Track your health and
nutrition the easy way.

There are many different types of birth control that provide many different types of protection. Some of them require a prescription, and some do not. Some protected against sexually transmitted diseases (STD's) and some do not. Choosing a birth control method is a choice that every woman must make for herself, and every woman must be educated when making this decision.

No Prescription Needed
Abstinence: A decision not to have sexual intercourse. It is 100% effective if used all the time every time. The advantages: it can be started at any time, there are no side effects, and there is no chance of pregnancy. The disadvantages: no protection from pregnancy or STD’s if you stop abstaining, takes commitment and self control, and may be frustrating to deal with sexual feelings. It costs nothing.

Female Condom: A non-latex pouch that fits in the vagina, blocking the sperm when released. It is 95%-79% effective. The advantages: an option for those allergic to latex and it helps protect against STD’s. The disadvantages: they can be difficult to insert and/or remove and it must be comfortable touching your body. They can cost anywhere from $1.00-$2.00 USD each.

Male Condom: Fits over erect penis and catches sperm when a man ejaculates. It is 97%-86% effective. The advantages: latex condoms help protect against STD’s, can be used with other methods to increase effectiveness, and they come in flavors, different sizes, shapes, and non-latex varieties. The disadvantages: they cannot be used with oil-based lubricants such as baby oil, because they can break, requires practice to learn how to use correctly, and natural skin condoms do not protect against STD’s. They costs anywhere from $0.25-$2.00 each.

Spermicide: Contains sperm-killing chemicals and is inserted into the vagina or put on the penis before intercourse. It is 94%-74% effective if used alone and 99% effective if used with a condom. The advantages: no hormonal side effects, used only when needed, and can be used with other methods to increase effectiveness. The disadvantages: Instructions must be followed carefully, may cause allergic reactions, and some could increase the risk of contracting STD’s. The cost varies.

Natural Family Planning: The woman tracks body signs to know when she is most fertile. Intercourse is avoided or another method is used when the woman is most fertile. It is 99%-75% effective. The advantages: no medical side effects, you become very aware of your body’s cycles, and it is useful when trying to become pregnant. The disadvantages: You must record your signs everyday, it takes commitment and discipline, and does not protect against STD’s. The cost varies, as there are products designed to help monitor the body's cycles, like ovulation tests and basal thermometers.

Methods Requiring a Prescription
Birth Control Pill: An artificial hormone pill taken daily. It is 99%-95% effective. The advantages: they do not interrupt sex, regulates periods and decreases cramps, flow and pains during periods, and reduces risks of some types of cancer. The disadvantages: do not protect against STD’s, MUST take everyday, may cause moodiness, weight change, spotting, and nausea, and there can be health risks. It costs $6-$50 per month.

Depo-Provera: Hormonal injection given every 3 months. It is 99% effective is injected on schedule. The advantages: it does not interrupt sex, effective for 3 months, do not need to remember to take everyday, and safe to use while breastfeeding. The disadvantages: does not protect against STD’s, may cause irregular periods, weight change, moodiness, and headaches, and there may be health risks. It cost $30-$60 per injection.

Lunelle: Hormonal injection given every month. It’s 99% effective if injected on schedule. The advantages: it does not interrupt sex and you do not need to remember to take everyday. The disadvantages: it doesn’t protect against STD’s, may cause irregular periods and weight gain, must follow a strict injection schedule, and there can be health risks. It costs $30-$60 per injection.

IUD: A small device that is inserted into the uterus by a medical provider. It is 99% effective. The advantages: does not interrupt sex, can last from 1-10 years, do not need to remember to take/use everyday, and safe to use while breastfeeding. The disadvantages: Doesn’t protect against STD’s, some may increase flow and cramping during periods, Hormonal IUD’s decrease flow and cramping during periods, and they may increase your chances of pelvic infections. It costs $150-$500.

Diaphragm or cervical cap: Small rubber cup, used with spermicidal gel, that fits inside the vagina. The diaphragm is 94%-80% effective and the cervical cap is 91%-60% effective. The advantages: No hormonal side effects and can be put in up to 6 hours before sex. The disadvantages: does not protected against STD's, may take practice to insert and remove correctly, can be messy, need to leave in for 6 hours after sex, and you must be comfortable touching your body. They cost $30-$70, plus the cost of spermicidal gel.

Ortho Evra: A thin hormonal patch that you place on your body weekly, with one patch free week. It is 99% effective if changed on the same day every week. The advantages: do not need to remember to take everyday and is small and discrete. The disadvantages: you must wait one week after putting your first patch on before having unprotected sex, does not protect against STD’s, and there can be health risks. They cost $30-$35 a month.

Emergency Contraception Pill: A high dose of hormones given within 72 hours of unprotected sex. It is 85%-75% effective, more effective if taken closer to the act of unprotected sex. The advantages: the option to prevent pregnancy after contraception failure or sexual assault and possible side effects are short term. The disadvantages: it does not protect against STD’s, may cause nausea, headaches, breast tenderness, and fatigue. Its costs $20-$50.

Surgical Options
Implants: Soft plastic rods containing hormones, they are inserted under the skin of the inner upper arm. It is 99% effective. The advantages: it can last for 2-5 years, does not interrupt sex, may have less flow, cramping, and pain during periods, do not need to remember to take everyday, and safe to use while breastfeeding. The disadvantages: Does not protect against STD’s, removal may be difficult, may cause irregular periods and weight change, and there can be health risks. It costs $400-$700 per insertion.

Sterilization (vasectomy/tubal ligation): Tubes carrying sperm or egg are permanently cut or tied to keep the egg and sperm from meeting. It is 99% effective. The Advantages: Permanent, no hormonal side effects, does not affect sexual desire or ability, and it is safer for men than for women. The disadvantages: it involves surgery and, for some, complications may occur, does not protect against STD’s, and a relatively high initial cost. It costs $1200-$2500 for a tubal ligation and $350-$750 for a vasectomy. Both procedures can be reversed in some cases, but the chances of a successful reversal are not high.

Essure: Relatively new procedure in which a small insert is placed into the fallopian tubes through the vagina, causing tissues to grow in the fallopian tubes, closing them off permanently, making fertilization impossible. It is 99.8% effective. The Advantages: Permanent, no horomonal side effects, no surgery required, does not affect sexual desire or ability, only for women, 35 minute procedure requires no recovery. The disadvantages: not an option for men, does not protected against STD's, reversal is not possible, secondary birth control must be used for three months after insertion.