There are many different types of contraception that vary in how effective they are at preventing pregnancy, how much they cost, how easy they are to use, and whether they also protect against STIs. Take our quiz to see how much you know about the different kinds of contraception!
1. The best type of contraception to use to protect me against STDs is:
- Latex External (Male) Condom
- Hormonal Injections
- Birth Control Pills
- Diaphragm
The correct answer is: Latex External (Male) Condom.
Latex external (male) condoms are the best form of protection against STDs. Polyurethane Condoms also give some protection. Hormonal injections, diaphragms and birth control pills provide no protection against STDs.
2. Which form of contraception is most often prescribed for girls with severe menstrual cramps?
- Contraceptive Sponge
- Hormonal Implants
- Birth Control Pills
- External (male) condoms
The correct answer is: Birth Control Pills
Health care providers often prescribe birth control pills to patients with severe menstrual cramps. Hormonal implants may lessen menstrual cramps, but they are primarily used for protection against pregnancy. The contraceptive sponge and condoms do not have any other benefits except protection against pregnancy.
3. Which type of contraception does not require a prescription?
- Diaphragm
- Vaginal Hormonal Ring
- Birth Control Pills
- Internal (Female) Condom
The correct answer is: Internal (Female) Condom
You don’t need a prescription for internal (female) condoms. You can buy them in drugstores. You do need a prescription for the other three.
4. Which form of contraception usually makes acne better?
- Birth Control Pills
- Hormonal Implants
- Spermicide
- Diaphragm
The correct answer is: Birth Control Pills
Birth control pills usually improve acne. The other three options listed (hormonal implants, spermicides, and diaphragms) don’t affect acne, so they are not used as a treatment for this purpose.
5. Which of the following provides the best protection against pregnancy?
- Diaphragm
- Spermicide
- Male Condoms
- Hormonal Implants
The correct answer is: Hormonal Implants
Out of the four birth control options listed, hormonal implants provide the best protection against pregnancy, with less than 1 woman out of 100 getting pregnant after the first year. The other methods all have higher pregnancy rates.
6.Which one of the following types of contraception is permanent?
- Hormonal Implants
- Hormonal Injections
- Female Sterilization
- Intra-Uterine Device
The correct answer is: Female Sterilization
Female sterilization is the only type of contraception that is permanent. This means that once you have the procedure, you will never be able to become pregnant. It is important to know and understand the risks before being sterilized. Hormonal implants last for up to three years; each hormonal injection lasts for either one month or three months; and the intra-uterine device lasts for 10 years (copper) or 5 years (progesterone).
Key Facts
- Decide on how to prevent pregnancy and STIs before becoming sexually active.
- Contraception methods vary in effectiveness and cost.
- Using two methods (such as birth control pills and condoms) greatly decreases your chances of becoming pregnant and getting an STI.
You may be starting to think about what it means to be involved in a sexual relationship. There are many things that you need to think about before you decide to have sex, including whether this is the right person, the right time in your life, and how you will feel if the relationship breaks up. If you do decide to have sex, you need to think about how to prevent getting pregnant and how to protect yourself from getting a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
You should talk to your parents, guardian, a trusted adult, or your health care provider if you are thinking about having a sexual relationship. It is a good idea to discuss all your choices and all the concerns and worries you may have so you can make good decisions. This can be a very confusing time for you, and it is always good to have someone to talk to.
What types of contraception are there?
There are many different types of contraception that vary in how effective they are at preventing pregnancy, how much they cost, how easy they are to use, and whether they also protect against STIs. Using two types of contraceptive methods, such as the birth control pill and condoms, increases protection against both pregnancy and STIs. Males use some types of contraception and females use other types of contraception. If you are having a sexual relationship with a male, it’s good to know all about the different types of female and male contraception. Together, you and your partner should figure out the best choice for the two of you. Whatever type of contraception one of you uses can influence the health of both people in the relationship. Only females can get pregnant, but everyone can get a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
If you have sexual intercourse, you are always at risk for pregnancy and STIs, but if you practice safer sex with only one partner (who is uninfected and has no other sexual partners) and you make good decisions about contraception, you can greatly lower your risk.
