Abstinence

• 100% effective at preventing pregnancy.

• 100% effective at preventing sexually transmitted diseases.

Natural Family Planning

Sympto-thermal Method

• Utilizes all signs of fertility awareness to achieve or avoid pregnancy. (24)

• Up to 99% effective when used by a well instructed, well motivated couple. (24)

• More information is available from the Couple to Couple League

Withdrawal

When the man senses that he is about to ejaculate, he pulls his penis out of the vagina. He ejaculates outside of the vagina. Secretions are present on the male both before and after ejaculation, so ANY genital contact may result in pregnancy or STD transmission.

• Among typical couples who rely on withdrawl, about 19% will experience an unintended pregnancy during the first year of use. (8)

• If withdrawal is performed consistently and correctly, about 4% will become pregnant. (8)

• Provides poor protection against sexually transmitted diseases.

• Sperm may be present in the fluid that comes out of the penis before ejaculation.

[ Close Natural Methods ]

"The Pill"

There are two kinds of pills. The most commonly used are called, "combined pills" or simply "The Pill." They contain two hormones (an estrogen and a progestin) similar to those the ovary produces naturally.

• There are three effects of combined oral contraceptives:

1. Prevent pregnancy by inhibiting ovulation.
2. Discourage sperm from entering the uterus by thickening cervical mucous.
3. Cause irritation of the lining of the uterus and the fallopian tubes, making it difficult for a fertilized egg to implant.(10)

• Can act as an abortifacient, because of its third effect. Keeping the embryo from attaching does not prevent fertilization.

• The Pill provides NO protection from sexually transmitted diseases.

• Five percent (5%) of women will experience an unintended pregnancy in the first year of typical use of either type of oral contraceptive. (8)

• Taken consistently and correctly, Combined Pills have a 0.1% pregnancy rate among users, which means that one in 1,000 women will become pregnant during their first year of use. (10)

• Taken consistently and correctly, Progestin only pills have a 0.5% pregnancy rate, which means 1 in 200 women will become pregnant. (8)

Risks include:

• Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack), minimal in women under age 30--smoking and taking oral contraceptions contributes substantially to the incidence of heart attack in women in their mid-thirties or over.
• Blood Clots
• Stroke
• Hypertension
• Bleeding Irregularities
• Headache
• Fluid Retention
• Depression

"The Mini-Pill"

The second type of pill, often referred to as the "Mini-Pill", contains only progesterone.

• Can act as an abortifacient by preventing the embryo from attaching to the uterus, and therefore failing to prevent fertilization.

• When progestin-only pills are used consistently and correctly, one in 200 women (0.5%) will become pregnant. (10)

Emergency "Contraceptive" Pills (ECPs)

Also known as "The Morning After Pill" (MAP), emergency contraception is a high dosage of birth control pills containing estrogen and progestin to be taken within 72 hours of intercourse. Depending upon the time during a woman's cycle, the MAP can prevent ovulation, it can prevent fertilization by altering the tubal transport of the egg or sperm, or it can prevent implantation by changing the lining of the uterus. Risks and side effects include: nausea, vomiting, ectopic pregnancy (potentially life threatening), blood clots, stroke and heart attack.

• The MAP provides NO protection from sexually transmitted diseases.

• You must get a prescription for ECPs, they are not available over the counter.

• Combined ECPs reduce the risk of pregnancy by about 75%. (16)

• Progestin-only pills reduce the likelihood of pregnancy by about 88%. (16)

• Can act as an abortifacient. Since this pill is effective up to 72 hours after sex, it is very possible that fertilization is not being prevented.

[ Close Oral Methods ]

Condoms

Condoms are made of latex, plastic or natural membranes that prevent exchange of bodily fluids during intercourse.

• 14% of women will experience an unintended pregnancy in the first year of typical use of the male latex condom. If condoms are used consistently and correctly, about 3% of users become pregnant. (8)

• Condoms have a 17% failure rate at preventing STDs. That is 1 in 6. (7)

Latex Condoms

• Latex condoms break or slip off 15.1% of the time. (11)

• Latex condoms have a teenager fail rate of 20%. That means that one in five teen couples using latex condoms as birth control will be pregnant in one year. One third will have a pregnancy within 2 years. (11)

Diaphragm

A diaphragm is a rubber disk that covers the cervix and blocks semen. Spermicide is also placed on a diaphragm before insertion to kill sperm and physically block the cervix.

