Birth Control

1. Birth Control Your Up-To-Date Guide

2. Fact of Life  If you are sexually active or thinking about becoming sexually active, you have an 85% chance of becoming pregnant, if you’re not using any type of birth control. You are also at risk of getting STI’s and developing specific types of cancer.

3. Oral Contraceptive(“The Pill”) • It is a pill that has a combination of the two female hormones: estrogen and progestrone • It prevents the ovary from releasing an egg • It also makes it harder for sperm to get into the uterus by changing the cervical mucous • Can regulate your period and make it less heavy and help with cramps

4. How It Is Used • It is 99% effective when used correctly • It needs to be taken everyday at around the same time • If it is taken late, or forgotten, you need to use a backup method such as a condom, or abstain from sex for the next 7 days. • When there is a pill mix up, and you have un-protected sex, the Emergency Contraceptive Pill or ECP can be taken 3-5 days after a ‘pill mistake’ to prevent pregnancy.

5. It can help regulate your periods It can help decrease menstrual cramping It can make your period lighter and shorter It can help decrease acne Prevents pregnancy It DOES NOT protect you from Sexually Transmitted Infections You need a prescription It needs to be taken everyday at the same time to be effective some people experience side effects Advantages & Disadvantages

6. The Birth Control Pill

7. Depo-Provera(“The Needle”) • It is an injection that only contains one hormone (progestin) • It prevents the ovary from releasing an egg • It also makes it harder for sperm to get into the uterus by thickening the cervical mucous • It can reduce your periods and possibly eliminate them altogether

8. How It is Used • It is 99% effective when used correctly • It is given by injection every 12 weeks from a nurse or doctor

9. You do not need to worry about taking a pill everyday It can help decrease menstrual cramping People with migraines can use this method Often a choice for people with endometriosis It DOES NOT protect you from sexually transmitted infections You will need a prescription It can cause some bone mineral loss and some Doctors will not prescribe it because of this It can cause abnormal bleeding (spotting) Advantages & Disadvantages

10. Depo-Provera

11. Transdermal Patch(“The Patch”) • It is a small square patch that is worn on the skin • It delivers two types of hormones: estrogen and progesterone • It prevents the ovary from releasing an egg • It makes it harder for sperm to get into the uterus by thickening the cervical mucous

12. How It is Used • It is 99% effective when used correctly • One patch is worn x 1 week and then changed weekly for 2 more weeks, for a total of 3 patches • On the 4th week, no patch is worn and this allows a period to occur, then you start a new pack at the end of this week.

13. You do not need to worry about taking a pill everyday It can help decrease menstrual cramping It can make periods lighter and shorter It DOES NOT protect you from sexually transmitted infections A prescription is needed It is rare but it can come off if applied incorrectly Estrogen levels can increase in clients with fever or if the site is exposed to heat sources Advantages & Disadvantages

14. The Patch

15. Nuva Ring(“The Ring”) • It is a flexible ring that contains two types of hormones: estrogen and progesterone • When it is inserted into the vagina it slowly releases the combination of hormones to prevent pregnancy (not a barrier contraceptive method) • It works like the birth control pill in that it prevents the ovary from releasing an egg • It also makes it harder for sperm to get into the uterus by thickening the cervical mucous

16. How It is Used • It is 99% effective when used correctly • The first time it is used, it is placed into the vagina at the start of your period and left in place for 3 weeks • After 3 weeks, it is taken out to allow for a period • After 7 days without a ring, a new ring is inserted and left in place for 3 weeks, and so on……

17. You do not need to worry about taking a pill everyday It has the lowest amount of Estrogen of all estrogen based hormonal methods It can help decrease menstrual cramping It can make your periods lighter and shorter It DOES NOT protect you from sexually transmitted infections You will need a prescription May increase yeast infections for those prone to them May come out during some activities. Advantages & Disadvantages

18. The Ring

19. Male Condoms • It is a fitted barrier made of latex or polyurethane • It is worn over an erect penis • Some have lubrication or spermicide on them; a chemical that kills sperm • Some are flavoured

20. How It is Used • It is 80% effective when used correctly • It is 95% effective when used correctly and combined with an additional spermicide • Placed on an erect penis before sexual activity ;including oral sex (correct placement is important) • It is removed by holding the base of the penis upon withdrawal, rolling it off and then the condom can be disposed of in the garbage.

