IUD:
99% Effective
- Only for women who have had children already
- Small device shaped in a T placed inside the uterus
- Can stay up to 10 years
- Painless insertion
What is it?
The intrauterine device (IUD) is a T-shaped piece of plastic about the size of a quarter that is placed inside the uterus to prevent pregnancy. Two types of IUDs are available — one is covered with copper wire, the other is coated with and releases the hormone progesterone. ExpressCare only offers the copper one.
How does it work?
The copper-coated IUD primarily prevents pregnancy by not allowing the sperm to fertilize the egg.
How well does it work?
Over the course of 1 year, fewer than 1 out of 100 typical couples using an IUD will have an accidental pregnancy. In fact, studies indicate that the IUD is one of the most effective and safest methods of birth control. Although the IUD is an effective method of birth control, it can come out of place and therefore should be checked regularly to be sure it is in place. You can do this at home by feeling inside for the tiny strings in your vagina. These do not hang out, and your partner cannot feel them with his penis.
In general, how well each type of birth control method works depends on a lot of things. These include whether a person has any health conditions or is taking any medications or herbal supplements that might interfere with its use. The IUD allows some flexibility for girls who cannot use a hormonal method of birth control (such as the Pill, ring, or patch). The IUD can also provide a long-term form of birth control.
Protection against STDs
The IUD does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). For those having sex, condoms must always be used along with the IUD to protect against STDs. One of the concerns with the IUD is that girls who have multiple partners and do not use condoms can be at greater risk for STDs, and there's the possibility that these diseases could develop into a pelvic infection. This is true, though, for all methods of birth control.
Abstinence (not having sex) is the only method that always prevents pregnancy and STDs.
Possible side effects
The most common side effects of the IUD include:
- spotting in between periods
- heavier periods with more cramps with the copper IUD
- irregular or loss of periods with use of the hormonal IUD
- expulsion, or loss of the IUD. For some IUD users — particularly teens — the IUD can fall out or become displaced and not work properly.
- perforation of the uterus. There is a very minimal risk of the IUD perforating the uterine wall when it is being inserted.
- acne, breast tenderness, headaches, and nausea with the hormonal IUD
In the past, one type of IUD increased a woman's risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (an infection in the upper part of a woman's reproductive system). That early type of IUD has been taken off the market and testing of the current IUDs indicate that the risk of infection is very small.
The other concern that used to exist with IUDs was the possibility of ectopic pregnancies, which is when a fertilized egg implants somewhere other than in the uterus. This is no longer as much of a concern.
Who uses it?
The IUD is often not recommended for teens and women who have not had a baby.
How do you get it?
An IUD must be inserted into the uterus by a doctor. It is often easiest to insert right after your period. Copper IUDs need to be replaced by a doctor about every 10 years.
How much does it cost?
An IUD costs about $250 for the device, plus $110 to insert it. Total is $360, less than 10 cents a day for the next 10 years!! Many health insurance plans cover these costs
Condoms
86%-98% effective
What is it?
Condoms are considered a barrier method of contraception. A male condom is a thin latex (a type of rubber) sheath that is worn on the penis. It is sometimes called a "rubber" or "prophylactic."
How does it work?
The condom works by keeping semen (the fluid that contains sperm) from entering the vagina. The male condom is placed on a guy's penis when it becomes erect. It is unrolled all the way to the base of the penis while holding the tip of the condom to leave some extra rubber. This creates a space for semen after ejaculation and makes it less likely that the condom will break.
After the guy ejaculates, he should hold the condom at the base of the penis as he pulls out of the vagina. He must do this while the penis is still erect to prevent the condom from slipping off when he gets soft. If this happens, sperm could enter the vagina.
A used condom should be thrown in the garbage, not down the toilet. Once a condom is used, it cannot be reused. A new condom should be used each time you have sex and it must be used from start to finish every time you have sex to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) . Never use oil-based lubricants such as mineral oil, petroleum jelly, or baby oil with condoms because the these substances can break down the rubber.
And if a condom ever seems dry, sticky, or stiff when it comes out of the package, or if it is past its expiration date, throw it away and use a new one. It's a good idea to have several condoms on hand in case there is a problem with one. It's best to store unused condoms in a cool, dry place.
How well does it work?
Over the course of 1 year, 15 out of 100 typical couples who rely on male condoms alone to prevent pregnancy will have an accidental pregnancy.
Of course, these are average figures and the chance of getting pregnant depends on whether you use this method correctly and every time you have sex. In fact studies show that, although it's possible for condoms to break or slip during intercourse, the most common reason that condoms "fail" is that the couple fails to use one at all.
Experts used to think that using spermicide with a condom would decrease the pregnancy rate as well as help fight against STDs. However, more recent information indicates that this is not necessarily true and spermicide does not help make condoms more effective.
In general, how well each type of birth control method works depends on a lot of things. One factor is whether the method chosen is convenient — and whether the person remembers to use it correctly all the time.
Abstinence (not having sex) is the only method that always prevents pregnancy and STDs.
