Birth Control and Pregnancy

Birth control, commonly called contraception, is a term used to refer to methods to prevent pregnancy.  While there are several different methods available to both men and women, no birth control method is best for every person.

Birth control is a controversial political, ethical, and moral issue in many cultures and religions, and it is opposed by many groups.. There are various degrees of opposition, including those who oppose all forms of birth control short of sexual abstinence.

While birth control methods reduce the chances of you getting pregnant, there are no guarantees.  If you are sexually active it is important to remember that all forms of birth control have a failure rate. Additionally, most birth control methods do nothing to reduce the chance of getting, or giving, a sexually transmitted disease.

There are false myths that a female cannot get pregnant on her first time having sexual intercourse, and that a woman cannot get pregnant if she has sex during her period. Similarly, having sex in a hot tub does not prevent pregnancy. Although some sex positions may encourage pregnancy, no sexual positions prevent pregnancy. Having sex while standing up or with a woman on top will not keep the sperm from entering the uterus.

You should take a pregnancy test if you are experiencing any pregnancy symptoms.

Most women can become pregnant from the time they are in their early teens until they are in their late 40s.  About 50% of all pregnancies are unplanned. 

The information on birth control has been adapted from the websites listed at the bottom of the page.

What is the best method of birth control (or contraception)?

There is no best method of birth control. Each method has its own pros and cons. Some methods work better than others do at preventing pregnancy. Researchers are always working to develop or improve birth control methods.

Bear in mind that NO method of birth control prevents pregnancy all of the time. Birth control methods can fail, but you can greatly increase a method's success rate by using it correctly all of the time. The only way to be sure you never get pregnant is to not have sex (abstinence).

What birth control method protects me from HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and other STD's?

Not all methods of birth control offer protection against sexually-transmitted infections.  Some people wrongly believe that if they take birth control pills, they are protecting themselves not only from getting pregnant but also from infection with HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STD's). Birth control pills or other types of birth control, such as intrauterine devices (IUDs), Depo-Provera, or tubal ligation will NOT protect you from HIV and other STD's.

The male latex condom is the only birth control method that is proven to help protect you from HIV and other STD's.  If you are allergic to latex, there are condoms made of polyurethane that you can use. Condoms come lubricated (which can make sexual intercourse more comfortable and pleasurable) and non-lubricated (which can be used for oral sex).

It is important to only use latex or polyurethane condoms to protect against HIV and other STD's.  Natural or lambskin condoms have tiny pores that may allow for the passage of viruses like HIV, hepatitis B and herpes. Never use oil-based products, such as massage oils, baby oil, lotions, or petroleum jelly, to lubricate a condom. These will weaken the condom, causing it to tear or break.

How effective is withdrawal as a birth control method?

Withdrawal is not an effective birth control method.  Withdrawal is when a man takes his penis out of a woman's vagina (or pulls out) before he ejaculates, or has an orgasm.  Pulling out can be hard for a man to do and it takes a lot of self-control. When you use withdrawal, you can also be at risk getting pregnant before the man pulls out. When a man's penis first becomes erect, there can be fluid called pre-ejaculate fluid on the tip of the penis that has sperm in it. This sperm can get a woman pregnant and has nothing to do with ejaculation. Withdrawal also does not protect you from STD's or HIV.

Are there any foams or gels that I can use to keep from getting pregnant?

You can purchase what are called spermicides in drug stores. They work by killing sperm. They are inserted or placed in the vagina no more than one hour before intercourse. You will need to use more spermicide before each act of intercourse. You may protect yourself more against getting pregnant if you use a spermicide with a male condom, diaphragm, or cervical cap. There are spermicidal products made specifically for use with the diaphragm and cervical cap. All spermicides have sperm-killing chemicals in them. Spermicides alone are about 74% effective at preventing pregnancy.

Where can I find more Information about birth control methods?

See the section below and contact:

Women's Health Information Center
Phone Number: (800) 994-WOMAN (9662)

Food and Drug Administration
Phone Number: (888) 463-6332

Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Phone Number: (800) 230-7526

Population Council
Phone Number: (212) 339-0500

There are many methods of birth control that a woman can use. Keep in mind that most birth control does NOT protect you from HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases (STD's) like gonorrhea, herpes, and chlamydia. Other than not having sex, the best protection against STD's and HIV is the male latex condom. The female condom may give some STD protection.

Here is a list, adapted from the websites listed at the bottom of the page, of birth control methods with estimates of effectiveness, or how well they work in preventing pregnancy when used correctly, for each method: