Over the Counter
Contraceptive
Methods
Male & Female Condoms,
The Sponge, and Spermicide
What is a Male Condom?

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OTC, barrier
methods, reversible
Made of thin latex or
plastic worn on the
penis during
intercourse to collect
semen
Available dry or
lubricated
How well do they work?
 Perfect
use: 98%
 Typical use: 85%
 Good protection against HIV and
reduces risk of other STDs such as
gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, HPV,
and herpes
Male condoms continued…
Advantages: allows men to share
responsibility, no side effects, easy to get,
can be used with other methods, can help
relieve premature ejaculation, STD
protection
 Disadvantages: They can break, feeling
may be reduced, interrupts lovemaking
 Cost: $0.50 or less, sometimes FREE

The Female Condom
Plastic pouch w/
flexible rings at
each end
 Inserted into the
vagina like a
diaphragm
 Ring at the open
end stays outside

The female condom continued…
 Effectiveness:
79% - 95%
 Advantages: no fittings, can be used
by people allergic to latex
 Disadvantages: Irritation, slip into
vagina, noisy
 Cost: $2.50
The Sponge

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Reserve for 1,000 mg of
nonoxynol-9, that is
released into the vagina
over 24 hour
Polyurethane foam traps
and
absorbs semen
Acts as a physical barrier
between sperm and the
cervix
The sponge continued…
Thoroughly wet sponge w/water before
insertion, leave in place for six hours after
sex
 Effectiveness: 84% to 91%
 Adv: 24 hour protection, no hormones, not
messy, easy to purchase/use
 Disadv: irritation, no STD protection
 Cost: pkg of 3 or 12 ($9 - $35)

Spermicide



Foams, creams,
jellies, film ,
suppositories
Inserted into vagina
10 minutes before
intercourse (lasts
approximately 1 hour)
Block entrance to
uterus and
immobilizes sperm
Spermicide continued…
Effectiveness: 71% - 85%
 Adv: Easy to obtain, no prescriptions or
fittings
 Disadv: Messy, no STD protection,
Irritation
 Cost: $8 - $16

APPLICATION
Other Rx,
Behavioral, and
Surgical
Contraceptive
Diaphragm, Cervical Cap,
Methods
Abstinence, Withdrawal,
Outercourse, Tubal Ligation, and
Vasectomy
The Diaphragm & Cervical Cap
 Reversible,
prescription, barrier
methods of birth control
 Soft latex or silicone barriers that
fit over the cervix
 Used with a spermicide cream or
jelly
Diaphragm
 Shallow
dome
shaped cup with
a flexible rim
 Fits securely in
the vagina to
cover the cervix
Cervical Cap
 Thimble
shaped
and smaller than
the diaphragm
 Fits securely
onto the cervix
How do they work?
Put 1 TBS of spermicide, then insert into
the vagina to cover the cervix before
intercourse
Blocks entrance to the uterus while
spermicide immobilizes sperm,
preventing it from joining an egg
 Diaphragm: left in place for up to 24 hours
 Cervical Cap: left in place for up to 48
hours

Diaphragm and CC continued…
Effectiveness: Diaph = 94% & CC = 91%
 Advantages: No effect on natural
hormones, easily transported, does not
interrupt sex play, and cannot be felt by
either partner
 Disadvantages: Require a fitting/refitting,
insertion may be difficult, no STD
protection
 Cost: Exam = $50 - $200, Supplies = $15 $50, and Spermicide = $8 - $17 per kit

Continuous Abstinence
Not having intercourse with a partner
 Effectiveness: 100%
 Advantages: no medical or hormonal side
effects
 Disadvantages: people may find it difficult
to abstain for long periods of time and its
often ended without being prepared
 Cost: FREE!

Withdrawal
A man pulls his penis out of the vagina
before he ejaculates
 Effectiveness: 73% - 96%
 Advantages: can be used when no other
method is available
 Disadvantages: requires great self
control, not for sexually inexperienced,
men who ejaculate prematurely, or teens
 Cost: Free

Outercourse
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Sex play without intercourse (kissing,
masturbation, massage, body-to-body rubbing,
fantasy, and oral sex play)
Effectiveness: nearly 100% for pregnancy, but
STDs are still quite possible
Advantages: no medical or hormonal side
effects, increase intimacy between partners can
be used when no other BC method is available
Disadvantages: outercourse may lead to
unintended intercourse
Cost: Free
Hormonal
Contraceptives
Implants

Norplant (most effective method of BC)
 Six plastic implants inserted under skin of upper arm
 Effectiveness: Over 99% for up to 7 years
 Advantages: Continuous long-lasting
 Disadvantages: Irregular bleeding, acne, skin rash,
change in appetite, weight gain, depression, no
protection against STD’s
 Cost: $500-$750 and $100-$200 for removal
 No longer available, but new and improved Norplant
expected to be approved in the US by mid-2006
The Shot

Depo-Provera & Lunelle
 Injected into the buttock or arm every 12 weeks
 Effectiveness: Over 99% for 12 weeks
 Advantages: Effective for 12 weeks, no medicine to
take every day, helps prevent cancer of the lining of
the uterus
 Disadvantages: Irregular or total loss of bleeding,
change of appetite, weight gain, depression, loss of
BMD
 Cost: $50 for injection + office visit ($35-$125)
 NEW: Depo-subQ Provera 104 (less invasive)
The Pill
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Taken daily in a monthly series
Effectiveness: Over 99% w/ perfect use for 1 month
Advantages: Regular and shorter periods, reduced menstrual flow
and cramping, less acne, fewer symptoms of PMS, many pills to
choose from
Disadvantages: Must take pill every day (same time), no protection
from STD’s, weight gain, irregular bleeding, nausea, changes in
mood
Cost: $20-$35 a month (per pack)
Seasonale: 84 day regimen with 7 days off
Lybrel: 365 day regimen; possibly available in 2006

Long term effects are unknown
THE PILL CASE
The Ring

Nuva Ring
 Small,
flexible ring inserted into the vagina for 3
weeks and taken out for the 4th week
 Effectiveness: Over 99% with perfect use for 1 month
 Advantages: does not involve taking a daily pill, does
not require a “fitting,” does not require the use of
spermicide
 Disadvantages: increased vaginal discharge, vaginal
irritation or infection, irregular bleeding, weight gain,
no protection against STD’s
 Cost: $20-$35 a month (similar to The Pill)
The Patch

Ortho Evra
 Thin, plastic patch that is applied to the buttocks,
stomach, upper outer arm, or upper torso once a
week for 3 weeks, then 1 week off
 Effectiveness: Over 99% w/perfect use for 1 mo
 Advantages: Does not involve a daily pill, regular and
shorter periods, less acne, less cramping
 Disadvantages: Skin reactions, problems with contact
lens use- a change in vision or ability to wear contact
lenses, irregular bleeding, STD’s
 Cost: Similar to other monthly methods ($20-$35 a
month)
The IUD

Para Gard & Mirena
 Para Gard contains copper and Mirena contains
natural hormones
 Prevent fertilization of an egg by affecting the way the
sperm or eggs move
 Effectiveness: Over 99% for 10 years with Para Gard
and 5 years with Mirena
 Advantages: Long term protection that does not
involve a daily pill
 Disadvantages: Cramping may be greater, periods
may be heavier and last longer, no STD protection
 Cost: $175-$400 for exam, insertion, and follow-up