Notes

The only method of absolutely preventing pregnancy is abstinence (not having sexual intercourse).

What are the three main categories of contraception?
The Barrier Method, which prevents sperm from meeting the egg.
The Hormonal Method, which creates changes in the body to alter normal bodily functions, preventing ovulation or implantation of a fertilized egg.
The Surgical Method, which separates vital passages needed for pregnancy to occur.


Cervical Cap
cervical cap
Made of latex rubber and fits over the cervix.
Stops sperm from entering the uterus.
Must be fitted by a medical professional.
Offers no protection from STDs.
Occasional mild allergic reactions to rubber or cream or jelly may occur.
The cap may occasionally become dislodged during sex.
Only three sizes are available and will not fit all women.
May be used by women who cannot use the diaphragm.


Male Condoms
male condom
A tube of latex or animal tissue placed onto a man's erect penis before intercourse.
Collects a man's semen and keeps sperm from entering the other person's body.
Offers some protection against STDs.
The use of spermicidal foams, creams, and jelly increases this protection.
A new condom must be used for each act of intercourse.
Wearing one condom over another for added protection can tear the condom.
Condoms may be purchased by men and women, and there are no age restrictions.
After ejaculation, but before losing the erection, the rim of the condom must be held against the penis as the man withdraws to prevent the condom from slipping and spilling semen.


The Female Condom
female condom
A large pouch made of thin plastic inserted into the vagina, lining the cervix and vagina, and covering the area around the vaginal opening.
Stops semen from entering a woman's vagina.
Must not be used with the male condom—can rupture either or both and become ineffective.
Offers some protection from STDs.
It should be taken out after intercourse and a new one used prior to each intercourse.


Diaphragm
diaphragm
A soft rubber cup with a flexible rim around the edge inserted next to the cervix before intercourse, covering the entrance to the uterus.
It should always be used with a spermicide.
It must be fitted by a medical professional and fit properly in order to work well.
A diaphragm may become dislodged during sex.
Need to check for holes in rubber dome occasionally.
Must be removed within 24 hours; there is a possibility of toxic shock.
May cause frequent bladder infections.

Hormonal contraceptives do two things. First, they interfere with ovulation, decreasing the ability of the ovary to produce an ovum. Secondly, they make the lining of the uterus inhospitable to the fertilized egg. Watch the tutorials below to learn about the options available to females.


The birth control pill is one of the oldest forms of contraception. Developed in the 1960s, it consists of taking a pill every day that conveys hormones at some time during the cycle. Hence a woman has normal menstruation at a particular time.
The hormones in the pill are similar to those produced by the woman’s body. The pill changes the lining of the uterus and keeps the ovaries from releasing the egg if the monthly series is taken. If one pill or more is forgotten, the protection from pregnancy may be lost.

Advantages of the pill include: that it is one of the most reliable methods of birth control and it is easy to use. Periods are generally more regular with much less cramping and blood loss. It should be noted that sometimes the pill is prescribed for young girls who are not in a sexual relationship in order to regulate periods. There is also less iron deficiency anemia caused by the blood loss in menstruation. There are fewer ectopic and tubal pregnancies among its users. It may offer some protection from non-cancerous breast tumors, ovarian cysts, and offers some protection from infection of the tubes and ovaries, cancer of the uterus and cancer of the ovaries. Cancer of the uterus and cancer of the ovaries. The pill does not protect against any sexually transmitted diseases. The pill is generally ruled out for use by women who have blood clots or inflammation of the veins, serious liver disease or unexplained bleeding from the vagina, also any suspicion of cancer or abnormal growth of the breast or uterus. It is also considered a problem for women who are heavy smokers.

Special tests are sometimes required to determine whether or not a female should take the pill. There are some conditions that could get worse by using the pill, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

The warning signs for the pill in which you should seek immediate medical attention include:unusual swelling or pain in the legs; yellowing of the skin or eyes (also known as Jaundice); pain in the abdomen, chest, or arms; shortness of breath; severe headache; severe depression; and eye problems such as blurred or double vision.


SLIDE 1
Like most hormonal contraceptives, Depo Provera stops the release of the egg and the
sperm, as well as it thickens the mucosal lining of the uterus. And if fertilization has
taken place, it prevents the fertilized egg from implanting in the lining of the uterus.
SLIDE 2
Depo Provera prevents about 99% of pregnancies. The advantages of Depo Provera
include that it is a highly effective form of protection for about 12 weeks, and obviously
the user does not have to plan ahead if in a sexual relationship.
SLIDE 3
Depo Provera is best suited for women who are in a long-term continuous relationship,
but it is sometimes prescribed for teenagers who are not at risk for STDs. It should be
noted that girls can still contract sexually transmitted diseases, because hormonal
methods of birth control do not provide any protection from STDs.
The patient who uses Depo Provera would receive an injection from a health care
professional about every 12 weeks. These injections contain the hormones that either
stop ovulation, or make the lining of the uterus thicker and more inhospitable to the
fertilized egg.
SLIDE 4
Depo Provera does not provide any protection for sexually transmitted diseases. It is
suited for a woman who is in a monogamous relationship, and who needs long-term
continuous birth control.
Because it contains many of the same hormones that are utilized in the pill, some of the
same symptoms are also associated with Depo Provera: a bloated feeling, water gain or
weight gain. These types of things are all common with Depo Provera. Perhaps they
could also include heavy cramping, spotting, and headaches. Some women have pain
in the legs or jaundice conditions, sometimes a shortness of breath, and sometimes
blurred or double vision might occur.
Depo Provera is one of the newer drugs in terms of hormonal contraception.


