Hope Pregnancy
and Life Skills Center
and
Clearwater Valley Pregnancy
and Life Skills Center
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Clearwater Valley Satellite Center
Birth Control Information
There are many different types of birth control.

 The chart below gives information taken from these sources:  The
Seattle Times (5/7/02), Association of Reproductive Health
Professional, "Contraceptive Technology" by R.A. Hatcher, ACOG "Birth
Control" Patient Education March 1995, "New and Emerging
Contraceptive Methods" by Marianne H. Hutti, AWHONN Lifelines
Feb/March 2003
BIRTH CONTROL METHODS
Methods
 Failure Rate
with typical
use*
 Length of Protection
 Return to
Fertility
after
stopping use
 Protection
against
STDs
AIDS
 		Potential Dangers
 Possible
Side
Effects
Abstinence
(Until Marriage)
   Until
Marriage
       Increased self esteem,
Decreased anxiety for
possible Pregnancy
and
STDs
Condom
 15%
 One sex act
 Immediate
 Some
 Anaphylactic reaction
to latex
 		Decreased sensation
Allergy to latex
Female Condom
 21%
 One sex act
 Immediate
 Some
 None Known
 Aesthetically
unappealing and
awkward to use
Cervical cap
 16-32%
 48 hours
 Immediate
 No
 Vaginal and
urinary tract
infections,
toxic shock
syndrome
 Pelvic pressure,
vaginal irritation,
vaginal discharge if left
in too long, allergy
Diaphragm
 16%
 6 hours
 Immediate
 No
 Same as for
Cervical cap
 		Same as for
Cervical cap
Sponge
 16-32%
 Up to 24 hours
 Immediate
 No
 Same as for
Cervical cap
 		Same as for
Cervical cap
Birth Control
Pills
 8%
 Continuous if
taken daily
 1-3 months
 No
 **Cardiovascular
(stroke, heart attack,
blood clots, high blood
pressure),
depression, increased
risk of breast and
cervical cancers,
benign liver tumor
 		Nausea, headaches,
dizziness, spotting,
weight gain, breast
tenderness, chloasma
(skin discoloration)
Quarterly
injection
(Depo-Provera)
 3%
 3 months
 6-18 months
 No
 Depression, allergic
reactions, bone loss
 Weight gain, headaches,
adverse effects on
lipids **
Contraceptive
patch
(Ortho Evra)
 		8%
 One week
 2-3 months
 No
 Depression to suicide,
increased intracranial
pressure, migraines,
gall bladder disease **
 Headache, application
site reactions, nausea,
URI, dysmenorrhea
Vaginal ring
(NuvaRing)
 8%
 3 weeks
 Undetermined
 No
 ** Cardiovascular
(stroke, heart attack,
blood clots, high blood
pressure), increased
risk of breast and
cervical cancers
 Ring expulsion, foreign
body sensation, coital
problems, headache,
vaginal discharge and
discomfort
Intrauterine
System
(Mirena, copper T)
 0.1%
 5 years
 Within one
month
 No
 Pelvic inflammatory
disease, uterine
perforation, anemia,
depression
 		Menstrual cramping
Implants
(Norplant,
Implanon)
 		0.05%
 3-5 years
 Immediate
 No
 Infection at implant
site, complicated
removals, depression
 Significant weight gain,
acne, breasts tender,
vaginitis **
Other methods:
Withdrawal
 		19%
 One sex act
 Immeciate
 No
 None known
 Sperm can be present in
fluid produced before
ejaculation
*  Failure rate:  Percentage of women who have an unintended pregnancy in first year of use
**  Irregular menstrual cycles after use.
**  Smoking cigarettes while using this medication increases your chances of having heart problems.