Which Contraceptive is Right for You? |
Hormonal contraceptives (listed with shaded background) prevent pregnancy in 3 ways: 1) a hormone (progestin) or a combination of hormones (estrogen and progestin) prevent the ovary from releasing an egg into fallopian tube, 2) mucus in the cervix thickens, making it difficult for sperm to enter the uterus and fertilize the egg, 3) lining of the uterus (endometrium) thins out to prevent implantation. |
Non-hormonal contraceptives prevent pregnancy by providing a barrier against sperm, or interfering with sperm movement, or creating a difficult environment for sperm to travel. These methods do not use hormones and do not interfere with natural reproductive cycle. |
Emergency contraception (EC) can prevent pregnancy after any instance of unprotected sexual intercourse. There are two types of EC: pills or insertion of Copper-T IUD. Most women can safely use EC pills, even if they cannot use birth control pills regularly. Visit www.not-2-late.com or call (800) NOT-2-LATE to find out where to obtain EC. |
Method |
Products Available in US |
How to Use |
Use Before Every Act of Intercourse? |
Time to Return to Fertility |
Non- Contraceptive Benefits |
STD/STI Protection? |
Duration of Method |
Most Effective (typically prevents pregnancy >99% of the time) |
Abstinence/
Outercourse |
None |
Do not have vaginal or oral intercourse |
N/A |
Immediate |
None |
No |
N/A |
Female sterilization: non-surgical or surgical |
Essure®, Laparoscopy,
mini-laparotomy, laparotomy
|
Procedure done by health care provider |
No |
Permanent, irreversible method |
None |
No |
Lifetime |
Male sterilization (vasectomy) |
Conventional vasectomy, no-scalpel vasectomy |
Procedure done by health care provider |
No |
Permanent, irreversible method |
None |
No |
Lifetime |
Intrauterine device (IUD) |
ParaGard® |
Inserted into uterus by health care provider |
No |
Fertility return within about 1 month |
None |
No |
Up to 10 years |
Intrauterine system (IUS) |
Mirena® |
Inserted into uterus by health care provider |
No |
Fertility return within about 1 year |
Periods lighter/less painful; protection against some cancers |
No |
Up to 5 years |
Very Effective (typically prevents pregnancy 91% - 99% of the time) |
Pills |
Many brands of progestin + estrogen or progestin-only |
Swallow pill every day at approximately the same time |
No |
Fertility return usually 1 – 3 months |
Periods lighter/less painful; protection against some cancers & breast disease |
No |
1 month |
Implants |
Implanon®
Norplant®
|
Inserted by health care provider into arm |
No |
Fertility return usually 1 – 3 months |
Periods lighter/less painful; protection against uterine cancer |
No |
Up to 5 years |
Injectables |
Depo-Provera® |
Get intramuscular or subcutaneous injection monthly every 3 months |
No |
Fertility may be delayed up to 1 year |
Periods lighter/less painful; lessens cramps; protection against some cancers & PID |
No |
3 months |
Patch |
OrthoEvra® |
Apply patch to skin for 3 weeks, then remove patch for 1 week |
No |
Fertility return usually 1 – 3 months |
Periods lighter/less painful; may protect against some cancers & breast disease |
No |
1 month |
Vaginal ring |
NuvaRing® |
Insert ring into vagina for 3 weeks, then remove for 1 week |
No |
Fertility return usually 1 – 3 months |
Periods lighter/less painful; may protect against some cancers & breast disease |
No |
1 month |
Moderately Effective (typically prevents pregnancy 81% - 90% of the time) |
Male condom (known as “rubbers”) |
Many brands widely available |
Apply to penis immediately before sex |
Yes |
Immediate |
None |
Yes |
1 act of intercourse |
Female condom |
Reality Female Condom |
Insert into vagina up to 8 hours before sex |
Yes |
Immediate |
None |
Yes |
1 act of intercourse |
Sponge |
Today® Sponge |
Insert into vagina up to 24 hours before sex |
Yes |
Immediate |
None |
No |
Up to 24 hours |
Diaphragm |
Several brands available |
Insert into vagina up to 8 hours before sex |
Yes |
Immediate |
None |
No HIV protection ; some decreased risk of some STDs |
1 act of intercourse |
Effective (typically prevents pregnancy up to 80% of the time) |
Fertility awareness (known as “natural family planning”) |
Billings Ovulation Method, Rhythm Method, Standard Days Method, or Symptothermal Method |
Monitor cycle to determine when fertility likely/unlikely |
No |
Immediate |
None |
No |
N/A |
Cervical cap |
FemCap®, or Lea's Shield® |
Insert into vagina immediately before sex |
Yes |
Immediate |
None |
No |
1 act of intercourse |
Spermicide |
Various foams, creams, jellies, film, suppositories |
Insert into vagina no more the 1 hour before sex |
Yes |
Immediate |
None |
No |
1 act of intercourse |
