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Lecture Notes

To be fully responsible in using birth control, individuals must know what options they have, how reliable these methods are, and what advantages and disadvantages are of each one. The best method of contraception is one that will be used consistently and correctly.

<br />Most women who are not currently using contraceptives go to a clinic or a doctor's office knowing which method they would like to use. However, many of these women are not aware of other options available to them.

 

To help make an informed decision about which birth control method is best for each woman, some questions to consider include:

Do you know the advantages and disadvantages of each of the contraceptive methods?

How convenient and easy is it to use this method?

If you or your partner is at risk, does this method protect against STIs, including HIV?

What are the effects of this method on menses?

What other influences such as religion, privacy, past experiences, might affect your decision?

And, have you discussed potential methods with your health-care practitioner?

 

In the discussion of the method's effectiveness, "perfect use" refers to the percentage of women who become pregnant during their first year of use when they use the method correctly and consistently. "Typical use" refers to the percentage of women who became pregnant during their first year of use, and includes both couples who use the method correctly and consistently and those who do not. Therefore, typical use is the more significant number to use when considering a method of contraception.

Image: http://thehiphopdemocrat.com/2012/03/01/senate-heads-for-showdown-over-contraceptives/