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What Method is Right for Me?
This decision is based on several factors, including patient preference, convenience, pre-existing medical conditions, risks and benefits, and side effects. Your family planning provider at Venus Family Planning can help you make the choice that is right for you.
Female Choices:
Male Choices:
What if We Decide to Get Pregnant?
All methods of birth control, with the exception of permanent sterilization, are reversible. After discontinuing your birth control, you should be able to become pregnant. This may happen right away, or it may take a few weeks or months, depending on the type of contraception you have chosen.
Think You’re Pregnant?
Signs and Symptoms
Pregnancy symptoms differ from woman to woman. One of the most common pregnancy symptoms is a delayed or missed period. Some women experience signs or symptoms of pregnancy within a week of conception (when the egg is fertilized). For other women, pregnancy symptoms may develop over a few weeks or may not be present at all. Implantation bleeding may be one of the earliest pregnancy symptoms. About six to 12 days after conception, the embryo implants into the uterine wall. Some women may experience spotting or cramping. Swollen or tender breasts is a pregnancy symptom which may begin as early as one to two weeks after conception. Women may notice changes in their breasts. They may be tender to the touch, sore, or swollen. Morning sickness will often show up between two to eight weeks after conception. Some women are fortunate to not deal with morning sickness at all, while others will feel sick throughout most of their pregnancy.
Testing
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, and you are sexually active, you should have a pregnancy test as soon as possible. These are available at your local pharmacy or clinic. Free pregnancy testing is available at Venus Family Planning for new patients.
Options
Pregnant women have three options: Give birth and keep the child as your own, adoption, or abortion. Venus Family Planning offers pregnancy counseling, if needed. You should also discuss your options with the baby’s father, your parents or your physician, if appropriate.
Prenatal Vitamins
Prenatal vitamins are a specially formulated vitamin for women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. Additional folic acid in these vitamins may help prevent birth defects, however you must start taking them as soon as possible for them to be effective. If you decide to carry your pregnancy to term, start taking prenatal vitamins right away. If you are planning a pregnancy, you should start taking prenatal vitamins before you get pregnant. Venus Family Planning offers prenatal vitamins at no charge.
FEMALE CHOICES
Abstinence is the ONLY known method of birth control that is 100 percent effective. Abstinence means that the male’s penis NEVER touches your vagina.
Abstinence is the ONLY known method of birth control that is 100 percent effective. Abstinence means that the male’s penis NEVER touches your vagina.
Condoms
Condoms are important for those who wish to be sexually active, for two reasons. First, they are the only method of birth control that will help prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Second, if used properly, condoms are between 90 and 97 percent effective as birth control. This means that for 100 pregnancies that would have occurred during a given year, condoms will prevent up to 97 of them. When combined with another method of birth control, they are even more effective.
Venus Family Planning offers condoms FREE to anyone who wants them.
Other barrier methods
Other barrier methods include the female condom, diaphragm and cervical cap. Diaphragms and cervical caps are only about 80 percent effective at preventing pregnancy. These methods are not available at Venus.
Oral Contraceptives (aka “The Pill”)
Also known as “the pill”, oral contraceptives are available in many different formulations. The pill must be taken EVERY day to be effective. Oral contraceptives contain artificial hormones that stop the ovaries from releasing eggs. They also thicken the mucus in the cervix so it is harder for sperm to enter. Risks include: blood clots, heart attack, stroke, but are very rare, especially in young women. Your provider can help you select an oral contraceptive that is right for you. Oral contraceptives do NOT protect against STDs.
Contraceptive Patch
Ortho Evra is the only brand now available at Venus. One patch is worn each week for three weeks of each month. During the fourth week, no patch is worn. This is when the menstrual period usually occurs. The patch also contains hormones that work in the same way as the pill. Risks are similar to oral contraceptives. The patch does NOT protect against STDs.
Vaginal Contraceptive Ring
NuvaRing is the only brand now available at Venus. It is inserted inside the vagina and is left in place for three weeks. Once removed, menses should occur. A new ring is placed the following week. The vaginal contraceptive ring also contains hormones that work in the same way as the pill. The ring does NOT protect against STDs.
