Whether you're a guy or a girl, you'll find everything you need to know about birth control in this section.
There are many different kinds of birth control. Many men use male condoms as their birth control method. Women have more options for birth control methods including IUDs, the pill, female condoms, and others. Withdrawal and abstinence are methods that anyone can use. Remember, your birth control needs may change over time as your relationships, lifestyle, and desire to have a baby change. It is important to find a method that is right for you and your partner.
Learn more about specific birth control methods from the links on this page.
If you haven't decided what birth control method you want to use, visit the TeenSource Reproductive Life Plan, where you can find suggestions for making the decision.
These methods are used during intercourse to prevent pregnancy. They work by stopping sperm from getting to the egg. Male and female condoms can also be used to help prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) during vaginal, oral, and anal sex.
Hormonal methods work by changing the hormone levels in a woman's body so that no egg is released from the ovary or so that the mucus in the cervix thickens. This prevents the sperm from traveling to the egg.
Hormonal methods work very well to prevent pregnancy, but do not protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases. If a woman is concerned that she might get a sexually transmitted disease from her partner, the couple should use condoms.
There are three types of long-term pregnancy prevention methods, all of which work for several years or more. One kind is the implant; this method can be used for three years. The second kind is called an intrauterine device (IUD). The third type is sterilization. Sterilization is considered a permanent method because it is difficult to reverse. Sterilization is used by people who do not want any children or who have already had all the children that they want.
Long-term methods work very well to prevent pregnancy, but do not protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases. If you are having sex with someone who might give you a sexually transmitted disease, use condoms.
Information-based methods use facts about how pregnancy occurs and how the the woman and man's reproductive systems work. With this information, women and men have pregnancy prevention choices that are safe, effective, and are very inexpensive.
Most information-based methods work well to prevent pregnancy, but do not protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases. If you are having sex with someone who might give you a sexually transmitted disease, use condoms. Abstinence is the only information-based method that prevents the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
These methods are used during intercourse to prevent pregnancy. They work by stopping sperm from getting to the egg. Some barrier methods can also be used to help prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). These are the male and female condoms. Male condoms can also be used during oral and anal sex to prevent sexually transmitted diseases.
The male condom is a thin covering that fits over an erect penis. Condoms can be made out of three kinds of material:
Condoms made from latex and polyurethane can help prevent pregnancy and STDs, including HIV. Sperm and STD germs cannot pass through these types of condoms. Condoms are used to help protect yourself from STDs when you have vaginal, anal and oral sex.
Condoms made from lambskin help prevent pregnancy, but they do not protect against STDs. This is because STD germs are much smaller than sperm. STD germs can get through lambskin condoms because they have pores like our own skin.
Condoms come in different textures, colors and sizes.
Perfect user: A person who uses their method of pregnancy prevention correctly all of the time.
Typical user: A person who does not use their method of pregnancy prevention correctly.
With perfect use, the male condom is 98% effective.
This means that if 100 couples use the male condom exactly the right way every time they have sex, 2 of the women may get pregnant in a year.
With typical use, the male condom is 85% effective.
For couples who don’t use the male condom the right way every time they have sex, 15 women out of 100 may get pregnant in a year.
Some men and women are allergic to the latex in a condom. Others may be allergic to the lubricant or spermicide. If you are allergic, your skin may itch, burn or turn red. Or you may get a rash near the vagina, penis or anus.
You can try other brands to find a condom or lubricant that doesn’t bother you. If the spermicide in the condom is the problem, you can try a condom without spermicide. If you are allergic to latex, you can try the polyurethane condom.
The male condom causes no serious health problems.
Though the condom is very safe, the spermicide used along with the condom may cause changes in the vagina and anal area that make it easier to get HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. If you have more than one partner, or your partner has more than one partner, it is better not to use a spermicide.
It is very important to learn how to use condoms correctly, so that they don't break or fall off. For instruction about how to use them, to go:
The female condom is made of a thin, but very strong, plastic called polyurethane. It prevents sperm from meeting with the egg.
Female condoms can help prevent pregnancy and STDs, including HIV. Female condoms can be used to help protect against STDs when you have vaginal, anal and oral sex.
Perfect user: A person who uses their method of pregnancy prevention correctly all of the time.
Typical user: A person who does not use their method of pregnancy prevention correctly.
With perfect use, the female condom is 95% effective.
