Community Pregnancy Center

Things to Know about Contraceptives

Did You Know?

in first 2 menstrual years 50% of periods occur without ovulation
pregnancy is the top reason for hospitalization for teenagers
77% of unmarried moms will be on welfare in 5 years
77% of births to 16 - 18 yr. old caused by men older than High School age (out of 60,000 California, births)
statistics show clearly that the incidence of teen pregnancy, STD's and sexual activity will drop the most if solid abstinence presentation is presented (Joe S. Mellhaney, Jr. MD 1994)
90% choose pill their 1st time at clinic but stop within 5 yr.
only 19% take pill same time every day
oral contraceptive users have 70% higher rate of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea
up to 18% on oral contraceptives become pregnant the 1st year of use.
nearly 2/3 (70%) of American men do not think they can be counted on to choose a birth control method and women agree (73%)!

ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE

since 1960
42 different kinds
most are combination Estrogen & Progestin (synthetic progesterone)
low dosage to prevent side effects
90 - 99% prevent ovulation
affects fertility system, thickness secretions
Progestin prevents build up of endometrium
slows down motility in tube
can cause early abortion - 2 - 10% allow egg to get through
potential for pregnancy 4.7%
mini pill is Progestin only, not as effective
cervical cancer is increased with the pill probably due to increased sexual activity and multiple partners
can shut down fertility system in very young
breast tissue changes similar to abortion; on pill 5 7 yr. and had not had full pregnancy yet shows up 10 - 15 yrs. later
can cause bleeding irregularities, may not have periods and think they're pregnant; also depression, migraines
smoking on pill dangerous, can cause blood clots

DEPOPROVERA

NORPLANT

progestin only
50% breakthrough
actually 2 forms, Norplant land Norplant 2
series of six non biodegradable rubber rods or capsules that are surgically implanted under the skin in the inside upper portion of the arm
Norplant 2 is a series of 2 larger rods implanted as described with Norplant 1
system of delivering a progestin
more sophisticated device for the purpose of birth control
frequently acts as an abortifacient
Norplant 1 to be used for 5 years, Norplant 2 for 3 yrs.
most common side effect experienced by 60% of users is an increase in number of days of bleeding and spotting and often shorter cycle intervals
changes in lipid metabolism have also been reported - affects blood pressure, risk of blood clots and blood coagulation
in about 10% of all women, large functional ovarian cysts have occurred
there have been reports of bruising during insertion, itching and scar tissue around incision, also infection and discomfort
not effective in preventing STD's

IUD

small plastic device that can be inserted by a physician through a woman's cervix and into her uterus to prevent pregnancy
one or two women out of 100 will become pregnant in a year with IUD use
abortifacient
not effective in preventing STD's

DIAPHRAGM

dome shaped rubber can with a flexible spring rim
holds contraceptive jelly against the cervix and it is the jelly that kills the sperm
with proper use no more than 4% chance of pregnancy, if careless, 20% chance

CONTRACEPTIVE FOAM

barrier type which means that it kills sperm before they can get into the cervix; coats the cervix and vagina
chance of pregnancy greater than with the diaphragm or condoms
about 20 to 25 pregnancies per 100 women can be expected
may kill some germs as well

CONDOMS

device used by man; fits tightly onto penis catching semen when he ejaculates and keeping it from getting into the woman's vagina
if it has a hole in it or breaks during intercourse, the possibility of pregnancy can be as great as if no contraception had been used
chance of pregnancy especially high with young people (women over age 30, 4 out of 100 will get pregnant using a condom each year; women under age 25, 10 - 33% will get pregnant each year

CONTRACEPTIVE SPONGE

vaginal sponge used as contraceptive device
chemicals in it to kill sperm and some germs
about 10-20 women who use sponge will get pregnant
Whitehall-Robins Healthcare, the company which began manufacturing the sponge in 1983 has announced it will no longer manufacture it due to increasingly "stringent" manufacturing requirements from the PDA
had relatively high failure rate of 8%
currently no other products available on the market similar to it

TOP METHODS - IN SURVEY OF 7,500 WOMEN, ORTHO PHARMACEUTICAL CORP. FOUND:

24% of women 15-50 relied on sterilization (of themselves or their partners)
24% relied on the pill
1990 government study showed sterilization 26% and pills 17%)
Ortho found after pills and sterilization, condoms are most popular form of birth control (USA Today/96)

EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIONS

use of high dose of birth control pills taken after sexual relations
guidelines being sent this week to doctors by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists - instruct doctors on "proper" dose of pills to prevent pregnancy
if taken up to 72 hrs. after intercourse, the pills can cut "the risk of pregnancy" by 75%
they may also act as an abortifacient
between 30% to 66% may experience side effects, including nausea (USA Today 10/9/96)

MALE BIRTH CONTROL PILL

World Health Organization has backed introduction of 1st male contraceptive pill
a Brazilian pharmaceutical company plans to market the pill under the name Nofertil (communique 9/20/96)