Birth Control and Safe Sex
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.
Methods of Protection Against Pregnancy | ||
|---|---|---|
Method or Device | Chance of Getting Pregnant | Protection From STDs |
| Abstinence | 0% (As long as semen does not enter the vagina.) |  |
| Birth Control Pill | Typical use: 5% -- Perfect use: 0.1% | None |
| Cervical Cap | Typical use: 20% -- Perfect use: 9% | None |
| Condom (latex) | Typical use: 14% -- Perfect use: 3% | |
| Depo-Provera | Typical use: 0.3% -- Perfect use: 0.3% | None |
| Diaphragm | Typical use: 20% -- Perfect use: 9% | None |
| Female Condom | Typical use: 21% -- Perfect use: 5% | |
| IUD | Typical use: 0.8%-2% -- Perfect use: 0.6%-1.5% | None |
| Mini Pill | Typical use: 5% -- Perfect use: 0.5% | None |
| Morning After Pill | Typical use: 0.3% -- Perfect use: 0.3% | None |
| Norplant | Typical use: 0.09% -- Perfect use: 0.09% | None |
| The Patch | Typical use: 1% -- Perfect use: 1% | None |
| Rhythm Method | Typical use: 25% -- Perfect use: 1-9% | None |
| The Ring | Typical use: 5% -- Perfect use: 1% | None |
| Seasonale® | Typical use: 5% -- Perfect use: 1% | None |
| Spermicide | Typical use: 26% -- Perfect use: 6% | None |
| Sponge | Typical use: 20% -- Perfect use: 9% | None |
| Sterilization | Typical use: 0.15% -- Perfect use: 0.1% | None |
Withdrawal -- |
(Pre-ejaculate can contain enough sperm to cause pregnancy. Also, if semen or pre-ejaculate spill on the vulva, pregnancy is possible.) | None |
Additionally, there is advanced research on 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% of men on a certain male birth control regime were able to impregnate a woman).
Below is additional information and resources. Some are links to other Internet pages, which might have information on health topics of interest to you. PAMF, however, does not sponsor or endorse any of these sites, nor does PAMF guarantee the accuracy of the information contained on them. In addition, PAMF has no control over the privacy practices of external Web sites. The user should read and understand the policies of all Web sites with respect to their privacy practices. These links are provided for your general information and education only, and should NOT be relied upon for personal diagnosis or treatment. If you have questions, please contact your health care provider
Planned Parenthood. Birth Control [Online]. Accessed March 2008.
The National Women's Health Information Center. Birth Control Methods [Online]. Accessed March 2008.
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