Birth Control and Safe Sex

Effective contraception use generally requires planning and preparation prior to having sexual intercourse.

Condoms require the least amount of advance planning and are used more than any other method of contraception at first sexual intercourse. However, about 35 percent of first intercourse experiences take place without the use of any contraception at all.

If you are sexually active, you need to use an effective contraceptive and a barrier method to protect you from disease every time you have intercourse. You can get pregnant the first time you have sex and right after you finish your period.

Methods of Protection Against Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Method or Device	Chance of Getting Pregnant	Protection From STDs
Abstinence (Defined as no genital contact.)	0% (As long as semen does not enter the vagina.)
Birth Control Pill	Typical use: 5% -- Perfect use: 0.1%	None
Cervical Cap (not available in the U.S.)	Typical use: 20% -- Perfect use: 9%	None
Condom (latex)	Typical use: 14% -- Perfect use: 3%
Depo-Provera	Typical use: 0.3% -- Perfect use: 0.3%	None
Diaphragm	Typical use: 20% -- Perfect use: 9%	None
Female Condom	Typical use: 21% -- Perfect use: 5%
Implanon	Typical use: 0.09% -- Perfect use: 0.09%	None
IUD	Typical use: 0.8%-2% -- Perfect use: 0.6%-1.5%	None
Mini Pill	Typical use: 5% -- Perfect use: 0.5%	None
Morning After Pill	Typical use: 0.3% -- Perfect use: 0.3%	None
The Patch	Typical use: 1% -- Perfect use: 1%	None
The Ring	Typical use: 5% -- Perfect use: 1%	None
Seasonale®	Typical use: 5% -- Perfect use: 1%	None
Spermicide	Typical use: 26% -- Perfect use: 6%	None
Sponge	Typical use: 20% -- Perfect use: 9%	None
Sterilization	Typical use: 0.15% -- Perfect use: 0.1%	None
Withdrawal -- Not a contraceptive.	Typical use: 27% -- Perfect use: 4% (Pre-ejaculate can contain enough sperm to cause pregnancy. Also, if semen or pre-ejaculate spill on the vulva, pregnancy is possible.)	None

Other Considerations

• There is no evidence that combined hormonal contraceptives (the pill, patch, ring, IUD) cause weight gain.
• Birth control does not decrease fertility (your permanent ability to get pregnant).
• Hormonal methods of birth control reduce menstrual bleeding and cramps.
• Hormonal birth control does not protect you from sexually transmitted infections.

In addition, researchers are far along in developing male contraception. Although it does not protect against STDs, studies show male contraception does significantly reduce the chances of a woman getting pregnant. (In a recent study, only 1.3 percent of men on a certain male birth control regime were able to impregnate a woman).