That means that if 100 couples use the female condom exactly the right way every time they have sex, 5 of the women may get pregnant in a year.
With typical use, the female condom is 79% effective.
For couples who don't use the female condom the right way every time, 21 women out of 100 may get pregnant in a year.
There are no side effects to using the female condom.
The condom for women causes no serious health problems.
Some things to remember about the female condom:
To learn how to use the female condom, go to:
The diaphragm is a round piece of soft, thin latex rubber with a firm, flexible ring that fits comfortably in the vagina. Because every woman is different, diaphragms come in many sizes. You can only get a diaphragm from a clinician or doctor who will fit you with the right size.
The diaphragm is put into the vagina so that it covers the opening to the uterus (the cervix). Once it is in place, the diaphragm should not be bother the woman or her partner during intercourse. The woman should be able to walk around with the diaphragm in place for several hours and not feel it.
The diaphragm does not protect against HIV or other STDs. If you are having sex with someone who might give you a sexually transmitted infection, use a condom.
Perfect user: A person who uses their method of pregnancy prevention correctly all of the time.
Typical user: A person who does not use their method of pregnancy prevention correctly.
With perfect use, the diaphragm is 94% effective.
That means that if 100 women use the diaphragm exactly the right way every time they have sex, 6 of them may get pregnant in a year.
With typical use, the diaphragm is 84% effective.
For women who don't use the diaphragm the right way every time they have sex, 16 women out of 100 may get pregnant in a year.
Women may have the following side effects if their diaphragm doesn't fit well. If you have any of these side effects, go to your clinician/doctor:
Toxic Shock Syndrome can be a serious health problem that comes from a bacteria that grows in the diaphragm if it is kept in place for more than 24 hours. This is why it is important to remember to remove it within 24 hours.
Rarely does a woman get TSS if she wears the diaphragm for 8 hours, but it is possible. If you ever experience the warning signs of TSS listed below, take out the diaphragm right away and go to your clinician or an emergency room.
Though the diaphragm is very safe, the spermicide used along with the diaphragm may cause changes in the vagina and anal area that make it easier to get HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. If you have more than one partner, or your partner has more than one partner, it is better not to use a spermicide.
The cervical cap is a small, hat-shaped device made of silicone rubber. It is sometimes referred to by its brand name, FemCap. It fits over your cervix (the opening of the uterus) and helps stop sperm from meeting the egg. You should be able to walk around with the cap in place and not feel it. It should not bother you or your partner during intercourse.
The cervical cap is used with contraceptive cream or jelly that kills the sperm. It comes in three sizes, so it must be fitted by a clinician or doctor.
The cervical cap does not protect against HIV or other STDs. If you are having sex with someone who might give you an STD, use condoms.
Perfect user: A person who uses their method of pregnancy prevention correctly all of the time.
Typical user: A person who does not use their method of pregnancy prevention correctly.
With perfect use, the cervical cap is 91% effective.
This means that if 100 women use the cervical cap exactly the right way every time they have sex, 9 women out of the group may get pregnant in 1 year.
With typical use, the cervical cap is 84% effective.
For women who don't use the cervical cap the right way every time they have sex, 16 women out of 100 may get pregnant in 1 year.
Toxic Shock Syndrome can be a serious health problem that comes from a bacteria that grows in the cervical cap if it is kept in place for more than 24 hours. This is why it is important to remember to remove it within 24 hours.
Rarely does a woman get TSS if she wears the cervical cap for less than 8 hours, but it is possible. If you ever experience the warning signs of TSS listed below, take out the cervical cap right away and go to your clinician or an emergency room.
Though the cervical cap is very safe, the spermicide used along with a cervical cap may not be safe for people who have sex with multiple partners.
Spermicide may cause changes in the vagina and anal area that make it easier to get HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. If you have more than one partner, or your partner has more than one partner, it is better to not use spermicide.
To learn more about the cervical cap, go to:
The sponge is a small, round, soft piece of foam made out of polyurethane (a type of plastic). It contains the contraceptive foam nonoxynol-9, which kills sperm. A small amount of water is added to the sponge to make the contraceptive foam work. It is sometimes referred to by its brand name, Today Sponge.
The sponge covers your cervix (opening of the uterus) and helps stop sperm from meeting with an egg. The sponge also works by killing sperm. You should be able to walk around with the sponge in place and not feel it. It should not bother you or your partner during intercourse.
