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For Her
Female Condom
What it is
- A rubber (polyurethane) cover that is worn inside the woman's vagina
How it works
- The condom has two rings, one holds it steady inside the vagina and the other stays outside the vagina.
- The semen is collected inside the rubber and does not enter the vagina
STD/HIV Risk
- It protects against most STD's and HIV/AIDS.
- Uncovered areas are still exposed to infections
Pregnancy Risk
- When used correctly, it reduces your chances of getting pregnant
How well it works?
- 21 women out of a 100 get pregnant
What's cool
- It is cheap. Easy to carry around. You do not need prescription
- May be inserted 8 hours before having sex
What's not cool
- The outside ring can slip inside
- Must be removed right after intercourse
How much
More Information
Spermicide
What it is
- Foam, cream, jelly, film, or suppository that kills sperm before it reaches the egg
How it works
- It is inserted deep into the vagina every time you have sex
STD/HIV Risk
- This method DOES NOT protect you against STD's or HIV/AIDS
Pregnancy Risk
- When used correctly, it reduces your chances of getting pregnant
How well it works
- 26 out of a 100 women get pregnant
What's cool
- You can buy it a any drugstore without prescription
What's not cool
- It may irritate the penis and the vagina
- The spermicide "nonxynol-9" may increase the risk of STD's and HIV
How much
Tubal Sterilization
What it is
- Procedure where the woman's fallopian tubes are tied
How it works
- The tubes are blocked
- The sperm does not reach the egg and cannot be fertilized
STD/HIV Risk
- This method DOES NOT protect you against STD's or HIV/AIDS
Pregnancy Risk
How well it works
- Less than 1 out of a 100 women gets pregnant
What's cool
- Permanent protection
- No lasting side effects
What's not cool
How much
More Information
The Rhythm Method
Family Awareness-Based Method
What it is
- You do not have sex on your fertile time
How it works
- You have to keep track of your menstrual cycle and changes or signs in your body.
- The woman finds the signs that indicate she is fertile and does not have sex when they are present.
STD/HIV Risk
- This method DOES NOT protect you against STD's or HIV/AIDS
Pregnancy Risk
- Although it reduces your chances of getting pregnant, you still have that risk
How well it works
- 9 out of a 100 women get pregnant, when done perfectly
What's cool
- No side effects
- It's free
What's not so cool
- Very difficult to read the signs perfectly, causing a lot of accidental pregnancies.
- Sperm can live inside a woman's body for a long time
How much
- $5 - $8 for temperature kits
- Classes offered for free at clinics and churches
Diaphragm
Cervical Cap
What it is
- A shallow latex cup (diaphragm) or a thimble-shaped latex cap (cervical cap)
How it works
- It blocks the sperm so it can't reach the egg
- Spermicide is applied to the cap and the sperm is killed
STD/HIV Risk
- This method DOES NOT protect you against STD's or HIV/AIDS
Pregnancy Risk
- If used correctly, it reduces your changed of getting pregnant
How well it works
- 20 out of a 100 women get pregnant
What's cool
- It can be used repeatedly if well kept
- May be worn 6 hours before sex
- May be worn during your period
What's not so cool
- You may develop allergies to latex or to the spermicide
- It takes a lot of practice to put it on correctly
- Side effects (cramps, bladder/rectal pain)
- Needs to be refitted every 2 yrs and after pregnancy, abortion, miscarriage or weight gain.
How much
More Information
The Pill
What it is
- Pill containing artificial hormones
How it works
- You take one pill everyday to prevent pregnancy
- It prevents ovulation
- Increases cervical mucus to block sperm
- Creates an unfriendly uterine environment
STD/HIV Risk
- This method DOES NOT protect you against STD's or HIV/AIDS
Pregnancy Risk
- When used correctly, it reduces your chances of getting pregnant
How well it works?
- 1 out of a 100 women get pregnant
What's cool about it
- You don't need other forms of protection to avoid pregnancy, if you take it everyday.
- It helps your health in other ways (check out this website)
What's not so cool
- If you miss more than two days you need to use other form of birth control to be protected
- Side effects
How much
More Information
IUD
Intrauterine Device
What it is
- A small plastic device containing progestin, copper, or silver
How it works
- It requires to be placed by a clinician
- It prevents sperm from fertilizing the egg
- Changes the uterus lining so the fertilized egg wont attach
STD/HIV Risk
- This method DOES NOT protect you against STD's or HIV/AIDS
Pregnancy Risk
- It reduces your chances of getting pregnant
How well it works
- 2 out of a 100 women get pregnant
What's cool
- Can be worn from 5 - 10 years
- Helps reduce menstrual cramps
- If you had unprotected sex, and insert the IUD up to 5 days afterwards, it can still prevent pregnancy
What's not so cool
- If you become infected with an STD while using IUD, your infection is much worse and damaging
- Risk of ectopic pregnancy
How much
More Information
The Shot
What it is
- Hormone injection given every 3 months
How it works
- Stops the egg from leaving the ovary
- It changes the lining so fertilized egg won't attached
- Prevents sperm from reaching egg
STD/HIV Risk
- This method DOES NOT protect you against STD's or HIV/AIDS
Pregnancy Risk
- It protects you for 3 months
How well it works
- 1 out of a 100 women gets pregnant
What's cool
What's not so cool
- Uncomfortable side effects that may last for up to 8 months
- Risk for ectopic pregnancy
How much?
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