21. It protects you from most bacterial infections and some viral infections You do not need a prescription to get one It is free at local sexual health clinics It can break if used incorrectly Some people have a sensitivity or allergy to the latex brands Some people may have a sensitivity or allergy to the spermicide on it Novelty condoms are not always for safe sex use… BEWARE Advantages & Disadvantages

22. Male Condoms Non-latex

23. Female Condoms

24. Spermicides • It is a chemical that kills sperm • It can be in the form of a gel, foam, vaginal film, cream, vaginal suppository or sponge • It may be found on a condom or inserted into the vagina prior to sex.

25. How It is Used • It is only 15% effective when used on its own and correctly • It is 95% effective when used in combination with condoms • Each spermicide product will have specific directions for use. Some have to be put in 15 minutes before sex and some can be inserted earlier (advantage 24) • Some stay in place and others need to be pulled out after a specific amount of time. IT’S IMPORTANT TO READ THE DIRECTIONS!

26. No prescription required Available at a drug store Can be used by a woman as additional protection against condom breakage. No protection against STI’s if used alone. May increase chance of an infection if the spermicide irritates the inside lining of the orifice and no condom use It can be messy to work with Some people can develop a sensitivity to it Advantages & Disadvantages

27. Spermicides

28. Barrier Methods • Some of these products were invented centuries ago and are still preferred by women today • They come in different forms and are inserted by either a Doctor or by the woman • Some need a prescription some can be purchased without one • Some have hormones some have not

29. How is it Used • An IUD is a T-Shaped object that is inserted by the Doctor in the Uterus- some contain a slow releasing hormone- progestin • A Diaphragm is a polyurethane cup-shaped product that fits over the cervix and is used with spermicide. It is inserted by a woman • The sponge is exactly that, a small sponge which contains spermicide and is inserted by the woman and sits in the top of the vagina next to the cervix

30. An IUD provides protection for up to 5 years The Diaphragm can be used without hormones and can stay in for 24hrs The sponge is available at a pharmacy and provides protection for 24hrs, without reapplication of spermicide The IUD needs to be inserted by a Doctor The Diaphragm only provides 80% protection against pregnancy and none against STI’s and needs to stay in for at least 6 hours for protection The Sponge can be irritating to vagina if used often, over time. Advantages and Disadvantages

31. Barrier Methods

32. Emergency Contraception • Has been around for many years • Originally two high dose Oral contraceptive pills and Gravol was given to the client • Works similar to the birth control pill • Now Plan B is most widely used which is an all progestin pill, no estrogen • Can be obtained at a pharmacy for approximately $30-40 without a perscription

33. How it is used • Client takes one pill and then the other 12 hours later or … • The client takes both pills at once • Needs to be taken by day five, at the latest, after UPIC • The earlier it is taken, after UPIC, the better the protection against pregnancy • It delays ovulation and may prevent implantation of a fertilized ovum

34. Can prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of UPIC up to 90% effective Can be obtained through the health unit for free No Estrogen so people with migraines can use it Good option for breast feeding mothers as well. Should not be used as an ongoing birth control method Needs to be taken at least by day 5 after UPIC for it to be even 80% effective Pharmacies charge up to $42 for this product Does not protect against STI’s Advantages and Disadvantages

35. Emergency ContraceptiveECP- PLAN B

36. More Permanent Methods • They may be irreversible • These methods are performed by either Physician or a Surgeon • They are not likely done until later in a person’s child-bearing life ie. After 35 • A Physician may question the decision to have these done

37. More Permanent Methods • The Tubal Ligation is performed by a Surgeon on a woman usually during her last child's delivery or once she reaches a certain age. • A Vasectomy is performed on a man by a Physician by local anesthetic in a doctors office usually after the age of 35

38. A Tubal Ligation is a permanent method against pregnancy and is usually 100% effective. A Vasectomy is a permanent method against pregnancy and is usually 100% effective A Vasectomy is a low risk procedure and is sometimes reversible The Tubal ligation is irreversible in most cases The Tubal requires a risky surgery. The Vasectomy is sometimes irreversible There is a myth that a vasectomy can cause impotency which prevents a lot of men from choosing this method Advantages and Disadvantages

39. More Permanent Methods Tubal Ligation Vasectomy before-and-after