What are you doing about birth control?

Start a method today.

Choosing a method: What matters most to me?

Cost Privacy Im Breastfeeding

Varies, but all methods are less costly than pregnancy. How private does my method need to be? I need a method that is safe for breastfeeding.

Effectiveness Convenience Other Benefits

How well does it prevent pregnancy? How often do I need to think about it? Many methods reduce bleeding/cramping.

Birth Control Options: Choose a method

Method Type
Levonogestrel IUS (Mirena)
Intrauterine Device
What is it?
How does it work?
What: Small, plastic device that
sits inside the uterus.
How: It prevents male sperm
from reaching the female egg.
What have you heard?
Strong Points
Here are the facts:
Very effective, safe, and forgettable. IUDs are safe for women of
Works for 5 years but can remove anytime. all ages and women who
Also treats heavy and painful menstrual have not had children.
bleeding. IUDs are often the preferred
Other Considerations
Expect spotting and irregular bleeding during
the first 3-6 months of use.
Having no periods (or very light periods) is an
expected benefit of this method and not a cause

Often makes periods very light or go away
altogether (after 2 years of use, 7 out of 10
women will have lighter or no periods.)
Safe to use after having a baby and when
breastfeeding.
Copper T IUD (ParaGard) Very effective, safe, and forgettable.
Contains no hormones at all.
MOST EFFECTIVE
method for women with for concern; the progestin in the IUD keeps the
medical conditions (like lining of the uterus very thin.
high blood pressure).
Some women may have heavier periods with
the Copper IUD, especially in the first year: this

Use for 10 years but can remove anytime. usually improves with time.
Safe to use after having a baby and when
breastfeeding.
Implanon What: Small, plastic rod that is Very effective, safe, and forgettable. Implant is safe for almost all Some women have irregular and frequent
Arm Implant

inserted under the skin.
How: The hormone progestin
inside the implant prevents an
egg from being released.
Female What: The tubes are permanently
Tubal Ligation and surgically closed.
Hysteroscopic How: Male sperm cannot reach
Sterilization
Use for 3 years but can remove anytime. women to use. bleeding; some women have no bleeding at all.
Easy for a trained provider to insert; pelvic
exam not needed.
Safe to use after having a baby and when
breastfeeding.
Permanent method for women/men who Sterilization is a permanent Surgical procedure is required; check with your
no longer want to have children. method and not reversible. clinic to connect with a trained provider.
Tubal ligation can be done with c-section Male vasectomy does May regret the decision to be permanently

the female egg. or soon after having a baby. Hysteroscopic not change sexual sterilized; if young or not in a long term
Male
methods are done through the uterus. performance. relationship should strongly consider an
Vasectomy
Male vasectomy can be done in the office alternative, reversible method.
with local anesthesia.
Safe after having a baby and when
breastfeeding.
Depo-Provera What: An injection every 3 No pills, no trips to the pharmacy; instead, Very safe. Almost all women Irregular bleeding is common and expected in
months. go to your provider every 3 months for an can safely use this method. the first 6 months: with continued use, you are
Progestin Injection

How: The progestin hormone in
the shot prevents an egg from
being released.
VERY EFFECTIVE
injection.
May stop your periods after 6-9 months of
continued use; this is safe and expected.
Can also be used to treat heavy, irregular,
unwanted bleeding.
Safe to use after having a baby and when
breastfeeding.
Very effective. Very very likely to have no bleeding or periods.
few pregnancies when Need to visit your health clinic every 3 months
injections every 3 months. for an injection.
Safe to use for longer than Some women will have an increased appetite
2 years if it is the best when they use Depo and may gain weight.
choice for you. Weight gain can be managed with diet and
exercise, but you may also want to consider
another method if you are gaining too much

weight while on Depo.

Pills a pill; take What: These Will lessen bleeding and cramping, make Are safe for almost all Require that you get refills every 1-3 months.
each day methods (pills, periods more regular. women. (Some insurance companies will only dispense a
patch, ring) deliver Can improve acne and decrease PMS. Do not cause weight gain. 1 month supply.) Consider if this will be easy for
the hormones Can be used for menstrual suppression Do not make it harder to you to do.
Estrogen and Progestin

estrogen and (extend periods to every few months or get pregnant later on. Vary in cost depending on your insurance
Patch a skin
progestin to your have no scheduled bleeding). Do not cause miscarriage. coverage - check with your pharmacy. Only
Methods with

patch;
body. Do not cause breast cancer brand names of the patch and ring are available
change
(and actually reduce the at this time. For pills, check your pharmacys
each week
How: These are the risk of ovarian and uterine low cost drug list and request that your provider
same hormones cancer). prescribe one of these pills.
Ring a vaginal that women make Common side effects include irregular spotting
ring; naturally but when and bleeding, sore breasts, and mild stomach
change they are given in upset. These may occur in the first 1-3 months of
each constant dose, the use. Keep taking the method and symptoms will
month ovary does not improve with time.
produce an egg.
Progestin-Only Pills What: A pill that contains the Safe to use after having a baby and when Need to take a pill every day: consider another
hormone progestin. breastfeeding. method if you forget pills. Use condoms (or dont
How: Progestin causes the have sex) if you miss a pill.
cervical mucus to thicken and
blocks sperm.
Male Condoms What: A plastic cover that catches Only method that prevents sexually Asking your partner to use Some couples only use condoms right before
EFFECTIVE

(Latex and Polyurethane) sperm and prevents genital skin
contact.
How: The sperm stay in the
condom and do not get inside a
Condoms
transmitted infections/HIV a condom does not mean ejaculation; to be effective at preventing
Over The Counter (OTC): anyone can buy that you mistrust them or pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, a
condoms at the pharmacy, grocery store, are easy. Condoms protect condom needs to be covering the penis anytime
or wherever sold. your health and the health it is near or inside a womans vagina.

womans vagina. Can also be used to prevent infection of your partner. Some men and women may not want to use
during oral and anal sex. Condoms are very good condoms because it doesnt feel romantic, or
Female Condoms
Safe to use after having a baby and when at preventing pregnancy it doesnt feel good; try different condoms
breastfeeding. and sexually transmitted (textures, sizes) and use lubrication.
infections when they are Some couples find it really hard to talk about
used correctly and with sex and condoms; get help from your health
every sexual encounter. provider, counselor, or trusted friend.
Breastfeeding as birth control may be effective in preventing May be best option for some women. High failure rate (over 1 out of every 4 women will
LEAST EFFECTIVE

pregnancy if: breastfeeding exclusively; day and night feedings; get pregnant during 1 year of use).
Other Methods

no menses since delivery; the baby is less than 3-6 months old.
Fertility Awareness (Natural Family Planning): 25% failure rate.
Sponge: 16% (nulliparous) and 32% (parous) failure rate.
Diaphragm: 16% failure rate.
Withdrawal: 27% failure rate.
Spermicide: 29% failure rate.

For more information, see the HealthTeamWorks website: www.healthteamworks.org