e tw e e n p e rio d s

IU D w ith P ro ge stin

Le ss th a n 1

In se rte d by a h e a lth c a re pro vid er.

Irre g u la r b le e d in g

Lasts up to 3 -5 ye a rs, d e p e n d in g on

N o p e rio d s (a m e n o rrh e a )

th e typ e.

A b d o m in a l/p e lv ic pain

Im p la n ta b le Rod

Le ss th a n 1

In se rte d by a h e a lth c a re p ro vid er,

M e n stru a l C h a n g e s

M o o d s w in g s o r d e p re s s e d m o od

s.

Lasts up to 3 years.

W e ig h t g a in

H e a d a ch e

A cn e

6

S h o t / In je ctio n

N ee d a s h o t e v e ry 3 m o n th s.

Lo ss o f b o n e d e n sity

Irre g u la r b le e d in g / B le e d in g b e tw e e n p e rio d s

H e a d a ch e s

W e ig h t gain

N e rv o u sn e ss

D izzin e ss

A b d o m in a l d is c o m fo rt

O ral C o n tra c e p tiv e s

9

M u st s w a llo w a pill e v e ry day.

S p o ttin g / b le e d in g b e tw e e n p e rio d s

N au se a

"Th e Pill"

B re a st te n d e rn e s s

(C o m b in e d Pill)

H e a d a ch e

O ral C o n tra c e p tiv e s

9

M u st s w a llo w a pill e v e ry day.

S p o ttin g / b le e d in g b e tw e e n p e rio d s

(

"The Pill" (Extended/

N au se a

Continuous Use

B re a st te n d e rn e s s

C o m b in e d Pill)

H e a d a ch e

O ral C o n tra c e p tiv e s

9

M u st s w a llo w a pill at th e sa m e tim e

S p o ttin g / b le e d in g b e tw e e n p e rio d s

e v e ry day.

N au se a

"T h e M ini Pill"

B re a st te n d e rn e s s

(

)

(P ro g e stin O n ly )

H e a d a ch e

P atch

9

Put on a n e w p a tch e a ch w e e k fo r 3

S p o ttin g o r b le e d in g b e tw e e n m e n stru a l p e rio d s

w e e k s (2 1 to ta l d a ys).

N a u se a

S to m a ch pain

D o n 't p u t o n a p a tch d u rin g th e

B re a st te n d e rn e s s

H e a d a ch e

fo u rth w ee k.

Skin irritatio n

V a g in a l C o n tra c e p tiv e

9

Put th e rin g into th e v a g in a yo u rse lf.

V a g in a l d is c h a rg e , d is c o m fo rt in th e v a g in a , an d m ild irritatio n .

K e ep th e rin g in y o u r v a g in a fo r 3

H e a d a ch e

M o o d c h a n g e s

R in g

w e e k s and th e n ta k e it o u t fo r o ne

N a u se a

B re a st te n d e rn e s s

w ee k.

D ia p h ra g m w ith

12

M u st use e v e ry tim e y o u h a ve sex.

Irritatio n

A lle rg ic re a c tio n s

S p e rm ic id e

U rin a ry tra c t in fe ctio n

S p o n g e w ith

1 2 -2 4

M u st use e v e ry tim e y o u h a ve sex.

Irritatio n

S p e rm ic id e

C e rv ica l C a p w ith

1 7 -2 3

M u st use e v e ry tim e y o u h a ve sex.

Irritatio n

S p e rm ic id e

A lle rg ic re a c tio n s

A b n o rm a l Pap te st

M ale C o n d o m

18

M u st use e v e ry tim e y o u h a ve sex.

Irrita tio n

s

Allergic reactions

P ro v id e s p ro te ctio n a g a in st so m e

STD s.

Fe m a le C o n d o m

21

M u st use e v e ry tim e y o u h a ve sex.

D isc o m fo rt o r pain d u rin g in se rtio n o r sex.

P ro v id e s p ro te ctio n a g a in st so m e

B u rn in g se n sa tio n , rash o r itch in g

STD s.

Spermicide alone

2 8

M u st use e v e ry tim e y o u h a ve sex.

Irrita tio n

A lle rg ic re a c tio n s

U rin a ry tra c t in fe ctio n

OTHER CONTRACEPTION

Emergency Contraceptives (EC):

M a y be u se d if yo u did n ot u se b irth co n tro l o r if y o u r re g u la r b irth co n tro l fa ils (su ch as a c o n d o m b re a k s). It sh o u ld n o t be u se d a s a re g u la r

fo rm o f b irth c o n tro l. E m e rg e n c y c o n tra c e p tio n p re v e n ts a b o u t 5 5 - 8 5 % o f p re d icte d p re g n a n cie s.

a

Swallow the pills as soon as

Levonorgestrel 1.5 mg (1 pill)

7 out of every 8 women who

Menstrual changes

possible within 3 days after

Le v o n o rg e stre l .75 m g (2 pills)

w o u ld h a ve g o tte n p re g n a n t w ill

Headache

N au se a

having unprotected sex.

n o t b e c o m e p re g n a n t a fte r ta k in g

D izzin e ss

V o m itin g

.

this EC.

B re a st pain

T ire d n e s s

Lo w e r sto m a ch (a b d o m in a l) pain

6

U lip ristal A c e ta te

o r 7 o u t o f e v e ry 10 w o m e n w h o

S w a llo w th e pills w ith in 5

H e a d a ch e

N au se a

w o u ld h a ve g o tte n p re g n a n t w ill

d a y s a fte r h a v in g u n p ro te cte d

A b d o m in a l pa in

M e n stru a l pain

n o t b e c o m e p re g n a n t a fte r ta k in g

sex.

T ire d n e s s

D izzin e ss

.

this EC.

*For more information on the chance of getting pregnant while using a method or on the risks of a specific product, please check the product label or Trussell, J. (2011). "Contraceptive failure in the

United States.“ Contraception 83(5):397-404.