1. CONTRACEPTION
Adapted from: Choosing a Contraceptive That’s Right for U: Comparative Chart. SexualityandU.ca

2. CONTRACEPTION IS A TERM USED TO DESCRIBE WAYS TO PREVENT UNINTENDED PREGNANCY.
WHAT IS CONTRACEPTION?

3. CONTRACEPTION METHODS USUALLY FALL INTO TWO CATEGORIES
HORMONAL METHODS
BARRIER METHODS
WHAT IS CONTRACEPTION?

4. GROUP ACTIVITY: METHODS OF CONTRACEPTION
WHAT IS IT?
HOW DOES IT WORK?
HOW EFFECTIVE IS IT?
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO USE IT?
WHY WOULD SOMEONE CHOOSE THIS METHOD?
WHY WOULD SOMEONE NOT CHOOSE THIS METHOD?
GROUP ACTIVITY: METHODS OF CONTRACEPTION
Adapted from: Beyond the Basics: A Sourcebook on Sexuality and Reproductive Health. Canadian Federation for Sexual Health, 2005.

5. ABSTINENCE

6. ABSTINENCE/POSTPONING
WHAT IS IT?
CHOICE TO NOT PARTICIPATE IN CERTAIN SEXUAL CONTACT
HOW DOES IT WORK?
ABSTAIN FROM CERTAIN SEXUAL CONTACT
HOW EFFECTIVE IS IT?
100% EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING PREGNANCY AND STI’S WHEN USED ALL THE TIME
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO USE IT?
BOUNDARIES, COMMUNICATION
ABSTINENCE/POSTPONING

7. ABSTINENCE/POSTPONING
WHY WOULD SOMEONE CHOOSE THIS METHOD?
VERY EFFECTIVE
NOT READY FOR SEX
RELIGIOUS AND OR CULTURAL BELIEFS
WHY WOULD SOMEONE NOT CHOOSE THIS METHOD?
READY FOR SEX
PRESSURE FROM PARTNER
NOT ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH PARTNER
ABSTINENCE/POSTPONING

8. CONDOMS

9. CONDOMS WHAT IS IT? PHYSICAL BARRIER, SOFT THIN SHEATH
HOW DOES IT WORK?
LATEX BARRIERS PREVENT SEMEN FROM GETTING INTO BODY CAVITIES
HOW EFFECTIVE IS IT?
85% TYPICAL, 98% PERFECT
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO USE IT?
NO PRESCRIPTION
PURCHASE AT PHARMACY, DEPARTMENT STORE, CORNER STORE $12- $20 PER BOX
FREE FROM THE PORCUPINE HEALTH UNIT, ANYTIME
CONDOMS

10. CONDOMS WHY WOULD SOMEONE CHOOSE THIS METHOD? EASY TO GET EASY TO USE
NO PRESCRIPTION
PROVIDES PROTECTION FROM STI’S
WHY WOULD SOMEONE NOT CHOOSE THIS METHOD?
REQUIRES PLANNING
REDUCED SENSATION
CONDOMS

11. ECP – MORNING AFTER PILL

12. ECP – MORNING AFTER PILL
WHAT IS IT?
HORMONE PILL
HOW DOES IT WORK?
HIGH DOES OF ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE
DELAY OR PREVENT OVULATION
CHANGES THE ENDOMETRIUM (THE LINING OF THE UTERUS) AND VAGINAL SECRETIONS
HOW EFFECTIVE IS IT?
75% (APPROX)
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO USE IT?
AVAILABLE FROM SEXUAL HEALTH CLINIC, PHARMACY AND DOCTOR WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION.
ECP – MORNING AFTER PILL

13. ECP – MORNING AFTER PILL
WHY WOULD SOMEONE CHOOSE THIS METHOD?
NO OTHER CONTRACEPTION USED
BROKEN CONDOM
SEXUAL ASSAULT
MISSED PILL
WHY WOULD SOMEONE NOT CHOOSE THIS METHOD
TOO MUCH TIME HAS PASSED (MORE THAN 5 DAYS)
MEDICAL REASON NOT TO TAKE HORMONES
IF THIS IS THE ONLY CONTRACEPTION TAKEN (SHOULD NOT BE USED ROUTINELY)
ECP – MORNING AFTER PILL

14. ORAL CONTRACEPTION – THE PILL

15. ORAL CONTRACEPTION – THE PILL
WHAT IS IT?
HORMONE PILL, TAKEN DAILY
HOW DOES IT WORK?
CONTAINS ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE
PREVENTS OVULATION
THICKENS CERVICAL MUCOUS TO BLOCK SPERM
THINS THE ENDOMETRIUM
HOW EFFECTIVE IS IT?
92% TYPICAL, 99.7% PERFECT
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO USE IT?
PRESCRIPTION FROM DOCTOR OR NP
COSTS $20-$30 FROM A PHARMACY, $12 FROM THE PORCUPINE HEALTH UNIT
ORAL CONTRACEPTION – THE PILL

