Pregnancy Prevention and Birth Control: Birth Control Methods
When you choose a birth control method, you want to know how it will fit in with the way you live. Think about these questions:
- Will the method you choose be healthy for you to use?
- Will you be able to use it the right way every time?
- Will it protect you from HIV and other STDs (Sexually Transmitted Disease)?
You might want to talk with your partner about what would be best for you both.
Condoms
The condom is rolled onto the man's erect penis before you have sex. Sperm are kept inside the condom and can't get to the woman's egg. The condom works even better when used with spermicides.
People who use condoms like them because:
- Condoms do not cause health problems.
- Condoms can be bought in a drugstore.
- Condoms prevent HIV transmission, and some STDs
Here are problems you might have:
- For some people, putting on a condom can interrupt having sex.
- It must be taken off with care, so no sperm spill out.
- Some people say sex doesn't feel the same with a condom.
Spermicides
Spermicides are inserted into the vagina. The man's sperm are killed before they get to the woman's egg. Sperm-killing foam, cream, jelly, suppositories, or birth control film can be used. They should be used with condoms.
People who use spermicides like them because:
- They cause few health problems.
- You can buy them in a drugstore.
Here are problems you might have:
- You must put them in just before you have sex.
- With some, you must wait for them to foam up.
- Some can be messy.
- Some may irritate the vagina or penis.
The Diaphragm
The diaphragm fits over the woman's cervix. It is used with a jelly or cream that kills the man's sperm.
People who use the diaphragm like it because:
- It causes few health problems.
- It can be put in up to 2 hours before having sex.
Here are some problems you might have:
- You must go to a clinic to be fitted.
- A few women have bladder infections.
- It may irritate the penis or vagina.
- It must be left in 8 hours after having sex.
The Female Condom
The female condom is soft and thin and covers the inside of the woman's vagina. It is put in the woman's vagina like a diaphragm. Sperm are kept inside the female condom and can't get to the woman's egg.
People who use the female condom like it because:
- The woman can use it to protect herself from HIV and other STDs.
- It can be put in before having sex.
- It can be bought in a drugstore.
Here are some problems you might have:
- The female condom may seem hard to handle at first.
- Some people don't like the outer ring that hangs outside the vagina.
- It has been described as "noisy."
The Pill
The pill works by changing the vaginal mucous to prevent the sperm from meeting a female egg. The pill may also prevent an egg from forming. The woman takes one pill every day.
People who use the pill like it because:
- It does not cause any serious problems in most women.
- It does not interrupt having sex.
Here are some problems you might have:
- You must remember to take the pill every day.
- You must go to a clinic for an exam.
- You could have some mild weight changes, mood changes, or some bleeding at odd times.
The Patch
The Patch can be called "the pill in a patch." The patch contains a balance of estrogen and progesterone just like the pill. The patch is applied one week at a time for three weeks in a row. Week four you do not wear a patch.
People who use the patch like it because:
- You don't have to remember to take a pill every day.
- You should not experience weight gain.
- It stays in place even if you exercise or swim.
Here are some problems you might have:
- Your skin may be sensitive to the patch.
- You may not want a method your partners or others can see.
The Birth Control Shot
The birth control shot (DMPS/Depo-Provera) works mainly by changing vaginal mucous so the sperm cannot meet the female egg.
People who use the shot like it because:
- It lasts for 12 weeks.
- It does not interrupt having sex.
Here are problems you might have:
- You will have changes in your periods.
- You could gain weight or have mood swings.
- You may not have a regular period until several months after the shot wears off.
The IUD
The IUD is a small piece of plastic that is put in the woman's uterus at a clinic. It keeps the egg from growing in the woman's uterus.
People who use the IUD like it because:
- Once it is in, the woman does not have to use anything else to keep from getting pregnant.
- You just check the string often to be sure it is in place.
Here are problems you might have:
- You may have more bleeding or cramping during your period.
- If you or your partner have sex with others, you could get an infection in your tubes.
- If you get a tubal infection, you could have trouble getting pregnant when you want to.
Permanent Family Planning
Sterilization is a surgery done when people no longer want to have children. The man or the woman can have it done. In men, the tubes that carry the man's sperm are cut. In women, the tubes that carry the woman's eggs are cut.
People who use permanent family planning like it because:
- No other method of birth control is ever needed.
- The surgery is safe. It does not take long to get better.
- It does not changes your feelings or your ability to have sex.
Here are problems you might have:
- You cannot change your mind and have children later on.
- There may be a small chance of infection or bleeding after surgery.
NFP and FAM
With Natural Family Planning (NFP) and the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM), you will learn about signs in a woman's body that show when she can and cannot get pregnant. You take a class to learn these signs. If you choose NFP, you do not have sex during the time the woman can get pregnant. with FAM, you use a method such as the condom during that time.
People who use NFP or FAM like them because:
- They do not cause health problems.
- Learning about NFP or FAM with your partner can make it easier to talk about family planning.
Here are problems you might have:
- It takes time to learn about NFP and FAM.
- You must chart your signs every day.
Abstinence
Abstinence means choosing not to have any kind of sex. Many people choose not to have sex at different times in their lives. If you don't have sex, pregnancy can't happen.
People who choose not to have sex like it because:
- It fits their needs and beliefs.
- It causes no health problems.
- It can be used any time.
Here are some problems you might have:
- The man's penis must not be put in or near the woman's vagina.
- You or your partner could get pregnant if you change your mind and have sex without using a birth control method.
Remember:
- All these methods work.
- If you use no method, pregnancy can happen any time you have sex.
- Using any of these methods is better than using no method at all.
- Using a condom along with the method you choose can help prevent HIV and other STDs.
For more information, please contact:
Public Health Clinics
3420 Chanate Rd.
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Phone: 707-565-4820
Request an Appointment Online