Prevention:
Family Health Services offers medical examination, education, and supplies on a sliding fee scale to help you decide what method of birth control is right for you.

Effectiveness rates taken from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, except for condom use without foam, taken from the Alan Guttmacher Institute.

FACTS ABOUT BIRTH CONTROL

This site tells you about the different ways to prevent pregnancy. The only way that ALWAYS works to prevent pregnancy is not to have vaginal intercourse. If you do have vaginal intercourse, using a birth control method will lower your chance of pregnancy. Women who have sex for a year, and who don't use birth control, have a 60% to 80% chance of getting pregnant.
Different people need different methods of birth control. You need to think about how important it is to prevent a pregnancy right now, or how you and your partner would use a birth control method like the pill or the condom. Be sure to ask us any questions you have.
Some birth control methods need to be prescribed. These are the birth control pill, Nuva Ring, Evra Patch, Depo-Provera, the IUD, the Diaphragm and the cervical cap. Not every woman can use these methods. A physical examination and medical history are needed to see if one of these methods is right for you. After starting one of these methods, a woman should have another examination once a year, or more often if needed.

ABSTINENCE (Not having sexual intercourse)
If used consistently, abstinence is a very effective method of preventing an unplanned pregnancy or a sexually transmitted disease. The advantages of postponing sex are: it is free and doesn't have any side effects.

STERILIZATION
This is permanent method of birth control. It gives the most protection from pregnancy. It is intended only for women who will never want to become pregnancy in the future, or for men who will never want to father a baby in the future. If you are interested in sterilization for men or women, ask your clinic about it.

LESS EFFECTIVE FORMS OF BIRTH CONTROL
Withdrawal - pulling the penis out of the vagina before ejaculation is not an effective method of birth control. It is better than nothing, but it is not a suggested method for someone who is serious about preventing a pregnancy.
Reasons: When the penis gets hard, fluids containing sperm are released and can cause pregnancy. The male might not pull out in time. It is unsatisfactory in that it does not allow either partner to relax.
Douching - washing out the vagina in an attempt to wash away sperm is not an effective method of birth control.
Reasons: Sperm quickly swim into the uterus, not out of the vagina.
Breast Feeding - is not an effective method of birth control.
Reasons: Usually women do not release eggs (ovulate) while breast-feeding, but some do.

MYTHS (UNTRUTHS) ABOUT BIRTH CONTROL

1. A woman can't get pregnant the first time she has intercourse (FALSE) Reason: A woman can be fertile at any time.
   
2. Certain positions will prevent pregnancy (FALSE)
   Reason: Positions offer variety. Sperm swim in any direction.
   
3. If the penis doesn't go into the vagina there isn't any chance of pregnancy. (FALSE)
   Reason: Sperm deposited on the outside of the vagina can swim into the vagina.
   
4. A woman can't get pregnant during her menstrual period (FALSE)
   Reason: A woman can release an egg at any time, and sperm can live for many days in fallopian tubes.
   
5. If the woman doesn't have an orgasm she won't get pregnant. (FALSE)
   Orgasms have nothing to do with conception.

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Emergency Contraception Pills

What are emergency contraception pills (ECPs)?

• ECPs are a safe and effective method of birth control that prevent pregnancy after sex.
• If you don't want to become pregnant, use ECPs as soon as possible after unprotected sex. ECPs are most effective the sooner they are taken, but you can use them up to 5 days (120 hrs) after unprotected sex.
• ECPs are not abortion pills. They will not work if you are already pregnant.

When do I use emergency contraception pills?
ECPs can be used if you had unprotected sex in the last 5 days. Use ECPs if:

• You didn't use any birth control.
  
• The condom broke.
  
• You missed 2 or more birth control pills or started your pack late.
  
• Your diaphragm slipped
  
• You missed your birth control shot.
  
• You were forced to have sex
  

How do emergency contraception pills work?
ECPs prevent pregnancy by:

• temporarily stopping an egg from being released, or
  
• stopping fertilization of the egg, or
• stopping a fertilized egg from attaching to the wall of the uterus.

ECPs do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/ADS.
Are there side effects?

ECPs make some women feel sick to their stomach or vomit. Some women may have sore breasts or headaches. These side effects last about one day. ECPs can also cause some women's periods to come a little early or late. They do not affect a woman's ability to become pregnant in the future.

How do I take emergency contraception pills?

• You can take progestin-only pills (Plan B) either in a single dose (both pills at one time) or in two separate doses, the first dose within 120 hours of unprotected intercourse and the second dose 12 hours after the first dose.
• Keep a packet of ECPs at home to use when you need them.
  Are there different types of ECPs?
  Yes, there are two types of ECP products available:
  
• Progestin-only pills (Plan B) reduce risk of pregnancy by 89 percent.
  
• Taken in special doses, some regular birth control pills containing estrogen and progestin can be used as emergency contraception. They may reduce risk of pregnancy by 75 percent.
  Ask your health care provider or visit www.not-2-late.com

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