The sponge can be purchased at clinics, pharmacies, and supermarkets. It does not protect against HIV or other STDs. If you are having sex with someone who might give you an STD, use a condom.
Perfect user: A person who uses their method of pregnancy prevention correctly all of the time.
Typical user: A person who does not use their method of pregnancy prevention correctly.
With perfect use, the sponge is 91% effective.
This means that if 100 women use the sponge exactly the right way every time they have sex, 9 women out of the group may get pregnant in 1 year.
With typical use, the sponge is 84% effective.
For women who don't use the sponge the right way every time they have sex, 16 women out of 100 may get pregnant in 1 year.
Toxic Shock Syndrome can be a serious health problem that comes from a bacteria that grows in the sponge if it is kept in place for more than 24 hours. This is why it is important to remember to remove it within 24 hours.
Rarely does a woman get TSS if she wears the sponge for less than 24 hours, but it is possible. If you ever experience the warning signs of TSS listed below, take out the sponge right away and go to your clinician or an emergency room.
Though the sponge is very safe, the spermicide used along with a sponge may not be safe for people who have sex with multiple partners.
Spermicide may cause changes in the vagina and anal area that make it easier to get HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. If you have more than one partner, or your partner has more than one partner, it is better to not use spermicide.
To learn more about the sponge, go to:
Spermicides come in many forms:
Spermicides are put into the vagina before having sex because they kill sperm. The most common chemical used in spermicides is nonoxynol-9.
Spermicides can be used alone or with condoms. Spermicides are always used with the diaphragm, cervical cap, and female condom.
Spermicides do not help protect against HIV and other STDs. Use a condom every time you have sex to help protect yourself from these diseases.
Perfect user: A person who uses their method of birth control correctly all of the time.
Typical user: A person who does not use their method of birth control correctly.
With perfect use, spermicides are 85% effective.
That means that if 100 women use spermicides exactly the right way every time they have sex, 15 of those women may get pregnant in a year.
With typical use, spermicides are 71% effective.
For women who don't use spermicides the right way every time they have sex, 29 out of 100 may get pregnant in a year.
Some people are allergic to spermicide. The allergy can cause skin rashes, burning, or redness in or around the vagina or penis. Trying a different brand or type of spermicide may help.
Some women may have more bladder infections when they use spermicides. If this happens, consider using a different method of birth control.
Spermicides do not cause any serious health problems for most people.
They can, however, increase your chance of getting HIV and other STDs if you have sex every day or are having sex with someone who could give you an STD or HIV.
Spermicides may cause changes in the vagina and anal area that make it easier to contract HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. If you have more than one partner, or your partner has more than one partner, it is better to not use a spermicide.
To learn how to use spermicides, go to:
Hormonal methods work in different ways depending on the method being used. The two main ways that hormonal methods prevent pregnancy are:
Some hormonal methods may work by causing the lining of the uterus to thin, which may prevent the fertizilized egg from attaching to it and growing. However, the chance of a method working in this way is very unlikely.
The hormones in these methods are very much like the hormones estrogen and progesterone that are made naturally in every woman's body. Estrogen and progesterone are chemicals made in the ovaries that send special messages to the other parts of a woman's body to prepare it for the possibility of becoming pregnant. However, when hormonal birth control methods are used, they stop the woman's body from making the right amount of these hormones. This causes changes in the woman's body that stop her from becoming pregnant.
Hormonal methods work very well to prevent pregnancy, but do not protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases. If a woman is concerned that she might get a sexually transmitted disease from her partner, the couple should use condoms.
The birth control pill is what most people think of as "the pill." It is a pill made with both estrogen and progestin. The woman takes one pill at the same time each day.
There are many types and brands of contraceptive pills. They come in different colors and in different kinds of packs. A clinician decides which type and brand is best for each woman.
The pill works well to prevent pregnancy, but it does not protect against HIV and other STDs. Use a condom every time you have sex to help protect against these diseases.
Perfect user: A person who uses their method of pregnancy prevention correctly all of the time.
Typical user: A person who does not use their method of pregnancy prevention correctly.
With perfect use, the pill is 99.7% effective.
This means that if 100 women use the pill exactly the right way, only 1 woman (and probably no women) out of that group will get pregnant in a year.
With typical use, the pill is 92% effective.