Contraceptive methods include:
Most Effective
Effective
Least Effective
Here’s a list of the many available types of contraception, and the pros and cons of using each.
| Hormonal Implants |
| Success Rate with Typical Use: 99% |
| Pros |
Cons |
- Long-term method of birth control (protects against pregnancy for 3 years after insertion–it can be removed by a health care provider when you want to, or you can wait for 3 years when it’s time for a change of implant)
- Very effective against pregnancy
- May cause light or no menstrual periods
|
- Doesn’t protect against STIs
- Requires minor surgery and insertion of the tiny rod(s) underneath the skin
- Requires minor surgery to remove device
- Can cause side effects such as irregular menstrual periods, depression, nervousness, hair loss, and weight gain
- Could get infection at area where rod is implanted
|
|
|
| Success Rate with Typical Use: 99% |
| Pros |
Cons |
- Very effective against pregnancy
- Provide protection against pregnancy when in place in your uterus- protects as soon as inserted (so don’t need to remember to use contraception if you have sexual intercourse)
- Doesn’t need daily attention
- Comfortable- you and your partner cannot feel the IUD, although you partner may feel the string
- The levonorgestrel IUD (Mirena®, Skyla®, Lilleta®, Kyleena™) lessens menstrual flow and can be used to treat heavy periods
|
- Both types do not protect against STIs. Other methods should be considered if high risk for STIs. Needs to be inserted by a health care provider.
- Slightly higher risk of infection in the first 20 days after insertion
- Cannot be placed in patients with known uterine anomalies
- Can fall out or can rarely puncture the uterus
- Slightly higher risk for infection in the first 20 days after insertion
- The Copper IUD can have side effects such as menstrual cramping, longer and/or heavier menstrual periods, and spotting between menstrual periods.
|
| Depo-Provera Hormonal Injection |
| Success Rate with Typical Use: 96% |
| Pros |
Cons |
- Each injection provides 3 months of protection against pregnancy
- Very effective against pregnancy if used correctly
- Many women stop getting their menstrual period while getting injections. (This is not a medical problem and menstrual periods usually return 6-18 months after you stop taking injections)
- Helps protect against uterine cancer
- Doesn’t interrupt sexual activity
|
- Doesn’t protect against STIs
- Need to see your health care provider every 3 months for an injection
- Depending on your insurance, your birth control may be free or there may be a co-pay
- May have side effects such as weight gain, tiredness, and possibly a decrease in bone density
- Many women have very irregular menstrual bleeding or spotting for the first 3 to 6 months and sometimes longer
|
| Birth Control Pills |
| Success Rate with Typical Use: 93% |
| Pros |
Cons |
- Very effective against pregnancy if used correctly
- Makes menstrual periods more regular and lighter
- Decreases menstrual cramps and acne
- Makes you less likely to get ovarian and uterine cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease, ovarian cysts, and anemia
|
- Doesn’t protect against STIs
- Depending on your insurance, your birth control may be free or there may be a co-pay.
- Need to remember to take every day at the same time
- Can’t be used by women with certain medical problems or by women taking certain medications
- Can occasionally cause side effects such as nausea, increased appetite, headaches, and, very rarely, blood clots
- Need a prescription
|
| Hormone Patch (Ortho-Evra) (Xulane) |
| Success Rate with Typical Use: 91% |
| Pros |
Cons |
- Very effective against pregnancy if used correctly
- Makes menstrual periods more regular and lighter
- Decreases menstrual cramps and acne
- Makes you less likely to get ovarian and uterine cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease, ovarian cysts, and anemia
- Doesn’t interrupt sexual activity
|
- Doesn’t protect against STIs
- Still need condoms to lower the risk of STIs
- Can’t be used by women with certain medical problems or by women taking certain medications
- Can occasionally cause side effects such as nausea, increased appetite, headaches, and irregular bleeding in the first few cycles
- Increased risk of blood clots
- Need a prescription
|
| Vaginal Hormonal Ring (NuvaRing®, Annovera™) |
| 93% (NuvaRing),-97% (Annovera™) |
| Pros |
Cons |
- Very effective against pregnancy if used correctly
- Makes menstrual periods more regular and lighter
- Decreases menstrual cramps and acne
- Makes you less likely to get ovarian and uterine cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease, ovarian cysts, and anemia
- Doesn’t interrupt sexual activity
|
- Doesn’t protect against STIs
- Still need condoms to lower the risk of STIs
- Can’t be used by women with certain medical problems or by women taking certain medications
- Can occasionally cause side effects such as nausea, increased appetite, headaches
- Increased risk of blood clots
|
| Diaphragm |
| Success Rate with Typical Use: 83% |
| Pros |
Cons |
- Can be put in place right before intercourse or 2-3 hours before intercourse
- Don’t need to take out between acts of sexual intercourse (protects against pregnancy for about 6 hours, but need to reapply spermicide)
|
- Doesn’t protect against STIs
- Need to get fitted by a health care provider and need a prescription
- May be difficult to find
- Can’t take out until 6 hours after intercourse
- Cost $25-$45, plus the cost of spermicidal gel
- May get moved out of place during sexual intercourse
- Some women may be allergic to the diaphragm or to the spermicide
