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    Birth Control and Safe Sex

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    Effective contraception use generally requires planning and preparation prior to having sexual intercourse.

    Condoms require the least amount of advance planning and are used more than any other method of contraception at first sexual intercourse. However, about 35 percent of first intercourse experiences take place without the use of any contraception at all.

    If you are sexually active, you need to use an effective contraceptive and a barrier method to protect you from disease every time you have intercourse. You can get pregnant the first time you have sex and right after you finish your period.

    *For more information about any of these methods or devices, click on one of the links in the left hand menu.

    Methods of Protection Against Pregnancy
    and Sexually Transmitted Diseases

    Method or Device
    Chance of Getting Pregnant
    Protection From STDs
    Abstinence (Defined as no genital contact.) 0% (As long as semen does not enter the vagina.)Yes
    Birth Control PillTypical use: 5% -- Perfect use: 0.1%None
    Cervical Cap (not available in the U.S.)Typical use: 20% -- Perfect use: 9%None
    Condom (latex)Typical use: 14% -- Perfect use: 3%Yes
    Depo-ProveraTypical use: 0.3% -- Perfect use: 0.3%None
    DiaphragmTypical use: 20% -- Perfect use: 9%None
    Female CondomTypical use: 21% -- Perfect use: 5%Yes
    ImplanonTypical use: 0.09% -- Perfect use: 0.09%None
    IUDTypical use: 0.8%-2% -- Perfect use: 0.6%-1.5%None
    Mini PillTypical use: 5% -- Perfect use: 0.5%None
    Morning After PillTypical use: 0.3% -- Perfect use: 0.3%None
    The PatchTypical use: 1% -- Perfect use: 1%None
    The RingTypical use: 5% -- Perfect use: 1%None
    Seasonale®Typical use: 5% -- Perfect use: 1%None
    SpermicideTypical use: 26% -- Perfect use: 6%None
    SpongeTypical use: 20% -- Perfect use: 9%None
    SterilizationTypical use: 0.15% -- Perfect use: 0.1%None

    Withdrawal --
    Not a contraceptive.

    Typical use: 27% -- Perfect use: 4%

    (Pre-ejaculate can contain enough sperm to cause pregnancy. Also, if semen or pre-ejaculate spill on the vulva, pregnancy is possible.)

    		None


    Other Considerations
    • There is no evidence that combined hormonal contraceptives (the pill, patch, ring, IUD) cause weight gain.
    • Birth control does not decrease fertility (your permanent ability to get pregnant).
    • Hormonal methods of birth control reduce menstrual bleeding and cramps.
    • Hormonal birth control does not protect you from sexually transmitted infections.
    In addition, researchers are far along in developing male contraception. Although it does not protect against STDs, studies show male contraception does significantly reduce the chances of a woman getting pregnant. (In a recent study, only 1.3 percent of men on a certain male birth control regime were able to impregnate a woman).

    Sources
    Below are sources PAMF accessed when researching this topic. PAMF does not endorse any of these sites, nor does PAMF guarantee the accuracy of the information contained on them.

    Planned Parenthood. Birth Control [Online].

    The National Women's Health Information Center. Birth Control Methods [Online].


    Last reviewed: November 2012

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