For women who don't always take their pill exactly the right way, 8 women out of 100 might get pregnant in a year.
Important: Some women stop taking the pill when they have any of these side effects. The side effects won't hurt you or stop you from having a baby in the future. They usually go away in 1 to 3 months. If they bother you, go back to your clinician so that you can be given a different pill that my not cause any side effects.
Remember: If you ever stop the pill for any reason, you can get pregnant right away.
Some signs of possible serious side effects are:
The chance of having these warning signs of a possible serious health problem is very low. However, if you should have one or more of them, go to your clinician or an emergency room right away.
If you see a doctor for any reason, tell the doctor that you are using the pill. Some medicines may keep the pill from working as well. If you need to take one of these medicines, you may need to use a back-up method of pregnancy prevention, like condoms, until you finish the medication. Your doctor will tell you if this is necessary.
To learn more about how to use the pill, go to:
The contraceptive patch is a small patch a woman can wear on her skin to keep her from getting pregnant. It is sometimes referred to by its brand name, Ortho Evra. It sticks to the skin like a Band-Aid. The patch contains both estrogen and progestin. The hormones go slowly into the woman's body through her skin.
Each patch works for only 1 week. You wear 1 patch each week for 3 weeks. During the fourth week, you wear no patch at all. This is when you will get your period.
The patch works well to prevent pregnancy. But it does not protect against HIV and other STDs. If you have sex with anyone you think might give you a sexually transmitted infection, you should use a condom.
Perfect user: A person who uses their method of pregnancy prevention correctly all of the time.
Typical user: A person who does not use their method of pregnancy prevention correctly.
With perfect use, the patch is 99.7% effective.
This means that if 100 women use the patch exactly the right way, only 1 woman (and probably no women) out of that group will get pregnant in a year.
With typical use, the patch is 92% effective.
For women who don't always use their patch exactly the right way, 8 women out of 100 might get pregnant in a year.
For women who weigh 198 pounds (90 kilos) or more, the patch may not work as well.
Important: Some women stop using the patch when they have any of these side effects. The side effects won't hurt you or stop you from having a baby in the future. They usually go away in 1 to 3 months. If they bother you, go back to your clinician so that you can be given a different method that may not cause any side effects.
Remember: If you ever stop the patch for any reason, you can get pregnant right away.
Some signs of possible serious side effects are:
The chances of having these warning signs of a possible serious health problem is very low. However, if you should have one or more of them, go to your clinician or an emergency room right away.
If you see a doctor for any reason, tell the doctor that you are using the patch. Some medicines may keep the patch from working as well. If you need to take one of these medicines, you may need to use a back-up method of pregnancy prevention, like condoms, until you finish the medication. Your doctor will tell you if this is necessary.
To learn more about how to use the patch, go to:
The birth control ring is a thin, flexible, plastic ring that a woman wears inside the vagina to keep from getting pregnant. It is sometimes referred to by its brand name, NuvaRing. It comes in one size that works for most women. The ring has two hormones in it: estrogen and progestin. The hormones slowly go into the woman's body through the skin in her vagina.
The ring works on a 4-week cycle. The woman puts a new ring in once a month. The ring works to prevent pregnancy. But it does not protect against HIV and other STDs. If you are having sex with someone who might give you a sexually transmitted infection, use condoms.
Perfect user: A person who uses their method of pregnancy prevention correctly all of the time.
Typical user: A person who does not use their method of pregnancy prevention correctly.
With perfect use, the ring is 99.7% effective.
This means that if 100 women use the ring exactly the right way, only 1 woman (and probably no women) out of that group will get pregnant in a year.
With typical use, the ring is 92% effective.
For women who don't always use their ring exactly as directed, 8 women out of 100 might get pregnant in a year.
Important: Some women stop using the ring when they have any of these side effects. The side effects won't hurt you or stop you from having a baby in the future. They usually go away in 1 to 3 months. If they bother you, go back to your clinician so that you can be given a different method that may not cause any side effects.
Remember: If you ever stop the ring for any reason, you can get pregnant right away.
Some signs of possible serious side effects are:
Important: If you have any of these signs, it could mean you have developed a blood clot. Though this is very rare, it is important that you go to your clinician or an emergency room right away.
If you see a doctor for any reason, tell the doctor that you are using the ring. Some medicines may keep the ring from working as well. If you need to take one of these medicines, you may need to use a back-up method of pregnancy prevention, like condoms, until you finish the medication. Your doctor will tell you if this is necessary.