Protection against STDs
Most male condoms are made of latex. Those made of lambskin may offer less protection against some STDs, including HIV, so use of latex condoms is recommended. For people who may have an allergic skin reaction to latex, both male and female condoms made of polyurethane are available.
When properly used, latex and polyurethane condoms are effective against most STDs. Condoms do not protect against infections spread from sores on the skin not covered by a condom (such as the base of the penis or scrotum). For those having sex, condoms must always be used to protect against STDs even when using another method of birth control.
Possible side effects:
Most men and women have no problems using condoms. Side effects that can occasionally occur include:
- allergy to latex condoms
- irritation of the penis or the vagina from spermicides or lubricants that some condoms are treated with
Who uses it?
Couples who are responsible enough to stop and put a condom on each time before sex and people who want protection against STDs use condoms. Because condoms are the only method of birth control currently available for men, they allow the guy to take responsibility for birth control and STD protection. Condoms are also a good choice for people who do not have a lot of money to spend on birth control.
How do you get it?
Condoms are available without a prescription and are sold in drugstores, supermarkets, and even vending machines (in some stores, they're in the "Family Planning" aisle). Condoms come in different sizes, textures, and colors.
How much does it cost?
Condoms are the least expensive and most available method of birth control — other than abstinence, of course. Male condoms cost about $0.50 to $1 each and are less expensive when they are bought in boxes that contain several condoms.
The Rhythm Method
75-99% Effective
What is it?
The rhythm method is a way to prevent pregnancy by not having sex around the time of ovulation (the release of an egg during a woman’s monthly cycle). Couples who do want to have a baby can also use this method to have sex during the time that they are most likely to conceive. It is sometimes called natural family planning, periodic abstinence, rhythm method or fertility awareness.
How does it work?
If a couple doesn't have sex around the time of ovulation, the woman can't get pregnant. The trick is knowing when ovulation happens. Couples use a calendar, a thermometer to measure body temperature, a kit that tests the thickness of cervical mucus, or a kit that tests for ovulation. The ovulation kits are more useful for couples who are trying to get pregnant. The fertile period around ovulation lasts 6 to 9 days and during this time the couple should not have unprotected sex.
How well does it work?
The rhythm method is not a reliable way to prevent pregnancy for most people. Over the course of 1 year, as many as 25 out of 100 typical couples who rely on the rhythm method to prevent pregnancy will have an accidental pregnancy. Of course, this is an average figure, and the chance of getting pregnant depends on whether a couple uses one or more of the rhythm method tools correctly and consistently and that they do not have unprotected sex during the fertile period.
In general, how well each type of birth control method works depends on a lot of things. These include whether a person has any health conditions, is taking any medications that might interfere with its use, whether the method chosen is convenient — and whether it is used correctly all the time. In the case of the rhythm method, it also depends on how consistent a woman's ovulatory cycle is and how accurately a couple keeps track of when she could be ovulating.
Protection Against STDs:
The rhythm method does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) . Couples having sex must always use condoms along with their chosen method of birth control to protect against STDs.
Abstinence (not having sex) is the only method that always prevents pregnancy and STDs.
Who uses it?
The rhythm method is not a reliable way to prevent pregnancy for most teens. It is often very difficult to tell when a woman is fertile, and she can conceive for up to 6 days before she ovulates to 1 or 2 days after. Because teens often have irregular menstrual cycles , it makes predicting ovulation much more difficult. The rhythm method requires a commitment to monitoring body changes, keeping daily records, and above all not having sex during the fertile period. Couples often need to practice for months to get this method right.
Withdrawal
81% Effective
What is it?
Withdrawal is when a guy removes his penis from the vagina just before he ejaculates (also called coitus interruptus or pulling out).
How does it work?
Withdrawal is an attempt to keep sperm from entering the vagina by having the guy ejaculate outside the vagina.
How well does it work?
Over the course of 1 year, about 27 out of 100 typical couples who rely on withdrawal to prevent pregnancy will have an accidental pregnancy. Of course, this is an average figure and the chance of getting pregnant depends on whether you use this method correctly and every time you have sex.
Even for people who think they are doing it correctly, withdrawal is not an effective way to prevent pregnancy. Guys leak a bit of sperm out of the penis even before ejaculation, which means that even if a guy pulls out before he ejaculates, a woman can still become pregnant. Also, if a guy ejaculates close to the outside of the vagina, the sperm can swim up into the vagina. However, withdrawal is considered a better method of contraception than none at all.
Protection against STDs:
Withdrawal does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). For those having sex, condoms must always be used to protect against STDs.
Abstinence (not having sex) is the only method that always prevents pregnancy and STDs.
Who uses it?
Withdrawal is not a reliable way to prevent pregnancy and is considered the least-effective method of birth control. Most guys have a difficult time knowing exactly when they should withdraw the penis or don't have the willpower to pull out while they are having sex. And even if a guy does pull out, some sperm leak out of the penis before ejaculation, which can still get you pregnant.
Male Sterilization/Vasectomy
99.5% Effective
Permanent Sterilization.
Female Sterilization/Tubes Tied
99.5% Effective
Permanent Sterilization.
