Which Contraceptive is Right for You?

Birth control methods (contraceptives) are used to prevent pregnancy. Some of them can be found at your pharmacy and some require a visit to a health care provider (such as a nurse midwife, nurse practitioner, physician, or physician assistant). Contraceptives listed below with an asterisk (*) use hormones to prevent pregnancy. The contraceptive methods are in order so that the most effective ones are listed first.

Emergency contraception can prevent pregnancy after any instance of unprotected sexual intercourse. Most women can safely use emergency contraception pills, even if they cannot use birth control pills regularly. Visit www.not-2-late.com to find out where to obtain it.

Method	How to Use	Additional Information
Most Effective (typically prevents pregnancy >99% of the time)
Abstinence/Outercourse	Do not have vaginal intercourse
Female sterilization: non-surgical (Essure^®) or surgical (Laparoscopy, mini-laparotomy, laparotomy)	Procedure done by health care provider	Lasts a lifetime Permanent method that cannot be reversed
Male sterilization (vasectomy)	Procedure done by health care provider	Lasts a lifetime Post-procedure follow up to check sperm count is very important Permanent method that cannot be reversed
Intrauterine device (IUD; ParaGard^®)	Inserted into uterus by health care provider	Can be used up to 10 years Fertility will return very soon after it is removed
*Intrauterine system (IUS; Mirena^®)	Inserted into uterus by health care provider	Often makes periods lighter or less painful Offers protection against some cancers Can be used for up to 5 years Fertility will return very soon after it is removed
*Implant (Implanon^®)	Inserted by health care provider into arm	Often makes periods lighter or less painful Offers protection against uterine cancer Can be used for up to 3 years Fertility will very soon after it is removed
Very Effective (typically prevents pregnancy 91% - 99% of the time)
*Injectables (Depo-Provera^®)	Get intramuscular or subcutaneous injection monthly every 12 weeks	Makes periods lighter/less painful Lessens cramps Provides protection against some cancers & pelvic inflammatory disease Shot lasts 12 weeks Fertility may be delayed up to 1 year after last injection
*Pills	Swallow pill every day at approximately the same time	Makes periods lighter/less painful Offers protection against some cancers & breast disease Need to take pill every day Fertility will return very soon after last pill is taken
*Patch (OrthoEvra^®)	Apply 1 patch to skin each week for 3 weeks in a row, then remove patch for 1 week	Makes periods lighter/less painful May protect against some cancers & breast disease Each patch lasts 1 week Fertility will return very soon after patch is removed
Moderately Effective (typically prevents pregnancy 81% - 90% of the time)
Male condom (known as “rubbers”)	Apply to penis immediately before sex	Provides protection against almost all sexually transmitted infections
Diaphragm	Insert into vagina with spermicide before sex	Keep diaphragm in vagina for at least 6 hours after sex Do not keep diaphragm in vagina for more than 24 hours Does not protect against HIV, but does offer some protection against sexually transmitted infections
Sponge (for women who have had a full term pregnancy)	Insert into vagina before sex	Lasts up to 24 hours Keep sponge in vagina for at least 6 hours after sex Do not keep sponge in vagina for more than 24 to 30 hours
Effective (typically prevents pregnancy up to 80% of the time)
Female condom	Insert into vagina up to 8 hours before sex	Provides protection against almost all sexually transmitted infections
Fertility awareness (known as “natural family planning”)	Monitor cycle to determine when fertility likely/unlikely
Cervical cap (FemCap^®)	Insert into vagina immediately before sex
Withdrawl	Man removes penis from vagina and area near vagina prior to ejaculation
Spermicide	Insert into vagina no more the 1 hour before sex