Contraception Advice

Birth control, also known as contraception, is the use of medicines, devices, or surgery to prevent pregnancy. There are many different types. Some are reversable, while others are permanent. Some types can also help prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Different types of birth control?

There are several different types of birth control, and they work in different ways:

• Male condom: A thin sheath that covers the penis to collect sperm and prevent it from entering the woman's body. Condoms that are made of latex and polyurethane can help prevent STDs.

• Female condom: A thin, flexible plastic pouch. Part of the condom is inserted into the vagina before intercourse to prevent sperm from entering the uterus. The uterus, or womb, is the place where the baby grows during pregnancy. Female condoms can also help prevent STDs.

• Contraceptive sponge: A small sponge that you put into the vagina to cover the cervix (the opening of the uterus). The sponge also contains a spermicide to kill sperm.

• Spermicide: A substance that can kill sperm cells. It comes in a foam, jelly, cream, suppository, or film. You put it into the vagina near the uterus. Spermicide can be used alone or with a diaphragm or cervical cap.

Hormonal methods for birth control

• Oral contraceptives ("the pill"): Pills that a woman takes every day. They may contain only progestin or both progestin and estrogen.

• Contraceptive patch: A patch that a woman puts on her skin each week. The patch releases hormones into the bloodstream.

• Injectable birth control: An injection of a hormone that a woman gets once every three months.

• Implant: A single, thin rod that a provider inserts under the skin of a women's upper arm. The implant can last for four years.

Other forms of pregnancy prevention

• Fertility awareness-based methods: They are also called natural rhythm methods. They involve tracking the woman's fertility cycle and avoiding sex or using barrier methods on the days when she is most likely to get pregnant. This method may have higher pregnancy rates than other types.

• Lactational amenorrhea method (LAM):A form of natural birth control for breastfeeding mothers. It relies on the new mother feeding her baby only breastmilk for up to six months and having no periods or spotting during that time.

What is emergency contraception?

Emergency contraception is not a regular method of birth control. But it can be used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse or if a condom breaks. There are two types:

• Copper IUD, which is a small, T-shaped device that a provider inserts into the within 120 hours of unprotected intercourse.

• Emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs), which are hormonal pills which the woman takes as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse.