Eighty-five percent of women who use no contraceptives during vaginal intercourse become pregnant each year. The only guarantee against pregnancy is not having vaginal intercourse. But other contraceptive methods can greatly reduce the risk of pregnancy during vaginal intercourse.

Your contraceptive needs may change throughout your life. To decide which method to use now, you need to know:

Each method is most effective when it is used correctly every single time. Will you be able to use this method correctly every time? Some methods require more work than others. For example, the pill must be taken at about the same time every day while the patch is only changed once a week. Can you remember to take a pill every day or would the patch be a better choice for you? Think about how the method you choose will fit in to your lifestyle.

Will you have access to your method every time you need it? With some methods, such as the condom or the diaphragm, you need to have the method when you have intercourse. Can you have the method with you every time you have intercourse? Other methods, such as the pill or NuvaRing, have to be used regardless of whether you are having intercourse or not. Will you be willing to continue your method during an extended time of abstinence?

Even when used perfectly, every method, other than abstinence, is less than 100% effective. Do you desire a method that is extremely effective, such as an IUD or Depo Provera? Are you willing to use a combination of methods, such as the pill and a condom to improve the effectiveness? Or are you willing to use a method that has a lower effectiveness rate, such as withdrawal? Click here to find out more about specific rates of effectiveness.

Certain methods have specific health risks associated with them. Health risks are potentially serious consequences to using a method. An example of a health risk is the increased risk for heart attack or stroke when using a combined hormonal method of birth control (contains both estrogen and progestin such as certain pills, Ortho Evra, and the NuvaRing). This risk is relatively small for young women, but the risk increases slightly with age and increases more dramatically for heavy smokers. A woman in her thirties who smokes heavily may want to choose a different method. It is important to be aware of the potential health risks for each method and discuss this information with your health care provider.

Certain methods also have potential side effects associated with them. Side effects are relatively minor reactions to using a method. Examples of side effects include experiencing cramping after the insertion of an IUD or breast tenderness after starting a hormonal method. Most side effects eventually go away after the body becomes used to the new method. It is important to be aware of the potential side effects of each method and discuss this information with your health care provider.

Many of our patients qualify for Take Charge, a family planning program that provides free birth control for a year. Qualification is based on income and family size. Teens can qualify for Take Charge based on their personal income. Click here to find out more about Take Charge.

Other financial considerations include; whether or not you have medical insurance, which contraceptive methods your insurance policy covers, and how much each method costs.

Will it protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?

Besides abstinence, condoms are the only other method that provides significant protection against STIs. If STIs are a concern for you, be sure to use a condom every time you have intercourse. Consider using a condom with another method such as the pill or spermicide to make it more effective.

If you are sexually active and want to further reduce the risk of contracting an STI:

Use a condom every time you have sex.

Get tested for STIs every year or before each new partner, whichever is more frequent.

Ask your partner(s) to get tested before having sex with them.

Remember, STIs can be spread through vaginal, anal, and oral sex.