BIRTH
CONTROL OPTIONS |
||
METHOD |
HOW
IT WORKS |
HOW
EFFECTIVE IS THE METHOD |
| BARRIER METHODS: | ||
Condoms |
Fits over a man's erect penis (before any contact with the vaginal area) and prevents pregnancy by stopping the sperm from entering the cervix and uterus. After intercourse the used condom needs to be thrown away and never reused. A latex condom also helps stop the spread of sexually transmitted infections. | Perfect Use - 97% Actual Use - 88 % If used with foam or suppositories, it is more than 99% |
Diaphragm |
A small rubber cup that is fitted by a health care professional. the rubber cup fits inside the vagina to cover the cervix and stop the sperm from entering the cervix and uterus. Spermicidal jellies or creams (cream or jelly that kills sperm) should be used with diaphragms. | Perfect Use - 94% Actual Use - 82% |
Spermicides
(Foam, Suppositories and Vaginal Film) |
Contraceptive jellies, foam, creams and suppositories are made of chemicals that kill sperm. If stops pregnancy by creating a wall to the cervix and killing the sperm before they enter the uterus. The items above have to be put into the vagina before sex. | Perfect Use - 94% Actual Use - 79% |
| HORMONAL METHODS: | ||
Depo
Provera Injection |
Depo provera is a shot given every 12 weeks by a health care professional. It supplies additional hormones to the body that stop the ovaries from releasing an egg each month. It also makes the mucus on the cervix thick so it is hard for the sperm to go into the uterus. | More than 99% |
Pills |
Birth control pills have hormones that help stop a pregnancy. Pills are to be taken every day at the same time every day for them to work correctly. Pills stop the ovaries from releasing an egg each month. A barrier method should be used with pills when taking an antibiotic, because antibiotics can decrease the effectiveness of the pills. | Perfect Use - 99% Actual Use - 97% |
| OTHER METHODS: | ||
IUD
(Intrauterine Devices) |
AN IUD is a small T-shaped plastic piece either copper or hormonal that stops an egg from implanting and growing in the uterus. | 98-99% |
Natural
Family Flanning/ Fertility Awareness Method
(not the Rhythm method) |
These methods are used by a female to find out the fertile days of her menstrual cycle. When the fertile time is found, then another birth control method can be used during this time, or she can decide not to have sex during this fertile time. This method needs to be discussed with a Certified Natural Family Planning Case Manager | Perfect Use - 91-99% |
| Permanent
Sterilization Women - Tubal Ligation Men - Vasectomy |
An operation that permanently makes a person unable to become pregnant or help fertilizae an egg. Either a woman will have an operation to have part of the fallopian tubes sealed off or a man will have an operation to cut and burn the end of the vas deferens tubes so that sperm cannot get out into the penis. Counseling on either method has to be given. | 99.9% |
| Abstinence | The voluntary decision not to participate in sex | 100% |
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