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Birth Control (Contraceptive) Information

Birth Control (Contraceptive)

What is birth control? — Birth control is a term used to describe ways to prevent pregnancy. Another word for birth control is "contraception."

Different types of birth control include medicines, devices, and procedures. Some types of birth control are used by women, and others are used by men. Some types need to be used every time a person has sex. Other types can prevent pregnancy for long periods of time. Some types need a doctor's prescription, and others do not.

Which type of birth control should I choose? — Choosing birth control can be tough, because no birth control is perfect. Your doctor or nurse can help you choose the type that is right for you. To help you make a decision, think about:

  • How well it prevents pregnancy – No birth control works 100 percent perfectly all the time, but some prevent pregnancy better than others.
  • How often you have to use it – For example, women who use birth control pills must take them every day.
  • How easy it is to use
  • Its side effects or downsides
  • Its cost
  • If you want to get pregnant in the future – Some types of birth control are permanent, meaning they prevent you from ever getting pregnant. Other types of birth control prevent pregnancy only for a limited amount of time. After that time, you can still get pregnant.
  • Whether it protects you from infection – Only male and female condoms can reduce your chance of getting certain infections called "STIs" (sexually transmitted infections).

What are the different types of birth control and how do they work? — Different types of birth control prevent pregnancy in different ways and have different levels of effectiveness (figure 1 and figure 2). Each of the main types is discussed in more detail elsewhere (table 1). They include:

  • Barrier methods, such as condoms
  • Hormonal birth control, such as the pill
  • Long-acting methods, such as the IUD or implant
  • Permanent sterilization

What about natural forms of birth control? — There are a few forms of "natural" birth control, which require no medicines or devices. But they are not as effective as the other forms of birth control. Natural birth control methods include:

  • Withdrawal – This is when the man pulls out before he ejaculates.
  • Fertility awareness – This is when the woman keeps track of her menstrual cycle so she can predict when she is most likely to get pregnant each month. Then, she avoids sex during that time, or uses some form of birth control then, such as a condom.
  • Breastfeeding – Breastfeeding can decrease a woman's ability to get pregnant. Some women use it as a form of birth control for the first few weeks after a baby is born. But for it to work, breast milk should be the baby's only food. The medical term for this method is "lactational amenorrhea method," or "LAM." If you decide to try this method, discuss it with your doctor or nurse.

What if I have problems with my birth control? — Let your doctor or nurse know if you have any side effects or problems with your birth control. Sometimes, side effects will go away after a few months. If they don't, you might need to work with your doctor or nurse to find a different type of birth control.

Emergency Birth Control (Contraceptive)

What is emergency contraception? — Emergency contraception is a way you can keep from getting pregnant if you recently had sex. It is also called "the morning after pill," or "plan B." A woman might use emergency contraception if:

  • She forgot to take her birth control pills
  • A condom broke or slipped off during sex
  • She had sex without using birth control
  • She was raped

Are there different types of emergency contraception? — Yes. There are 2 types of emergency contraception. One type is pills. The other is a device that goes inside your body. It is called a copper intrauterine device, or an "IUD." If you want an IUD, a nurse or doctor needs to put it in within 5 days of when you had sex. The IUD works as both emergency contraception and as ongoing birth control. It prevents pregnancy as long as it is in place. The copper IUD is the most effective form of emergency contraception.

If you weigh 165 pounds (75 kilograms) or more, you might want to consider a copper IUD instead of emergency contraception pills. That's because the pills might not work as well in women who weigh more than this. If you decide you want an IUD, your doctor or nurse can tell you more about it. If you are overweight but prefer pills over an IUD, one type of pill, called "ulipristal" (described below) might be more effective than the other pill options.

Do I need to see a doctor or nurse to get emergency contraception pills? — That depends on the kind of pill you would like.

There are 3 types of emergency contraception pills.

  • Pills containing a hormone called "levonorgestrel" are sold both with and without a prescription. In the United States, one brand, called "Plan B One-Step," is available without a prescription. There are other brands and generic versions, too. Some require a prescription. For others, you need to be 17 to buy them. Depending on the brand and dose, you might get 1 pill or 2. Levonorgestrel is sold at many drug stores or at Planned Parenthood.
  • Birth control pills can also be used as emergency contraception, but you have to take more than one pill at a time to keep from getting pregnant. This approach works, but it is less effective and more likely to cause nausea than levonorgestrel. The table tells you which birth control pills you can use for emergency contraception, which color pills to take, and how many. Birth control pills require a prescription. Talk to your doctor or nurse to make sure you are taking the correct pills and dose.
  • A third kind of emergency contraception pill is called "ulipristal" (brand names: ella, ellaOne). You need a prescription to get it.

When do I take emergency contraception pills? — Take the pills as soon as possible after you have sex. The pills can work up to 5 days after you have sex, but the sooner you take them, the better they work.

Hormonal emergency contraception works best if you take it within 3 days of having unprotected sex. It is less effective if you take it 3 to 5 days after unprotected sex. If it has been 3 or more days since you had unprotected sex, ulipristal or the copper IUD might be a better option for you. Both are more effective than hormonal emergency contraception if it has been 3 to 5 days since you had unprotected sex. If you took ulipristal and you normally use birth control pills, wait at least 5 days before starting your regular pills again. That's because ulipristal can cause problems with the way birth control pills work. Even after you start taking your pills again, you should still use a condom every time you have sex until your next period.

If you have sex again after you take the pills, you can still get pregnant. Make sure you use a condom or another type of birth control if you have sex again after you took emergency contraception.

How well do emergency contraception pills work? — There are a lot of factors that affect how well the pills work, including how soon you take them, where you are in your cycle, and how much you weigh. If you weigh 165 pounds (75 kilograms) or more, the pills might not work well and you might want to get a copper IUD instead.

What if I throw up? — Emergency contraception pills make some women throw up. If you throw up less than an hour after you take the pills, you have to take them again. Before you take them again, take a medicine that helps keep you from throwing up called "meclizine." You can get meclizine without a prescription. It is sold in drug stores under the brand names Antivert, Bonine, Dramamine, and Medi-Meclizine. If you throw up with birth control pills, try levonorgestrel instead. Levonorgestrel is less likely to make you throw up.

If you throw up within 3 hours of taking ulipristal, call your doctor or nurse. He or she can tell you if you should take another pill.

Get it before you need it — Even though some types of hormonal emergency contraception are sold without a prescription, it is not always easy to find. You might want to buy some to keep at home, even if you don't need it now. That way you will have it, just in case.

What happens after I take emergency contraception? — You should get your period within a week of when you expect it. If you took ulipristal, don't be surprised if your period is a few days late. That's normal. But if you do not get your period within 3 or 4 weeks, no matter which form of emergency contraception you took, get a pregnancy test. The pills might not have worked. If you keep bleeding or have pain in your belly, see your doctor or nurse.

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