To learn more about how to use the ring, go to:
The birth control shot is a shot that a woman gets at a clinic every 12 months to prevent pregnancy. It is sometimes referred to by its brand name, Depo-Provera. Unlike most forms of hormonal birth control, the shot only has progestin in it (no estrogen).
The shot works very well to prevent pregnancy. But it does not protect against HIV or other STDs. If you are having sex with someone who might give you an STD, use a condom.
Perfect user: A person who uses their method of pregnancy prevention correctly all of the time.
Typical user: A person who does not use their method of pregnancy prevention correctly.
With perfect use, the shot is 99.7% effective.
This means that if 100 women use the shot exactly the right way, only 1 woman (and probably no women) out of that group will get pregnant in a year.
With typical use, the shot is 97% effective.
For women who don't always use the shot exactly the right way, 3 women out of 100 might get pregnant in a year.
At first, all women who use the shot have changes in their periods.
After using the shot for 12 months, some women stop having periods. Your periods may return to normal after the last shot wears off or it may take up to 6 months or longer for this to happen.
Some women may get one or more of these side effects:
Important: Some women stop getting the shot when they have any of these side effects. The side effects won't hurt you or stop you from having a baby in the future. They usually go away in 1 to 3 months. If they bother you, go back to your clinician so that you can be given a different pill that my not cause any side effects.
Remember: If you ever stop the shot for any reason, you can get pregnant right away.
Using the shot may cause a woman’s bones to become weaker as she becomes older. Weaker bones can mean bones that break easily. This can be a very serious medical problem. To help prevent weak bones:
Some signs of possible serious side effects are:
The chance of having these warning signs of a possible serious health problem is very low. However, if you should have one or more of them, go to your clinician or an emergency room right away.
If you see a doctor for any reason, tell the doctor that you are getting contraceptive shots. Some medicines may keep the shot from working as well. If you need to take one of these medicines, you may need to use a back-up method of pregnancy prevention, like condoms, until you finish the medication. Your doctor will tell you if this is necessary.
To learn more about how to use the shot, go to:
There are three types of long-term pregnancy prevention methods, all of which work for several years or more. One kind is the implant; this method can be used for three years.
The second kind is called an intrauterine device (IUD), and can be used for five years or more, depending on the type. Both the IUD and the implant are very good methods for teens who do not want to become pregnant for a while. However, if a teen gets one of these methods and decides she doesn’t want to keep using it, she can have the method removed at any time.
The third type is sterilization. Sterilization is considered a permanent method because it is difficult to reverse. Sterilization is used by people who do not want any children or who have already had all the children that they want.
Long-term methods work very well to prevent pregnancy, but do not protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases. If you are having sex with someone who might give you a sexually transmitted disease, use condoms.
The implant is a very small plastic device that is made with progestin. It works like birth control pills to prevent pregnancy. The implant is inserted in the inner part of the upper arm, where it can stay in place for up to 3 years. The insertion only takes a couple of minutes and doesn’t hurt.
Perfect user: A person who uses their method of pregnancy prevention correctly all of the time.
With perfect use, the implant is 99%+ effective.
This mean that if 100 women use the implant, it is inserted correctly by the clinician, and it is working perfectly for her, only 1 woman (probably no women) out of that group will get pregnant in 1 year.
Important: Some women have the implant removed when they have any of these side effects. The side effects won't hurt you or stop you from having a baby in the future. They usually go away in 1 to 3 months. If they bother you or don't go away, go back to your clinician so that you can talk about other methods of pregnancy prevention.
Some signs of possible serious side effects are:
Having any of these warning signs of a serious health problem from using the implant is very unusual. However, if you should have one or more of them, go to your clinician or an emergency room right away.
To learn more about implants, go to:
An IUD (intrauterine device) is a very small device made out of a type of plastic and is shaped like a "T." The main way that it works is by changing the lining of the uterus so that sperm can't live and travel well to get to the egg. A clinician places it inside a woman's uterus to prevent pregnancy. It stays there and works for 5 to 10 years, depending on which kind of IUD is used.
Two small strings are attached to the IUD. These strings hang down through the cervix (the opening of the uterus). The strings help the woman know that her IUD is in place. They also help the clinician take the IUD out when the time comes.
