TeenHealthFX - Answers - Birth Control

Other Birth Control Method Questions And Concerns / Question
Published: November 1, 2000

Dear TeenHealthFX,

I would appreciate some general information on birth control methods for me.

Signed: Birth Control

Dear Birth Control,

Please see Updated Birth Control Infomation for the most up to date information on Birth Control method. The below information is outdated and serves only as a link to this new question. Thank you!

TeenHealthFX is happy to answer your question about birth control methods. It is good that you are taking an interest in protecting yourself; this shows responsibility. There are multiple methods available to females and males in order to prevent pregnancy and STD's, but it is up to you to choose which method of birth control that will work for you.

Some things to consider when making a choice are:

Your lifestyle (Are you busy? Do you have a good memory? Are you seldom sexually active?)
Its effectiveness.
Affordability and availability
Is it reversible?
Protection against STDs

Only you can answer these questions and decide which method will be the best protection and fit your individual relationship and lifestyle. A person who only has sex once a year, might choose one method and a person who is in a serious relationship will probably opt for a different method. The key to remember when choosing a birth control method is that there are many different methods and you may need to try different ones to see which works best in your situation.

The first type of method, which is the number one choice, is Abstinence. This is the only method that is 100% effective against both pregnancy and STD prevention. There is absolutely no cost to its user, except self-control. TeenHealthFX highly reccommends abstinence over any other method of birth control. FX realizes though that this may not be a choice that all of our readers are willing to make. Becasue of this, there are several other methods of birth control which we will outline.

Hormonal Methods - There are several kinds of hormonal methods that include the birth control pill, Depo-Provera and Norplant to name a few.

1. Birth Control Pill: It can be a combination of one or two hormones, Progestin and Estrogen. Your doctor, gynecologist, adolescent medicine physician or teen health center must prescribe this method. The pill works by preventing the release of an egg from the ovary. It also thickens the cervical mucus in order to keep the sperm from joining with the egg.

Advantages:

99-95% effective against pregnancy when taken properly
Decreases risks of certain cancers (like ovarian cancer)
Can relieve or eliminate cramps; periods are often shorter & lighter & they occur regularly

Disadvantages:

No protection against STDs
Side effects possible (weight gain, mood swings, breast tenderness) but most are minor and can go away after a few months
Cost $25-30 a pack but you can usually get them at a reduced cost at Planned Parenthood or teen health center
Should be taken same time every day. Sometimes a person with a bad memory will opt for another method of birth control if they cannot remember to take the pill every day.
Should not smoke or try to reduce smoking while taking the birth control pill due to the possibility of increased risk of serious health concerns.
Some serious adverse side effects are risk of blood clots and heart attacks. These are rare in young, healthy women.

2. Depo-Provera: This is a shot of Progestin in your arm or butt every 12 weeks.

Advantages:

99.7% effective against pregnancy
Only need to remember to go to the doctor every 12 weeks to get the shot
Private - There are no pills that can be found

Disadvantages:

Not good choice if you don't like needles
Must remember to make appointment for shot every month
Some side effects include loss of period, discomfort, headaches and irregular bleeding
This can be a good choice for those teens who don?t like to or can?t remember to take a pill every day.
No STD protection
Has been suggested that it can cause decreased bone mass

3. Norplant: This is the insertion of six tiny capsules under your skin that release small amounts of progestin over five years. It prevents the release of an egg and thickens the cervical mucus. Removal is possible, but costly. This is usually not the first choice for teens because this is a surgical procedure and it is a long-term choice.

Advantages:

99.5% effective
Lasts up to five years and does not require any type of daily hassle

Disadvantages:

Can cause scarring

Can cause scarring and can be seen on upper arm

Expensive depending upon doctor individual fee

Has been suggested that it can cause decreased bone mass

No STD protection

Barrier Methods

1. Condoms: They can be used by either male or females, but not at the same time. Condoms should be combined with spermicide for added protection against pregnancy. Female condoms are polyurethane sleeve that fits in the vagina. Male condoms are placed on the erect penis, and usually used with lubricant or jelly.

Advantages:

Cheap and easily obtained from drugstore, food store, or teen health clinic
Offers some protection against pregnancy and STD?s
Male Condom is 88% effective ? more effective when used with spermicide
Female condom is 90% effective

Disadvantages:

Biggest risk is improper usage which may cause breakage (make sure to read directions)
Must remember in heat of the moment

Condoms are ideal for teens to use because they are widely available and can be used on a situational basis. Many doctors recommend that condoms be used with spermicide (preferably non-nonoxyol 9 and the pill or Depo-provera. This can offer some protection against STDs and double protection against pregnancy.

2 Diaphragm: This is a soft rubber disk or bowl that fits over the cervix, which your doctor will specifically fit to your body.

Advantages:

No hormonal side effects and can last several years
Can insert up to 1-2 hours before intercourse

Disadvantages:

Spermicide must be applied before effect act of sex
Not effective against STD's
Can be tricky to insert

3. Cervical Cap: A snugger fitting form of a diaphragm, which forms a cap over the cervix.

Advantages:

80-94% effective against pregnancy
Can be inserted up to 24 hours in advance and left in longer

Disadvantages:

No STD protection
Spermicide must be used each time

Other Methods

There are other methods of birth control such as Sterilization, IUD, Withdrawal, Periodic Abstinence or Fertility Awareness methods. These methods are not ideal for teens for many different reasons.

Sterilization- is a completely permanent method of birth control that does not give you the options or freedom to choose or change their mind about having children later in life.

IUD- is an intrauterine device that is not medically safe because it increases risk of PID (pelvic inflammatory disease), a severe sexually transmitted infection in the uterus and tubes, which is very dangerous to a teen's body while it is still maturing.

Periodic Abstinence and Fertility Awareness methods- are not ideal for teens because they provide a very low rate of protection against pregnancy due to a female teen's irregular menstrual cycle. In order for these methods to be even slightly effective, you must be incredibly diligent and very predictable in your cycle.

Withdrawal method is not good either for several reasons - the most important being that males tend to ejaculate a little semen in the beginning of a sex act. This semen contains sperm and can get a female pregnant or transmit an STD. Another reason for not practicing the withdrawal method is that some men have trouble "pulling out" in time. Please be safe and choose an alternative method.

Emergency Contraception - is important to know about if you have unprotected sex. Read this response to find out about it and when to use it. As you can see there are many methods to choose from and it will take some experimenting before deciding what is going to work best for you and your partner. The cost of various methods will vary and you can often get them at a reduced cost at teen health clinics. TeenHealthFX knows that you have quite a lot of hard choices to make and hope that they work out for the best. If you have any more specific questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Signed: TeenHealthFX