Contraception For College Students

1. Contraception For College Students Developed by UNC Counseling & Wellness Services for the Department of Housing & Residential Education Source: Planned Parenthood, WHO 2006

2. IUD • Small, "T-shaped" device inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy • Safe, effective, and long lasting • Must be inserted by a health care provider • Costs between $500 and $1,000 up front, but lasts up to 12 years What are IUDs? How do IUDs work? IUDs affect the way sperm move, preventing them from joining with an egg. How effective are IUDs? IUDs are one of the most effective forms of birth control available. Less than 1 out of 100 women will get pregnant each year.

3. Implant What is an Implant? • A matchstick-sized rod that is inserted in the arm to prevent pregnancy • Safe, effective, and convenient • Must be inserted by a health care provider • Costs between $400 and $800 up front, but lasts up to three years How do Implants work? The birth control implant releases a hormone called progestin which prevents a woman's ovaries from releasing eggs (ovulation). Pregnancy cannot happen if there is no egg to join with sperm. How effective are Implants? The birth control implant is very effective. Less than 1 out of 100 women a year will become pregnant using the implant. It lasts up to three years.

4. Shot • A shot in the arm that prevents pregnancy • Safe, effective, and convenient • Easy to get with a prescription • Lasts for three months • Costs $35–$75 per injection, plus any exam fees What is the shot? How does it work? The birth control shot releases a progestin, which prevents a woman’s ovaries from releasing eggs (ovulation). How effective are Implants? The birth control shot is very effective at preventing pregnancy. Less than 1 out of 100 women will get pregnant each year if they always use the birth control shot as directed.

5. Birth Control Pills What are BC pills? How do they work? • Take a pill each day to prevent pregnancy • Safe, effective, and convenient • Easy to get with a prescription • Cost about $15–$50 each month Birth control pills are made of hormones – either estrogen, progestin, or both. The hormones prevent a woman’s ovaries from releasing eggs (ovulation). How effective are Implants? Birth control pills are very effective if taken correctly. Progestin-only pills must be taken at the same time every day. Less than 1/100 women will get pregnant each year if they always take the pill each day as directed. About9/100 women will get pregnant each year if they don’t always take the pill each day as directed.

6. Vaginal Rings • A small ring you put in your vagina once a month for three weeks to prevent pregnancy • Safe, effective, and convenient • Easy to get with a prescription • Costs about $15–$80 a month What is a vaginal ring? How do they work? The ring releases the hormones estrogen and progestin, preventing a woman’s ovaries from releasing eggs. How effective are vaginal rings? The vaginal ring is very effective. It works best when a woman inserts it, keeps it in place for three weeks, takes it out for one week, and then inserts a new ring.

7. Male Condom • Worn on the penis • Made of latex or plastic • Prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections • Can be used with another form of birth control for extra protection • Can be used for vaginal, anal, or oral sex • Safe, effective, and easy to get • Cost about $1 each, but are available for free at UNC Campus Health What is a male condom? How do they work? Condoms prevent pregnancy by collecting pre-cum and semen when a man ejaculates, preventing sperm from entering the vagina. By covering the penis and keeping semen out of the vagina, anus, or mouth, condoms also reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections. How effective are male condoms? Each year, 2/100 women whose partners use condoms will become pregnant if they always use condoms correctly. Each year, 18/100 women whose partners use condoms will become pregnant if they don't always use condoms correctly.

8. Female Condom • A pouch inserted into the vagina to prevent pregnancy • Reduces the risk of sexually transmitted infection • Can be used for vaginal and anal intercourse • Safe, effective, and convenient • Easy to get • Cost about $4 each What is a female condom? How do they work? Female condoms cover the inside of the vagina, collecting pre-cum and semen when a man ejaculates. By covering the inside of the vagina or anus and keeping semen and pre-cum out, condoms reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections. How effective are female condoms? If women always use the female condom correctly, 5 out of 100 will become pregnant each year. If women don't always use the female condom correctly, 21 out of 100 will become pregnant each year.

9. Withdrawal (Pull Out Method) What is withdrawal? How does it work? • Withdrawal is also called coitus interruptus or the "pull out method" • Something you can do during vaginal intercourse to prevent pregnancy • Safe, easy, and convenient A man who uses withdrawal will pull his penis out of the vagina before ejaculation — the moment when semen spurts out of his penis. Withdrawal is also known as coitus interruptus and the pull out method. How effective is withdrawal? 4/100 women whose partners use withdrawal will become pregnant each year if they always do it correctly. 27/100 women whose partners use withdrawal will become pregnant each year if they don't always do it correctly. Couples who have great self-control, experience, and trust may use the pull out method more effectively. Men who use the pull out method must be able to know when they are reaching the point in sexual excitement when ejaculation can no longer be stopped or postponed. If you cannot predict this moment accurately, withdrawal will not be as effective. Even if a man pulls out in time, pregnancy can still happen. Some experts believe that pre-ejaculate, or pre-cum, can pick up enough sperm left in the urethra from a previous ejaculation to cause pregnancy. If a man urinates between ejaculations before having sex again, it will help clear the urethra of sperm and may increase the effectiveness of withdrawal. Pregnancy is also possible if semen or pre-ejaculate is spilled on the vulva. Withdrawal does not protect against STIs.

10. Emergency Contraception What is emergency contraception and where can I get it? Is it an abortion pill? • Birth control you can use to prevent pregnancy up to five days (120 hours) after unprotected sex • Safe and effective • If you are 17 or older, you can go directly to the Campus Health Pharmacy to get progestin EC pills without an appointment or prescription. • Locate a local family planning clinic, such as the health department or Planned Parenthood. EC methods DO NOT cause abortions, they simply prevent ovulation, fertilization, or implantation. If a woman is already pregnant, meaning that a fertilized egg has implanted in the uterus, EC will not work because it is used before the egg attach-es. EC is not the same as mifepristone (RU-486), a pill used for medical abortion. Also, if a woman is already pregnant, studies have found no increased risk to a fetus from EC pills.

11. Still Have Questions? Make a FREE appointment with the Carolina Health Education Counselors of Sexuality (CHECS) to review the options best suited for you, and then make an appointment with a Health Care Provider to discuss the contraceptive option you have chosen. You can also use MyMethod from Planned Parenthood to evaluation which birth control method is best for you. Simply search “MyMethod Planned Parenthood” in any search engine.