- Need to be re-fitted after a 10 pound weight gain or loss and after pregnancy
- Can be messy
- Need to reapply spermicide with each act of sexual intercourse
- Can cause an increase in urinary tract infections
|
| Cervical Cap |
| Success Rate with Typical Use: 83% |
| Pros |
Cons |
- Can insert several hours before sexual intercourse
- Can leave in place 24-48 hours, will give protected sex for up to 48 hours
- Use less spermicide with the cap than with the diaphragm, no need to apply more spermicide with each act of intercourse
|
- Doesn’t protect against STIs
- Cost $30-$50, plus the cost of spermicidal gel
- Need to be fitted by a health care provider and need a prescription
- Limited sizes available
- Can’t take out until 6-8 hours after intercourse
- May get moved out of place
- Some women may be allergic to material of cap or to spermicide
- Can’t be used by women with a history of abnormal Pap tests
- Can cause increased urinary tract infections
|
| External (Male) Condom |
| Success Rate with Typical Use: 87% |
| Pros |
Cons |
- Lowers risk of STIs
- Contraception that provides the most protection against sexually transmitted infections (latex condoms are best)
- Don’t cost much (50 cents each), can buy at almost any drug store (don’t need a prescription)
- Men feel they can “last longer” when using a condom
- Allow men to have an active part in preventing pregnancy
|
- Have to use a new one every time you have sexual intercourse (can only be used once)
- May disrupt/interrupt sexual activity as it needs to be put on just before penetration
- Can break
- Women may be allergic to latex
|
| Internal (Female )Condom |
| Success Rate with Typical Use: 79% |
| Pros |
Cons |
- Provide protection against STIs (new product, so not clear how much protection given) and pregnancy
- Can be inserted well before intercourse so less interruption of sexual activity
- Male does not need to withdraw right after ejaculation, as he does with a male condom
|
- May move or be uncomfortable
- Can only use for one act of sexual intercourse
- Cost about $2.50 each
|
| Withdrawal |
| Success Rate with Typical Use: 80% |
| Pros |
Cons |
- Natural, so no side effects
- Doesn’t cost anything
- Allows men to be an active part of preventing pregnancy
|
- Doesn’t protect against STIs
- Not very effective method of contraception
- Difficult for male to always predict ejaculation
- May decrease sexual pleasure of woman since need to always be thinking about what is happening during sexual intercourse
- No control by women- need to rely completely on men to prevent pregnancy
|
| Contraceptive Sponge |
| Success Rate with Typical Use: 76-83% |
| Pros |
Cons |
- Can insert right before or several hours before sexual intercourse and will provide protection against pregnancy for a total of 24 hours
- Don’t need a prescription
|
- Doesn’t protect against STIs and may increase the risk of HIV infection in women who have sex multiple times daily because of irritation from the spermicide
- Can’t take out until 6 hours after sexual intercourse
- Can’t be used by women who are allergic to nonoxynol-9 (in the spermicides)
- Increases urinary tract infections
|
| Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) |
| Success Rate with Typical Use (only applies if you meet all conditions): 98% |
| Pros |
Cons |
- Natural
- Costs nothing
- No side effects
|
- Only effective in women who have given birth in last 6 months, who have not had a menstrual period after childbirth and are feeding their babies only breast milk
- Doesn’t protect against STIs
- Only effective until menstrual period returns
- May need to use a lubricant with sexual intercourse because of vaginal dryness
|
| Fertility Awareness Based Methods |
| Success Rate with Typical Use: 75-86% depending on method |
| Pros |
Cons |
- Natural
- Approved by many religions
- Woman gets to know her body and menstrual cycles
- Can be helpful for partners who are very careful and don’t have sex during ovulation period and several days before and after
|
- Doesn’t protect against STIs
- Need to figure out when ovulating for each month, which may be difficult in those with irregular periods
- Requires a lot of work- need careful instruction and the woman needs to figure out when ovulating
|
| Spermicide |
| Success Rate with Typical Use: 79% |
| Pros |
Cons |
- Doesn’t cost much, available at many drug stores, don’t need a prescription
|
- Doesn’t protect against STIs and may increase the risk of HIV infection in women who have sex multiple times daily because of irritation from the spermicide
- Effectiveness usually lasts only one hour (need to reapply each time have sexual intercourse)
- Some women and men may be allergic to spermicides
- May interrupt sexual activity (some forms need to be inserted at 10-20 minutes before intercourse)
- Has a lower effectiveness against pregnancy than many other types of contraception- should use with another form of contraception to increase effectiveness
|
| Tubal Ligation (Female Sterilization) |
| Success Rate with Typical Use: 99% |
| Pros |
Cons |
- Very effective against pregnancy
- One time decision that will provide protection against pregnancy forever
|
- Need to have minor surgery
- Permanent (although it is possible to undo sterilization with major surgery, it’s not always successful)
- Only should be used by women who are absolutely sure that they do not want any or any more children
- Expensive- ranges from $1000-$2500- but cost for contraception spread over rest of life
- No protection against STIs
|
https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/contraception/index.htm#Contraceptive-Effectiveness
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