The strings can't be felt by the woman when she goes about her normal day. They also can't be felt by her or her partner during intercourse because the strings are very thin and soft. A clinician can remove the IUD whenever the woman decides she no longer wants to use it as her method of pregnancy prevention or has decided to become pregnant.
There are two types of IUDs being used in the United States:
The IUD does not protect against HIV and STDs. If you have sex with someone you think could give you an STD, be sure to use condoms.
Paragard is at least 99.2% effective.
That means that if 100 women use Paragard, only 1 woman (and probably no women) out of that group will get pregnant.
Mirena is 99.9% effective.
That means that if 100 women use Mirena, only 1 woman (and probably no women) out of that group will get pregnant in a year.
Both IUDs have these possible side effects:
Paragard may also have these side effects:
Mirena may have these side effects:
If you experience one or more of these warning signs, it could mean you have a pelvic infection or the IUD is out of place. Go to your clinician or to an emergency room as soon as possible.
Sterilization procedures are considered permanent and are chosen by people who do not want any children or any more children. The name for the sterilization procedure for women is tubal sterilization. The name for the sterilization procedure for men is vasectomy. Once a women has a tubal sterilization or a man has a vasectomy, the chances of reversing these procedures to allow the woman and man to have more children is very, very small.
Tubal sterilization is a very safe procedure that stops the egg and sperm from meeting. The fallopian tubes are the place where this happens, so if they are changed in a special way, the sperm cannot reach the egg. There are different types of tubal sterilization, such as cutting the tubes or blocking the inside of them.
Because sterilization procedures are considered permanent methods of pregnancy prevention, they are not considered good choices for teenagers. In fact, there are federal and state government regulations that prevent physicians from performing these procedures on teenagers.
Tubal sterilization works very well to prevent pregnancy, but does not help protect against HIV and other STDs. If you are having sex with someone who might give you a sexually transmitted infection, use condoms.
Tubal sterilization is 99.5 % effective.
That means that if 100 women are sterilized, only 1 woman (and probably no women) out of that group would get pregnant in a year.
Special note: If the woman is sterilized by putting a tiny coil in her tubes, she must use another form of birth control for 3 months if she doesn't want to become pregnant.
Vasectomy is a safe and simple procedure that works very well to prevent pregnancy. It doesn't protect against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. If you are having sex with someone who might give you a sexually transmitted infection, use condoms.
Vasectomy is about 99.9% effective.
This means that if 100 men have vasectomies, maybe 1 of those men, and probably none of them, will get a woman pregnant in a year, especially if they follow the clinician's directions.
Special note: Men should use condoms or some other birth control method for the first 3 months and get a check-up to be sure that the surgery worked before they have sex without another method.
Information methods are based on facts about how pregnancy occurs and how the the woman and man's reproductive systems work. With this information, women and men have pregnancy prevention choices that are safe, work well, and are very inexpensive.
Abstinence means different things to different people. To some people, it means not having any kind of sexual contact with another person. To other people, it means not having vaginal intercourse. And for others, it means not having vaginal or anal intercourse or oral sex.
When it comes to using abstinence for pregnancy prevention, abstinence means that a couple chooses not to have vaginal or anal intercourse, since both of these types of sexual activity can cause pregnancy.
When people choose to abstain for pregnancy prevention or other reasons, they may still want to show affection in physical or non-physical ways such as:
People who choose to prevent pregnancy by not having sex can't do anything that lets the man's sperm anywhere in or near the opening of the woman's vagina or anus.
You should:
Here are a few suggestions on talking about sex with your partner:
Perfect user: A person who uses their method of pregnancy prevention correctly all of the time.
Typical user: A person who does not use their method of pregnancy prevention correctly.
Abstinence is the only method that can always work to prevent pregnancy. Of course, this is only true when "abstinence" means doing nothing that lets sperm get near a woman's vagina.
With perfect use, abstinence is 100% effective.
This means that if 100 couples use abstinence exactly the right way, none of the women would get pregnant.
With typical use, no one is sure.
Abstinence is safe for anyone. It causes no side effects or health problems.
Learn more about abstinence at:
Withdrawal is an effective pregnancy prevention method but only when used correctly. When a couple uses withdrawal, the man does not ejaculate ("cum") in or near the woman's vagina. This method is also sometimes referred to as "the pull-out method" or "coitus interruptus."
