1. Birth control encompasses: condoms (male + female), oral contraceptives, vaginal contraceptives, emergency contraceptives and yes, abstinence.
*There are also vaginal caps and sponges available.
2. The Condom A,B,Cs...
Male condoms come in various sizes, with different feels, some with lubrication and others without and some are flavored and some are colored.
Condoms are the only effective birth control that will prevent STDs (other than abstinence).
There is no lessening of sexual pleasure or sensation with condom use.
Condoms can be gotten for free or very cheap from Planned Parenthoods and other locations. Often resource centers and health centers in colleges. They're also widely available for purchase online and in most 7/11s and other convenience stores.
*Will add more next week*
3. How effective is each type of birth control?
3. What is Emergency contraceptives and what can it do for me?
A backup plan that helps prevent pregnancy from happening after unprotected sex or birth control failure and is not for routine use
For use within 72 hours (3 days) after sex, but the sooner you take it, the better it works
Contains levonorgestrel, the same ingredient used in many birth control pills—and it works in a similar way
Just one pill, so you get what you need right away
*Does not contain Estrogen so it will not cause blood clots or other birth control complications.
It's not RU-486 (the abortion pill)
It won't work if you're already pregnant
It shouldn't affect or terminate an existing pregnancy
It isn't intended to be regular birth control and should not be used that way
It's not as effective as other methods of birth control used consistently and correctly—so it's important to have another reliable source of birth control that's right for you
It won't protect you from HIV infection (the virus that causes AIDS) or any other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
You should resume your regular method of contraception—or start one, if you don't have a regular method—right away, since Plan B One-Step® does not reliably protect against additional acts of unprotected sex.
Plan B One-Step® should only be taken in emergencies (when your primary birth control method failed or you forgot to use birth control), but there is no medical reason why you can't take it more than once. Don't be afraid to take
Plan B One-Step® when you need to, but remember that it should never replace routine methods of contraception, as it simply isn't as effective.
Plan B One-Step® doesn't provide long-term protection against future pregnancy—it works to prevent this one incident only. If you are sexually active, even occasionally, see your healthcare professional or clinic to find a method of birth control and STD prevention that suits you.
** If under 17 you have to receive a prescription from a doctor for EC. Planned Parenthood may offer it to people under 17. **
4. Abortions. There is so much stuff surrounding it. What is TRUE?
In-clinic Abortions:
What Are the Kinds of In-Clinic Abortion?
There is more than one kind of in-clinic abortion procedure. The most common is called aspiration. It is also known as vacuum aspiration. Aspiration is usually used up to 16 weeks after a woman’s last period.
D&E — dilation and evacuation — is another kind of in-clinic abortion. D&E is usually performed later than 16 weeks after a woman's last period.
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How Effective Are In-Clinic Abortion Procedures?
You can feel confident in knowing that these abortion methods are very effective. They work almost every time they are done. You’ll follow up with your health care provider after your abortion so you can be sure that it worked and that you are well.
How Do In-Clinic Abortions Feel?
You may have concerns about how an abortion will feel. Most women feel pain similar to menstrual cramps with both of these abortion methods. For others, it is more uncomfortable.
Your health care provider will help to make it as comfortable as possible. You will be given pain medication. Local numbing medicines are usually used. Some clinics offer sedation. Rarely, general anesthesia may be offered for certain procedures. It allows a woman to sleep through the procedure — but it increases the medical risks and how long you must remain at the clinic.
You may have cramps after an abortion. You will probably want to relax for the rest of the day.
BLEEDING AFTER IN-CLINIC ABORTION PROCEDURES
You may have some bleeding after your abortion. This is normal. You may pass a few clots about the size of a quarter. It’s normal to have
- spotting that lasts up to six weeks
- heavy bleeding for a few days
- bleeding that stops and starts again
It’s OK to use pads or tampons, but using pads makes it easier to keep track of your bleeding.
It’s also normal to have no bleeding after an abortion.
How Safe Are In-Clinic Abortion Procedures?
Safety is an important and common concern for women. In-clinic abortion procedures are very safe. But there are risks with any medical procedure. The risks increase the longer you are pregnant. They also increase if you have sedation or general anesthesia. Possible risks include
- an allergic reaction
- blood clots in the uterus
- incomplete abortion — part of the pregnancy is left inside the uterus
- failure to end the pregnancy
- infection
- injury to the cervix or other organs
- undetected ectopic pregnancy
- very heavy bleeding
Most often, these complications are simple to treat with medicine or other treatments.