• A diaphragm can be put in several hours before intercourse and must remain in place for six hours after last sex. It can be left in place for up to 48 hours. (12)

• 20% of women will experience an unintended pregnancy within the first year of typical use. If the diaphragm is used consistently and correctly, about 6% will become pregnant. (8)

• Diaphragms must be fitted to a woman's cervix.

Cervical Cap

A cervical cap is a small, soft rubber cap that comes in a few different sizes. A woman puts spermicide on the cap and then places it over her cervix. (9) A cervical cap is like a diaphragm, but smaller.

• A cervical cap may be inserted an hour before intercourse and can stay in place for up to 48 hours. It must stay in place for six to eight hours after sex. (12)

• Under typical circumstances, 40% of women who have had children and rely on the cervical cap will become pregnant during the first year of use, compared with 20% of women who have never had children. If the cap is used consistently and correctly, 26% of women who have given birth and 9% of women who have not will become pregnant. (8)

• Cervical caps should be replaced annually.

Sponge

The sponge is a doughnut-shaped cervical barrer that releases spermicide over a 24-hour period. Once inserted, it is effective almost immediately. (9)

• Under typical circumstances, 40% of women who have had children and use the sponge will become pregnant during the first year of use, compared with 20% of women who have never had children. If the sponge is used consistently and correctly, 20% of women who have given birth and 7% of women who have not will become pregnant. (8)

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Spermicides

Spermicides are preparations, like gels, creams, foams or films, which contain chemicals that kill sperm.

• 26% of women will experience an unintended pregnancy within the first year of typical use of spermicides alone. 6% of women would get pregnant using spermicides alone consistently and correctly. (8)

• Some studies suggest that nonoxynol-9 (N-9), a common spermicide used alone or with condoms, may irritate the vaginal lining, thus INCREASING risk of HIV transmission. (13)

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Norplant Implants

Norplant implants are six matchstick-sized rods that are inserted, by a health care provider, into a woman's upper arm, using a local anesthetic. The implants release very small amounts of a hormone similar to progesterone, which women produce naturally during the last two weeks of their menstrual cycle. This stops ovulation and/or changes the cervical mucus.

• Once in place, implants last for a period of 3-5 years.

• Two women out of 1000 will be become pregnant during the first year of using only Norplant implants (9)

• Can act as an abortifacient by preventing the embryo from attaching to the uterus. It is more frequently a contraceptive in the first years of use, yet more frequently an abortifacient in the later years of use. (21)

Injectable

The injectable contraceptive, sometimes referred to as the, "Birth Control Shot," contains a medicine called Depo-Provera, a hormone that prevents ovulation.

• A woman using Depo-Provera must receive a new injection every three months or 13 weeks. (12)

• For typical couples relying on Depo-Provera, about 3 in 1000 will experience accidental pregancy in the first year. (8)

• In October 2000, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a second, monthly injectable, Lunelle, which contains estrogen and progestin.

• Can act as an abortifacient since fertilization of the egg is still possible.

Intrauterine Device (IUD)

An IUD is a small device that a health care provider places in a woman's uterus.

Copper-T IUD

• The Copper-T IUD slowly releases copper into the uterine cavity, which stops sperm from traveling and prevents implantation of a fertilized egg if fertilization does occur. (12)

• Among typical couples who use the Copper-T IUD, about 0.8% will experience an accidental pregnancy during the first year. (8)

Progesterone-T IUD

• The Progesterone-T IUD slowly releases progesterone, which thickes cervical mucus to hinder sperm travel and changes the uterine lining to prevent implantation of a fertilized egg. (12)

• Among typical couples who use the Progesterone-T IUD, about 2% will experience an accidental pregnancy during the first year. (8)

• Both, the Copper-T IUDs and Progesterone-T IUDs mostly act as an abortifacient. The IUD prevents the implantation, at one week of life, of the tiny new human into the nutrient lining of the mother's womb. It does NOT prevent fertilization.

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Tubal Sterilization

Sterilization for Women.

• Tubal Sterilization is an operation which blocks the tubes carrying a woman's egg to her uterus. Worldwide, it is the most commonly used method of birth control. (14)

• Tubal Sterilization is a permanent operation.

• It has a 0.5% failure rate. (12)

Vasectomy

Sterilization for Men

• A vasectomy is an operation which blocks the tubes (the vas deferens) which carry a man's sperm to the penis.

• This operation should be considered permanent.

• It has a 0.15% failure rate. (8)

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