BIRTH CONTROL

• Abstinence


• Condoms & Spermicides


• Depo-Provera


• Ortho Evra-"The Patch"


• Birth Control Pills


• Emergency Contraception

Abstinence Although there are many ways to keep yourself from getting pregnant and free from STD's, abstinence is the best birth control method you can choose. Abstinence means you will not have sex play with a partner. This will keep the sperm from joining the egg.

• It is 100% effective


• Prevents Sexually Transmitted Disease


• No medical or hormonal side effects


• Is endorsed by many religious groups

Abstinence is the best choice to avoid emotional, physical, and personal consequences of sex outside of marriage. Abstinence is the best prevention for teens and singles. One in five Americans have a sexually transmitted disease today. Each year, 15.3 million Americans are newly diagnosed with an STD. In this new millennial age, we have all the "Gadgets" for sexual fredom: latex condoms, the depo shot(Depo-Provera), the patch(Ortho Evra), and birth control pills. Somehow, we also have these national epidemics: sexually transmitted disease and out of wedlock pregnancies. One million teens get pregnant every year; a teen girl gives birth every 8.5 minutes. This is the only approach that offers a foolproof solution to the prevention of teenage pregnancy, and sexually transmitted disease. Sexual relationships present physical and emotional risks. Abstinence is a very good way to postpone taking those risks until you are able to handle them. Women who aabstain until their 20s-and who have had fewer partners in their lifetimes-may have certain health avantages over women who do not.

Condoms & Spermicides The condom helps women and men express themselves sexually and responsibly by greatly lowering the risk of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection. A condom is a sheath that fits over the penis. It's made of plastic, animal tissue, or latex. It's also called a safe, jimmy, or a rubber. It traps the semen before, during, and after a man ejaculates. Some condoms have a nipple-shaped tip to hold the semen and others do not. The condom makes sex safer. It protects both partners during vaginal, anal, and oral intercourse. It is 86%-98% effective. Condoms offer good protection against:

• Vaginitis caused by infections like trichomoniasis


• Vaginitis caused by changes in the pH balance of the vagina that can be triggered by semen


• pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Protection from STD's such as:

• chancroid


• chlamedia


• gonorrhea


• syphilis


• herpes simplex virus (HSV) that can genital herpes


• hepatitis-B virus


• human papilloma virus (HPV) that can cause genital warts


• human immunodeficiency virus (HIV the virus that can cause AIDS)

The condoms offer better preotection against STI's than any other birth control method,(well, except for abstinence). It blocks exchange of body fluids that may be infected.

To increase your protection, you may:

• also use spermicides


• hold against penis to withdraw


• do not use oil-based lubricants, like Vaseline


• Use Correctly: 1)place on tip of hard penis 2)squeeze air out of half-inch space at tip 3)pull back foreskin and roll condom down over penis 4)smooth out any air bubbles 5)lubricate with water-based lubricant, like K-Y jelly
  
  Female Condom
  The female condom fits inside the vagina like the diaphram and also covers the vulva. It has the advantage of not requiring a man to maintian an erection during use. Although, it is not as efective as the male condom, but the female condom is valuable option for women who want to prevent STI's or an unintended pregnancy.
  
  The Pill, IUD, Depo-provera, vasectomy, and tubal sterilization offer greater protection against pregnancy than any condom or spermicide, but no protection against STI's.
  
  If you choose the female condom as your surce of birth control, you will follow the packages' insructions and insert female condom-a plastic pouch with flexible rings at each end-deep in your vagina to keep sperm from joining the egg, or you may follow the packages' instructions and insert spermicide-contraceptive foam, cream, jelly, film, or suppository-deep into your vagina shortly beforeintercourse to immobilize sperm and keep them from joining the egg. Follow the packages' insructions to remove the female condom, but don't worry about the spermicide, it will dissolve in the vagina. The female condom reduces the risk of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, but the spermicide does not offer that protection.
  
  The female condom is 79-95% effective, and the spermicides are 72-94% effective. The advantages of using the female condoms are:
  • easy to buy at drugstores, supremarkets, etc.
  • erection unnecessary to keep female condom in place
  • external ring of female condom may stimulate clitoris
  • female condoms can be used by people allergic to latex or spermicides
  • insurtation may be a part of sex play
  Condoms have no side effects except for people who are allergic to latex. Five to seven of women and men have such allergies. You can get condoms at drugstores and drug departments of other stores. They also are available in Planned parenthood health centers and other family planning clinics where they may be less expensive or free.
  
  Depo-Provera The Depo is a shot of synthetic progestone that you can get every three months to prevent pregnancy. LIke other hormonal birth control methods (including the Pill), Depo-Provera works by preventing ovulation--so the ovary doesn't release an egg to be fertilized. It also alters the lining of your uterus, making it hard for an egg to lodge there if one does slip through; and thickens the mucus around your cervix, which can keep sperm from entering.
  