Hormone Shots
Venus offers Depo-Provera, an injectable form of the female hormone progesterone. One injection every 12 weeks provides 99 percent effective pregnancy prevention. Side effects can include irregular menses, mood changes, weight gain and acne. Hormone shots do NOT protect against STDs.
Implantable Contraception
Implantable contraception is one form of long-term reversible birth control (also known as long-acting reversible contraception, or LARC). Implanon is currently the only implantable contraception available at Venus. It consists of a small rod containing the female hormone progesterone, which is inserted through a small incision just under the skin in the upper arm. Implanon is 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy for up to three years. After three years, it must be removed. A new one can then be inserted, if desired. Side effects are similar to Depo-Provera injections. Implantable contraception does NOT protect against STDs.
Intrauterine Device (IUD)
There are two forms of IUD currently available at Venus: Paraguard does not contain hormones and works for 10-12 years; Mirena contains the female hormone progesterone and is effective for five years. Both types work by preventing the sperm from fertilizing the egg. IUDs are placed inside your uterus by a clinician at Venus Family Planning. Two small strings are left hanging out of the cervix, and can be felt inside the vagina. These strings help with removal of the IUD. IUDs do NOT protect against STDs.
Permanent Sterilization
For women who do not want any more children, permanent sterilization in the form of a tubal ligation (commonly known as getting your tubes tied) is available. Tubal ligation is performed by a surgeon in a hospital setting under general anesthesia. Risks include pain, scarring and anesthesia risks, including death. Tubal ligation should be considered permanent and irreversible. It’s effectiveness approaches 100 percent, but there is NO protection from STDs.
A new procedure, known as Essure, can be performed in a physician’s office. This is also a permanent sterilization, but without the risk of general anesthesia.
Plan B Contraception
If your primary method of birth control fails (for example, the condom breaks) emergency contraception gives you a second chance to prevent pregnancy after sex.
What is Emergency Contraception?
Emergency contraception can prevent pregnancy when taken as directed within 72 hours of unprotected sex or contraceptive failure. “Plan B” (as it is commonly known) is now available over the counter for women aged 17 or older and can reduce the risk of pregnancy by 89 percent. Women aged 14 and up can get Plan B at Venus Family Planning. They can be assured complete confidentiality.
How is “Plan B” taken?
Plan B is two tablets. The first tablet is taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure. The second tablet is taken 12 hours later.
How Does it Work?
Emergency contraception (EC) can prevent pregnancy in several ways, just like regular birth control pills. It may stop the egg from being released, preventing fertilization. It may also affect the lining of the uterus, so an egg cannot attach and grow.
What Methods Are Available?
There are three methods of EC available in the United States:
1. Progestin pills – Plan B as discussed above.
2. Combined pills – These must be obtained through a healthcare provider or family planning clinic. The chance of pregnancy is less than 3%.(6)
3. Copper-T IUD – An intrauterine device must be placed by a healthcare provider or family planning clinic. It must be placed within five days after unprotected sex. The chance of pregnancy is less than 1 percent (0.6%). (See Birth Control Methods for further discussion of IUDs.)
MALE CHOICES
Abstinence is the ONLY known method of birth control that is 100 percent effective. Abstinence means that your penis NEVER touches the woman’s vagina.
Condoms are the main alternative for those who wish to be sexually active, but may still want a family someday. If used properly, condoms are between 90 and 97 percent effective as birth control. This means that for 100 pregnancies that would have occurred during a given year, condoms will prevent up to 97 of them.
Venus Family Planning offers condoms FREE to anyone who wants them.
For males who do not want any more children, permanent sterilization in the form of a vasectomy is available. Commonly known as “getting fixed,” this is an office procedure done under local anesthesia. Pain and complications are usually very minimal. Vasectomy should be considered permanent and irreversible. It’s effectiveness approaches 100 percent, although occasionally there are reports of a pregnancy following vasectomy, these usually occur soon after the procedure and are likely due to residual sperm in the vas deferens.
Many teenage girls will become pregnant because they don’t use birth control, or use a method that doesn’t work. Males play a big role in birth control because often women wait for their boyfriends to suggest sex and talk about birth control. So if you are a man, you need to know the basic facts about sex and pregnancy.