Contraception and Pregnancy

Condom - Male

• Concept: A polyurethane or latex sheath (rubber) covers the penis and collects the semen, preventing sperm from entering a woman's vagina. There are animal skin condoms available; however, unlike latex or polyurethane condoms, they do not provide protection from STDs, including HIV.
• Success Rate: With typical use, 14 women in 100 will become pregnant in one year. With perfect use, three women in 100 will become pregnant in one year.
• Positives: It provides good protection against most STDs, including HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Plus, it's cheap, easy to carry around, and can be bought at any drugstore without a prescription.
• Negatives: It can break especially if it's not put on correctly; likewise, it can leak if not withdrawn carefully. Latex condoms must not be used with any oil-based lubricants like vaseline or massage oil. And some people may experience allergies to latex condoms.
• Where to Get It: At drugstores and supermarkets; costs anywhere from 50 cents and up to several dollars a piece depending on the brand and style. They are often free at family planning clinics.

Depo-Provera

• Concept: A woman gets an intramuscular shot of the artificial hormone progestin every three months, which keeps her from getting pregnant.
• Success Rate: Less than one woman in 100 will become pregnant in a year using this method.
• Positives: Once you get the shot, you don't have to think about birth control for three months.
• Negatives: Offers no protection against STDs, including HIV; also, may cause weight gain, irregular periods, and depression.
• Where to Get It: Requires a visit to your health care provider every three months for administration of the shot; the cost is about $35-$60 per shot, plus the cost of the office visit. Many clinics also have sliding scale fees, meaning you pay based on what you can afford.

Diaphragm

• Concept: A woman uses spermicide to coat this dome-shaped silicone or latex cup with a flexible rim. Then she inserts it to the back of her vagina so that it covers the cervix, where it blocks sperm.
• Success Rate: With typical use, 20 women out of 100 become pregnant in one year. With perfect use, six women out of 100 become pregnant in one year.
• Positives: It can be put in place up to six hours before intercourse and can stay there for 24 (though fresh spermicide should be applied each time you have intercourse).
• Negatives: Won't protect effectively against most STDs, including HIV; can increase the risk of urinary tract infections and toxic shock syndrome; Can be messy (thanks to the spermicide) and clumsy to use until you get the hang of it. Also, it has to stay in place for six hours after the last act of intercourse and then needs to be washed thoroughly with soap and water.
• Where to Get It: Through a prescription from a health care provider; the cost is about $30 to $40 plus the cost of spermicide, and the exam and fitting for the diaphragm. Many clinics also have sliding scale fees, meaning you pay based on what you can afford.

IUD

• Concept: A small device that contains copper or a synthetic progestin hormone is inserted into a woman's uterus.
• Success Rate: Using a copper IUD, less than one woman in 100 will become pregnant in a year; using a progesterone IUD, two women in 100 will become pregnant.
• Positives: It provides very effective pregnancy protection and lasts a long time - a copper IUD can stay in place for up to ten years, a progesterone IUD lasts one year.
• Negatives: Doesn't protect against STDs, including HIV. With a copper IUD, spotting may occur between periods, periods may be heavier, and menstrual cramps may increase. A progesterone IUD is likely to cause spotting between periods and to reduce cramps and bleeding. If a woman using an IUD is exposed to infectious organisms, she risks having that infection spread upward to cause PID - pelvic inflammatory disease - a catch-all term for infections in the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and/or pelvis. PID, in turn, can cause infertility. The IUD isn't recommended for women who haven't had children yet but want to in the future. Insertion can be painful.
• Where to Get It: From a health care provider; cost is about $150 to $300 for insertion and removal costs about $100. Many clinics also have sliding scale fees, meaning you pay based on what you can afford.