  Depo-Provera may be a good option for you--especially if you're a busy, new mom because it's convenient. You don't remember to take a pillevery day or to insert or apply any devices or products before intercourse. You just get the shot every three months. In fact, some women choose to get the first injection the day they leave the hospital after giving birth; and if you're careful about having your shots on time. It's more than 99.7% effective. progesterone (the same hormone used in birth control pills) prevents you from ovulating; thins the lining of your uterus, making it herd for an egg to escape. This method also may not be a good choice if you have a history of unexplained vaginal bleeding, breast cancer, diabetes, major depression, or any liver disease (including hepatitis and abnormal results on liver-function test). The Depo rarely prevents fertilized eggs from implanting in the uterus, and it also has no protection against sexually transmitted diseases. You may have irregular periods or spotting for the first three to six months, but many women eventually stop menstruating altogether while you're on the Depo-Provera. On the downside, some women complain of side effects, such as acne, breast denderness, decreased sex drive, diziness, feeling bloated, headaches, insomnia, moodiness, nausea, and even weight gain.
  
  Ortho Evra-"The Patch" Orth Evra-The Patch- is a reversible prescription method of birth control. It is a thin, beige, plastic patch that sticks to the skin. A new patch is placed on the skin of the buttocks, stomach, upper arm or upper torso once a week for three weeks out of four weeks. No patch is used in the fourth week. The Patch relaese synthetic estrogen and progestin to protection against pregnancy for one month.
  The combination of hormones works in three ways. Usually, it keeps the ovaries from releasing an egg. Less often it thickens the cervical mucus, which prevents sperm from joining with an egg. It also rarely prevants a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus. The patch works best when it is changed on the same day of the week for three weeks in a row. Pregnancy can happen if an error is made in using the Patch - especially if
  • it becomes loose or falls off more than 24hrs.
  • the same patch is left on the skin for more than one week,
  If either of these things happens, follow the directions in your package insert, and call your clinician.
  The Patch is very effective reversible method of birth control. Although no studies have yet been published, it is assumed that the Patch will be more effective than the Pill--8 out of every 100 pill users bacome pregnant with typical use. Fewer than one women who use the Patch will become pregnant with perfect use. Certain medicines, including the antibiotic rifampin and certain drugs used to control seizures, may make the Patch less effective. Ask your clinician for advise.
  It is very important to remember that the Patch does not protect against STI's. Always use a latex or female condom with the Patch to reduce the fisk of infection. You will place one new patch on the skin of the buttocks, stomach,upper arm, or upper torso once a week for three weeks in a row. You will not put on a patch for the fourth week.
  During the one-week break, you will usually have your menstrual period. You may still be bleeding when it is time to apply a new patch. Remember, a new patch must be applied ONE week after the last one was removed-on "patch change day"- or pregnancy may occur. Be sure to have checkups at least once a year.
  Side effects that usually clear up after two or three months of use include: bleeding between preiods, breast tenderness, changes in moods, nausea-rarely vomiting, and weight gain or loss.
  Other possible side effects may include skin reaction at the site of application or problems with contact lens use- a change in vision or the inability to wear the lenses.
  The risks are increasing by over 35, smoking more than 15 cigarettes a day, and having conditions associated with heart disease-such as diabetes, high blood presure, or high levels of cholesterol-and certain inherited conditions that increase the risk of blood clotting.
  You should not use the contaceptive patch if you...
  • are allergic to the products that make up the Patch
  • are or think you might be pregnant
  • experienced jaundice (yellowish of the skin) during a previous pregnancy or use of contraceptive
  • have a history of bood clots or vein inflamation
  • have a severe liver disease or have had growths on the liver
  • have a certain vascular conditions assosiated with diabetes mallitus
  • have had a heart attack or certain kinds of stroke
  • have had an abnormal growth or cancer of the breast or uterus
  • have migraine headache with aura
  • have uncontolled high blood pressure
  • have unexplained bleeding from the vagina
  • need prolonged bed rest after major surgery
  • smoke more than 15cigarettes a day and ae more 35 or older
  • weigh more than 198 pounds
  
  
  Women with a history of depression may not be able to continue to use the Patch if their problem gets worse.
  Serious problems are rare but they usually have warning signs. You might want to look out for them. If one occurs, be sure to report it to your physician as soon as possible. These warning signs include...
  
  • a certain cancer of the nervous system called meningioma
  • a high fisk for heart disease
  • a seizure disorder that requires taking anticonvulsant medication
  • certain kinds of migraine headaches
  • have a parent or sibling who has had a heart attack or stroke before age 55
  • have diabetes-not associated with vascular conditions
  • have gallbladder disease
  • high cholesterol or slightly incresed blood pressure
  For most women with these conditions, the risks of pregnancy are more dangerous than the risks of using the Patch. Women with a histor of depression may not be able to continue to use the Patch if their problems gats worse.