The couple starts out having vaginal or anal sex as usual. But when a man feels he is close to "cumming," he pulls his penis out of the vagina or anus. He moves his penis away from the woman's vagina, thigh, anus, or belly before he ejaculates so that semen isn’t allowed to be anywhere near the vaginal opening. This is the only way pregnancy can be prevented while using the withdrawal method.
Withdrawal prevents pregnancy, but it does not protect against HIV and other STDs. Use a condom every time you have sex to help prevent these diseases.
The only way this method can work is if you know your body and can stop having intercourse, remove your penis from your partner’s vagina or anus and ejaculate away from her vaginal opening. If there is any semen even at the outside of your partner’s vaginal opening, it can still cause pregnancy.
Be aware of how you feel as you have sex. When you are aware, you are able to withdraw from the vagina before you start to ejaculate.
Perfect user: A person who uses their method of pregnancy prevention correctly all of the time.
Typical user: A person who does not use their method of pregnancy prevention correctly.
For withdrawal to work really well, the man must pull out before any sperm leave the penis. He must also be sure that no sperm gets near the vagina or anus. This is called "perfect use."
With perfect use, withdrawal is 96% effective.
This means that if 100 couples use withdrawal perfectly for one year, 96 women will not get pregnant. Four women will probably get pregnant.
But men don't always pull out in time. Or they let sperm get near the woman's vagina or anus, such as on her thigh, belly, or outside of her vagina. This is called "typical use." As you might guess, with typical use, the pregnancy rate is higher.
With typical use, withdrawal is 73% effective.
When men don't use withdrawal the right way every time, many more women become pregnant. 73 women out of 100 will not get pregnant within a year of using the method; however 27 women will probably get pregnant.
Withdrawal is safe for anyone. It causes no side effects or health problems.
Breastfeeding is the method of pregnancy prevention where a new mom breastfeeds her baby and does not use bottle feeding. When used correctly, it will work well up to 6 months after the baby is born to prevent pregnancy. This method is also sometimes referred to as Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM).
Breastfeeding works well to prevent pregnancy, but it does not protect against HIV and other STDs. If a woman is concerned that she might get a sexually transmitted disease from her partner, they should use condoms.
To use breastfeeding as a birth control method, you must:
If you follow these directions, you can use this as a method until your baby is 6 months old. Once you get your period, that means the ovaries are making eggs again. You must use another birth control method if you don't want to get pregnant.
If you are not sure you are breastfeeding the right way, meet with a Breastfeeding Consultant (Lactation Consultant) to learn more.
Perfect user: A person who uses their method of pregnancy prevention correctly all of the time.
Typical user: A person who does not use their method of pregnancy prevention correctly.
For women who use the method properly, breastfeeding can work very well for the first 6 months after the baby is born.
With perfect use, breastfeeding is 99% effective.
This means that if 100 women use the breastfeeding method perfectly, 1 of these women may get pregnant during the 6 months of breastfeeding.
With typical use, breastfeeding is 95% effective.
For women who don't use the breastfeeding method exactly the right way, 5 women out of 100 may get pregnant during the 6 months of breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding may not work at all for women who use a breast pump.
Using the breastfeeding method gives you time to learn about other pregnancy prevention methods. You will want to choose a method you can use when you finish breastfeeding.
There are no side effects to using breastfeeding as a pregnancy prevention method.
Breastfeeding is natural. It does not cause any serious health problems.
Natural Family Planning (NFP) and the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) are pregnancy prevention methods based on:
If you choose NFP or FAM, you will need to take a special class to learn more about how to use them correctly. The information given here will give you a basic idea of what to expect.
NFP and FAM help prevent pregnancy, but they do not protect you from HIV or other STDs. Use a condom every time you have sex to help protect yourself from these diseases.
The instructor teaches you how to check your cervical mucus a few days during each cycle. By checking it and learning how your mucus changes, you will know when you can and cannot get pregnant. If you don't want to become pregnant, you don't have sex during the days you could get pregnant.
About 3 women out of 100 who use this method perfectly may get pregnant in a year.
Your instructor will teach you how to take your Basal Body Temperature and write your temperature on a special chart. You will learn when, after your BBT rises, you can safely have sex.
Using the BBT method tells you only when your fertile days end after the egg leaves the ovary. It cannot tell you when your fertile days start. So you don't have sex at all during the first part of the cycle.
About 1 woman out of 100 who use this method perfectly may get pregnant in a year.
