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Women's Resource Center

Women's Health: Birth Control

Advocacy Resources	Abortion/Reproductive Rights	Women and Cancer
Body Image	***************	Birth Control

 

Did you know that...

• An estimated 20,476 of Maine's unmarried females age 15-19 are sexually active and are at risk of unintended pregnancy (1993)? And that 2,141 became pregnant (1 in 10)?

  More that 25% of the adolescent girls who give birth leave school without graduating? (Where are the boys?)

  Most contraceptives provide little or no protection against sexually transmitted diseases?

  Many birth-control pills fool the brain into acting as though the woman is already pregnant? Therefore, no additional ova (eggs) mature or are released while the women is on the birth-control pill, therefore a woman does not ovulate.

  Birth-control pills have healthful side effects like reduced risk of ovarian or endometrial cancer?

  Testosterone can be used as a male contraceptive device?

• There is an oral contraceptive that can be taken the morning after intercourse?

(From text "Essentials of Human Sexuality" S.A. Rathus, J.S. Nevid, and L. Fichner-Rathus and "Facts" sheet from Maine DHS, Bureau of Health, Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics, 12/95 and compiled by the Family Planning Association of Maine)

What is birth control...

• birth' control', n. regulation of the number of children born through control or prevention of conception.

(From Random House Webster's School & Office Dictionary 1993.)

Where did the term "birth control" originate...

• Margaret Sanger coined the phrase during her lifelong work for reproductive freedom for women.

Method /Effectiveness	What/How /Concerns	Advantages /Disadvantages	Availability
Abstinence - 100%	a decision not to have sexual intercourse sperm cannot meet the egg to cause pregnancy none	delays sexual relationships/no worries about pregnancy or STD's none	comes from within yourself takes courage to make the decision and follow through
Condoms - 90% w/spermicides - 98%	rubber sheath shaped to fit over erect penis catches sperm upon ejaculation/prevents sperm from entering the vagina condoms w/spermicides may irritate the penis or vagina	easy to get, carry, use/can be used w/another method to make more effective. helps protect against sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. must be put on before penis touches vagina/some say it reduces sensation/small chance that condom will break during sex	Family Planning Clinic drugstore STD clinic grocery store
Spermicides (foam, suppositories, cream jelly or film) 75-85% w/condoms 99%	chemicals that kill sperm inserted into the vagina before intercourse small chance of allergic reaction to spermicides, resulting in itching and burning sensation	available to everyone/easy to use and carry/helps protect against STD's if used with condom must be inserted into the vagina 30 minutes prior to intercourse/can be messy	Family Planning Clinic drugstore STD clinic grocery store
Oral Contraceptive (The Pill) - 98-99%	tablet made of artificial hormones/taken daily stops ovaries from releasing an egg each month few problems for young women/may cause high blood pressure, blood clots, heart attacks and strokes/smokers have greater chance of problems	does not interfere w/sex, less bleeding and cramps during periods/easy to use/less chance of pelvic inflammatory disease may cause moodiness, weight changes, spotting, vaginal infections/does not protect against STD's/not good for women over 35	must have medical exam by Family Planning nurse practitioner, or a doctor
Norplant - 99%	six soft silicone tubes the size of a match stick that have a hormone in them to stop ovulation inserted under the skin of the inner side of the upper arm risk of infection where implanted/other concerns same as pill	works for five years/as soon as removed able to become pregnant/does not interfere w/sex and lighter/shorter periods may be visible in some women/requires removal by health care provider to stop the method/expensive/first year expect irregular periods/does not protect against STD's	must be inserted by Family Planning nurse practitioner or doctor
Depo-Provera ("Shot") - 99%	an injection of hormone keeps ovaries from releasing an egg same as pill	works for three months at a time/does not interfere with sex irregular periods/weight gain/does not protect against STD's	Family Planning Clinic doctor's office
Emergency Contraception - 75%	high dose of hormones given 72 hours of unprotected sex effects the lining of the uterus to prevent a fertilized egg from causing a pregnancy	reduces chance of pregnancy by 75%/option if condom breaks of slips off or sex is un-protected does not prevent STD's/must visit clinic or doctor within 72 hours	Family Planning Clinic doctor's office

(The above chart was developed by the Penquis Family Planning Staff of Penobscot & Piscataquis counties, Maine.)

Did you also know that you could get pregnant...

• the first time you have sex

• in any position

• during you or your partner's menstrual period

• even if you don't have sex very often

• even if you don't have an orgasm

• even if the male pulls his penis out of the vagina before ejaculation or "coming"

• if you are taking "the pill" and antibiotics and having sex (because the antibiotics make the pill ineffective!)

• even if you don't have vaginal intercourse, if the male ejaculates near the outside of the vagina?

If you are sexually active be sexually responsible. Use birth control and protect yourself against STD's. Failure to do both can effect you for the rest of your life!

JAMA Womens Health

This page was created to fulfill a requirement of CHF 351 May Term, University of Maine, with Professor Sandra L. Caron, to educate others about some aspect of sexuality.

Ellen Manzo
Sophomore BUS major
University of Maine

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Women's Resource Center
5728 Fernald Hall, Rm 102
Orono, ME 04469-5728
Phone: (207)581-1508
E-mail: wrc@umit.maine.edu