Even though in-clinic abortion procedures are generally very safe, in extremely rare cases, serious complications may be fatal. To understand this risk, it may help to compare it to the risk of childbirth:
- The risk of death from childbirth is 11 times greater than the risk of death from an abortion procedure during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.
- After 20 weeks, the risk of death from childbirth and abortion are about the same.
Overall, the risk of death from abortion increases the longer a woman has been pregnant.
"Abortion Pill":
The name for "the abortion pill" is mifepristone. It was called RU-486 when it was being developed.
Medication Abortion RU486 (Abortion Pill)
This drug is only approved by the Food & Drug Administration for use in women up to the 49th day after their last menstrual period; however, it is commonly used “off label” up to 63 days. This procedure usually requires three office visits. On the first visit, the woman is given pills to cause the termination of the fetus. Two days later, if the fetus has not been expelled from her body, the woman is given a second drug (misoprostol) to accomplish this. One to two weeks later, an evaluation is done to determine if the procedure has been completed.
RU486 will not work in the case of an ectopic pregnancy. This is a potentially life-threatening condition in which the embryo lodges outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube.
You can feel confident in knowing that medication abortion with the abortion pill is very effective. It works about 97 out of every 100 times. You'll follow up with your health care provider after your abortion so you can be sure that it worked and that you are well.
Some of the medicines used in medication abortion may cause serious birth defects if the pregnancy continues. So, in the unlikely case that it doesn't work, you will need to have an
aspiration abortion to end the pregnancy.
How Does Medication Abortion Feel?
For most women, medication abortion is like an early miscarriage. It is normal for you to have bleeding and cramping. You might also
- feel dizzy
- feel strong cramps
- feel nauseous or vomit
- have diarrhea
- feel temporary abdominal pain
- have temporary mild fever or chills
- Acetaminophen (like Tylenol) or ibuprofen (like Advil) can reduce most of these symptoms. Do not take aspirin.
You may feel more at ease if you have a trusted loved one with you during the abortion.
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How Safe Is the Abortion Pill?
Most women can have a medication abortion safely. But all medical procedures have some risks, so safety is a concern.
Rare, but possible risks include
- an allergic reaction to either of the pills
- incomplete abortion — part of the pregnancy is left inside the uterus
- failure to end the pregnancy
- infection
- blood clots in the uterus
- undetected ectopic pregnancy
- very heavy bleeding
Most often, these complications are simple to treat with medicine or other treatments.
In extremely rare cases, very serious complications may be fatal. The risk of death from medication abortion is much less than from a full-term pregnancy or childbirth.
Serious complications may have warning signs. Call your health care provider right away if at any time you have
- heavy bleeding from your vagina and are soaking through more than two maxi pads an hour, for two hours or more in a row
- clots for two hours or more that are larger than a lemon
- severe abdominal pain or discomfort that is not helped by medication, rest, a hot water bottle, or a heating pad
- chills and a fever of 100.4°F or higher after the day of the procedure
- nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea that lasts more than 24 hours
- an unpleasant smelling discharge from your vagina
- signs that you are still pregnant
You should start to feel better each day after the abortion. Feeling sick — having abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or weakness — more than 24 hours after taking misoprostol could be a sign of serious infection. Contact your health care provider right away if you have any of these symptoms. Do not wait until your scheduled follow-up.
You may need another visit with your provider. Rarely, women need vacuum aspiration or hospitalization. Take your medication guide with you if you need to visit an emergency room, a hospital, or a health care provider.
The abortion pill may not be right for all women. You shouldn't use the abortion pill if you
- are more than 63 days — nine weeks — pregnant
- are not willing to have an aspiration abortion in the unlikely case that the medicines do not end your pregnancy
- cannot come to follow-up appointments
- do not have access to a telephone, transportation, and backup medical care
- have a known or suspected molar pregnancy — one in which the placenta develops abnormally
- have severe adrenal gland, heart, kidney, or liver problems
- take any medicine that should not be combined with the medications used in medication abortion — mifepristone or misoprostol
- take anti-clotting medication or have a blood-clotting disorder
- currently have an IUD. You will need to have it removed before having a medication abortion.
Talk with your health care provider to find out if medication abortion is likely to be safe for you. If medication abortion isn't right for you, don't worry. Another abortion method is likely to be safe for you. |
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