With this method, you use two signs to know when your fertile days may be: cervical mucus and basal body temperature. Like the other methods, your instructor will teach you what to do to use this method the right way. This method tells you when your fertile days begin and end.
About 2 women out of 100 who use this method perfectly may get pregnant in a year.
This method uses a formula to tell you which days you could be fertile. When you use this method, there may be more days each month when you can't have sex than with other NFP methods.
The calendar method works well for women who use it the right way. However, with this method, you will not know if you are going to ovulate earlier or later than usual each month. That increases your chances of getting pregnant. Your instructor will teach you how to use this method.
About 9 women out of 100 who use this method perfectly may get pregnant in a year.
This method helps you keep track of the days of your menstrual cycle. If you have regular 26- to 32-day cycles, you can use a set of small plastic beads to help you know what days you could safely have sex and which days you could get pregnant. Each day of your cycle is marked by either a brown or white bead, indicating which days you should either abstain or use another method, like condoms.
About 5 women out of 100 who use this method perfectly may get pregnant in a year, according to one study.
Perfect user: A person who uses their method of pregnancy prevention correctly all of the time.
Typical user: A person who does not use their method of pregnancy prevention correctly.
For couples who chart the signs carefully and follow all the rules taught in class, these methods can work very well.
With perfect use, these methods are 91% to 99% effective.
This means that if 100 women use NFP or FAM perfectly, as few as 1 or as many as 9 of those women may get pregnant in a year. It depends on which method they are using.
With typical use, these methods are 75% effective.
For women who don't use the methods perfectly, 25 women out of 100 may get pregnant in a year.
Things that some people like about NFP and FAM:
NFP is safe for anyone. There are no side effects. It does not cause any health problems, so there are no warning signs.
FAM is also safe and does not cause health problems. There are no side effects, complications, or precautions other than those caused by whatever birth control method clients use during the woman's fertile days.
Not everyone can always use these methods the right way. If a woman has irregular periods, or her cycles are longer than 35 days, it may be hard for her to use these methods.
For more information about Natural Family Planning Methods:
What can be done to prevent pregnancy if a condom breaks, you don’t use a regular method of birth control correctly, you have sex without using any method of birth control, or someone has forced you to have sex? You can take Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECPs).
ECPs are very safe pills made from hormones like the ones a teen girl’s body makes after she starts having her menstrual periods. When a certain number of ECPs are taken soon after unprotected sex, they can prevent pregnancy. ECPs do not work by causing an abortion. Instead, they work by preventing ovulation. Ovulation is when the egg leaves the ovary. A pregnancy can’t happen when there is no egg to meet with sperm.
There are Different Kinds of Emergency Contraceptive Pills
All of the emergency contraceptive pills are very safe.
Many women keep ECPs at home for emergencies. This allows them to take the ECPs as soon as possible.
In most cases it is easy to get ECPs, especially in California.
The National EC Hotline website at www.not-2-late.com and 1-888-668-2528 can also be used to find a place to get ECPs anywhere in the United States.
If 100 women have unprotected sex one time during the second or third week of their normal menstrual cycle, about 8 will get pregnant if they don’t take any kind of ECPs.
If 100 women take Plan B®, Plan B® One-Step, or Next Choice within 72 hours of having unprotected intercourse, only 1 will get pregnant. If the ECPs are taken within 24 hours of unprotected sex, they are even more effective.
Important: Teens should always talk with a health provider or a pharmacist to make sure they get the proper ECP taking instructions.
There is no limit as to the number of times ECPs can be taken.
It is very important to remember that ECPs don’t work as well as many of the other methods of birth control. This means just because they worked one time, doesn’t mean they will work again. Emergency Contraception shouldn’t be used as a main method of birth control for anyone.
The only way of knowing if the ECPs worked is when you get your next period. You may get your period when you normally expected to have it. It can also happen one week earlier or one week later than usual. You may even have more bleeding with your period.
If the period doesn’t come within seven days when it normally is expected or when it does come, it is lighter than usual, you may be pregnant . You should go to a clinic or your doctor right away.
No. If you take ECPs accidently when you are pregnant, there is no scientific information that shows they will hurt the pregnancy . They will also not cause an abortion.
No. All the other methods of birth control work better than ECPs when they are used correctly.
No. ECPs will not protect anyone from getting any of the sexually transmitted infections and HIV.