16. ORAL CONTRACEPTION – THE PILL
WHY WOULD SOMEONE CHOOSE THIS METHOD?
VERY EFFECTIVE
EASY TO USE, AND SAFE
WHY WOULD SOMEONE NOT CHOOSE THIS METHOD?
RARE SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS
REMEMBERING TO TAKE IT EACH DAY ON TIME
NO PROTECTION FROM STI’S
ORAL CONTRACEPTION – THE PILL

17. CONTRACEPTIVE PATCH

18. CONTRACEPTIVE PATCH WHAT IS IT?
A TRANSDERMAL PATCH ATTACHED TO THE SKIN
HOW DO YOU USE IT?
STAYS ON THE SKIN FOR 7 DAYS
HORMONES ARE ABSORBED THROUGH THE SKIN
PERFORMS THE SAME FUNCTIONS AS THE PILL
HOW EFFECTIVE IS IT?
92% TYPICAL, 99.7 PERFECT
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO USE IT?
A PRESCRIPTION FROM A DOCTOR OR NP
$20-$30 FROM THE PHARMACY, $12 FROM THE PORCUPINE HEALTH UNIT
CONTRACEPTIVE PATCH

19. CONTRACEPTIVE PATCH WHY WOULD SOMEONE CHOOSE THIS METHOD?
EFFECTIVE WHEN USED PROPERLY
ONLY NEEDS TO BE CHANGED WEEKLY
WHY WOULD SOMEONE NOT CHOOSE THIS METHOD?
RARELY, SKIN REACTION TO THE ADHESIVE
NO PROTECTION FROM STI’S
CONTRACEPTIVE PATCH

20. DEPO-PROVERA (THE NEEDLE)

21. DEPO-PROVERA (THE NEEDLE)
WHAT IS IT?
INJECTABLE HORMONES
HOW DOES IT WORK?
INJECTABLE PROGESTERONE PREVENTS OVULATION
THINS THE ENDOMETRIUM
THICKENS CERVICAL MUCOUS
HOW EFFECTIVE IS IT?
97% TYPICAL, 99.7% PERFECT
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO USE IT?
PRESCRIPTION FROM DOCTOR OR NP
HAVE IT INJECTED BY NURSE OR DOCTOR
COSTS ABOUT $40 PER INJECTION (EVERY 3 MONTHS)
DEPO-PROVERA (THE NEEDLE)

22. DEPO-PROVERA (THE NEEDLE)
WHY WOULD SOMEONE CHOOSE THIS METHOD?
ONLY NEED TO HAVE AN INJECTION EVERY 3 MONTHS
VERY EFFECTIVE
NO PERIOD (USUALLY)
WHY WOULD SOMEONE NOT CHOOSE THIS METHOD?
SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS WITH LONG TERM USE (DECREASED BONE DENSITY)
NO PROTECTION AGAINST STI’S
DEPO-PROVERA (THE NEEDLE)

23. IUS – INTRAUTERINE SYSTEM

24. THE IUS – INTRAUTERINE SYSTEM
WHAT IS IT?
A T-SHAPED DEVICE INSERTED INTO THE UTERUS (CONTAINS HORMONES)
HOW DOES IT WORK?
THICKENS CERVICAL MUCOUS
PREVENTS IMPLANTATION BY CHANGING THE LINING OF THE UTERUS
MAY PREVENT THE RELEASE OF AN EGG
HOW EFFECTIVE IS IT?
99.8% TYPICAL, 99.8% PERFECT
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO USE IT?
A PRESCRPTION FROM A DOCTOR OR NP
A TRAINED DOCOTOR OR NP TO INSERT IT
THE IUS – INTRAUTERINE SYSTEM

25. THE IUS – THE INTRAUTERINE SYSTEM
WHY WOULD SOMEONE CHOOSE THIS METHOD?
LONG ACTING
PASSIVE
MAY DECREASE OR CEASE MENSTRUAL FLOW
WHY WOULD SOMEONE NOT CHOOSE THIS METHOD?
EXPENSIVE TO GET STARTED
MAY CAUSE SPOTTING OR IRREGULAR BLEEDING
MUST BE INSERTED AND REMOVED BY A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
THE IUS – THE INTRAUTERINE SYSTEM

26. HORMONAL METHODS OF CONTRACEPTION OFFER NO PROTECTION AGAINST SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS. THEY ONLY WORK TO PREVENT UNINTENDED PREGANCY.
CONDOMS HELP TO PREVENT UNINTENDED PREGNANCIES AND HELP TO PROTECT AGAINST THE SPREAD OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS.
Remember…

27. Optional Class Activity: Birth Control Walkaround
Adapted from: Birth Control Walkaround.
Su Nottingham, 1996.