The IUD is a very effective means of birth control. In the neighborhood of 97% for plastic IUDs and very close to 100% for those containing copper. The advantage for using an IUD is that the woman does not have to think about the birth control method every time she is going to have sex. The IUD may also be used for emergency contraception up to five days after having sexual intercourse. In other words, if a woman has unprotected sexual intercourse, she can have an IUD placed, and that will disrupt and keep the fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus.

As far as who can use the IUD—most women who have families that are complete and who have a monogamous relationship, meaning one sexual partner, can use the IUD very well. There are, however, certain health conditions that rule out the use of the IUD.

For some people, the insertion may be uncomfortable, like having bad menstrual cramps. This is usually brief. A string on the IUD comes through the cervix and into the vaginal area. The woman should feel periodically for the string, especially after menstruation to insure that the IUD is in place. Some IUDs can be used for up to ten years.

As with a lot of hormonal contraceptives, there are some possible problems. Most women adjust to the use of an IUD very well. But, some of the following can occur: cramping or bleeding between periods, periods that may be heavier or last longer, the device can in some instances, particularly during menstruation, become dislodged and pass out in to the vaginal area.

If the woman becomes pregnant, the IUD must be removed immediately as there is a very high risk of serious infection. Removal also reduces the risk of miscarriage or premature delivery. IUD users have a higher risk than non-users of ectopic or tubal pregnancy. If this happens, surgery may be required. Also, women who have had pelvic infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, or who have never been pregnant or who have more than one sexual partner have a greater chance of infection. The infection may increase the risk of tubal pregnancies in the future and may have complications that will require the removal of all reproductive organs.

There are some warning signals that people need to be aware of, using the IUD. Severe cramping or increased pain in the lower abdominal area, pain during sex, unexplained fever or chills, sometimes a bad-smelling discharge and also not being able to feel the string to which the IUD is attached that hangs down in to the vaginal area. Also, a missed or light period.



Tutorial: Contraceptives – Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECPS)
SLIDE 1
Emergency contraceptive pills, better known as ECPS, is a type of contraceptive that is
available only through prescription. It can be taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sex.
The pills either keep the ovary from releasing an egg, or change the lining of the uterus
in such a way that the fertilized egg may not attach and develop into a pregnancy.
SLIDE 2
These series of pills work very well. Statistically, only 8 people out of 100 who have
unprotected sex during their fertile time will become pregnant. It has the advantage that
it can be taken up to 72 hours after having sexual intercourse.
SLIDE 3
This method of contraception works very well for women who are at risk for accidental
pregnancy, or who are not already pregnant. For example, if a condom breaks, or if a
woman is raped, or she has unprotected sex, this can be a very useful method in
preventing pregnancy.
The ECPS series of pills is really a combination of birth control pills that is taken as
soon as possible after a single action of vaginal intercourse. As mentioned before, they
must be taken within 72 hours of that intercourse taking place.
SLIDE 4
As we have stated before, as far as hormonal methods of birth control, there are
problems associated with them. Because the emergency contraceptive pills are similar
to the pill, you can expect the same types of symptoms, including nausea and vomiting,
possible breast tenderness, and irregular bleeding. Also, headaches may occur. If you
do not have a period within 3 weeks after taking the EPCS pills, you could be pregnant.
One thing that we would like for you to take with you from this particular section is that if
you are going to be sexually active, you need to be sexually planning for your
pregnancies. “Hope” is not a method. You need to be a responsible individual to plan for
the situations that would result in bringing new life on the planet earth.

Surgical Birth Control

The vasectomy is a male surgical method where the ends of the male's vas deferens are sealed closed so that sperm cannot travel to the seminal fluid. This is a permanent method of birth control.

A tubal ligation is a female surgical method where the fallopian tubes are tied, thus preventing the ovum from traveling down the tube. This is a permanent method of birth control.




Sexually Transmitted Diseases (also called STDs) are infections that can be transferred from one person to another through sexual contact. Do you have all of the facts about STDs? Click on the prompts below to complete the sentences for a few facts about STDs.

think and click Males may have:

more visible symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases than females.

think and click Bacterial and yeast STDs can be:

treated and cured, most often with antibiotics.

think and click Viral STDs:

cannot be cured, and treatment is very limited.

County Health Departments offer free or low-cost exams and treatment for STDs. The doctor/patient relationship protects information you share with a doctor or health care professional. This means no one can be informed (including parents) if you have an STD.

STDs are very serious business. They can have lifelong effects whose consequences may include impotency or death. The only way to make sure that you will not contract a sexually transmitted disease is to remain abstinent.