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- Types of Birth Control & STD Prevention
Types of Birth Control & STD Prevention
Description & Level of Effectiveness for Pregnancy &/or STD Prevention
Mirena IUD
- Description: T-shaped device put into your uterus during an office procedure by a health care provider. Provides years of effective birth control. Releases small amount of hormone that can make periods lighter, less crampy.
- Effectiveness at preventing pregnancy: Highest effectiveness
- Hormone-free: No
- How often it requires an action: 5 to 7 years
- Protects against STDs: No
Nexplanon
- Description: Matchstick sized rod put in your arm during an office procedure by a health care provider. Provides years of effective birth control.
- Effectiveness at preventing pregnancy: Highest effectiveness
- Hormone-free: No
- How often it requires an action: 3 years
- Protects against STDs: No
Paraguard IUD
- Description: T-shaped device put into your uterus during an office procedure by a health care provider. Provides years of effective birth control.
- Effectiveness at preventing pregnancy: Highest effectiveness
- Hormone-free: Yes
- How often it requires an action: 10 to 12 years
- Protects against STDs: No
Skyla IUD
- Description: T-shaped device put into your uterus during an office procedure by a health care provider. Provides years of effective birth control. Releases small amount of hormone that can make periods lighter, less crampy. Slightly smaller than Mirena IUD.
- Effectiveness at preventing pregnancy: Highest effectiveness
- Hormone-free: No
- How often it requires an action: 3 years
- Protects against STDs: No
Sterilization (Tubal Ligation for Women / Vasectomy for Men)
- Description: A surgical procedure to prevent further pregnancies. This is a permanent method of birth control.
- Effectiveness at preventing pregnancy: Highest effectiveness
- Hormone-free: Yes
- How often it requires an action: 1 time
- Protects against STDs: No
Birth Control Pill
- Description: A pill you take by mouth every day.
- Effectiveness at preventing pregnancy: Good effectiveness
- Hormone-free: No
- How often it requires an action: Every day
- Protects against STDs: No
Depo Provera
- Description: A shot given in your arm or hip every 3 months.
- Effectiveness at preventing pregnancy: Good effectiveness
- Hormone-free: No
- How often it requires an action: Every 3 months
- Protects against STDs: No
Nuvaring
- Description: A small ring that you put in your vagina each month for 3 weeks out of the month.
- Effectiveness at preventing pregnancy: Good effectiveness
- Hormone-free: No
- How often it requires an action: Every month
- Protects against STDs: No
Ortho Evra Patch
- Description: A small patch that you put on your skin each week.
- Effectiveness at preventing pregnancy: Good effectiveness
- Hormone-free: No
- How often it requires an action: Every week
- Protects against STDs: No
Condoms - Female
- Description: Loose sleeve that you put into your vagina before sex. Must be put in before any genital contact and stay in all the way through sex to be most effective. The only method besides male condoms, and not having sex, that can reduce the risk of getting an STD.
- Effectiveness at preventing pregnancy: Moderate effectiveness
- Hormone-free: Yes
- How often it requires an action: Every time you have sex
- Protects against STDs: Yes
Condoms - Male
- Description: Latex or plastic sleeve but on the penis before sex. Must be put on before any genital contact and stay on all the way through sex to be most effective. The only method besides female condoms, and not having sex, that can reduce the risk of getting an STD.
- Effectiveness at preventing pregnancy: Moderate effectiveness
- Hormone-free: Yes
- How often it requires an action: Every time you have sex
- More information: How to use a condom video
- Protects against STDs: Yes
Diaphragm
- Description: A disc that you put into your vagina before sex. Requires fitting and a prescription by a health care provider.
- Effectiveness at preventing pregnancy: Moderate effectiveness
- Hormone-free: Yes
- How often it requires an action: Every time you have sex
- Protects against STDs: No
Emergency Contraception
- Description: A pill that you take up to 5 days after unprotected sex to reduce the chance of pregnancy. A Paraguard IUD can also be inserted after unprotected sex to reduce the risk of pregnancy and give lasting birth control.
- Effectiveness at preventing pregnancy: Moderate effectiveness
- Hormone-free: No
- How often it requires an action: Take in the event of unprotected intercourse. Then you need to get a more reliable method.
- Protects against STDs: No
Spermicides
- Description: Gels that you insert in your vagina before sex to kill sperm
- Effectiveness at preventing pregnancy: Moderate effectiveness
- Hormone-free: Yes
- How often it requires an action: Every time you have sex
- Protects against STDs: No