Birth Control:
What Guys Should Know

Sex comes with a lot of responsibilities. If you are not sure whether you are ready to have sex, take this quiz. If you are ready, this information will help you make sure she does not get pregnant.

The Basics

• Get free condoms and lube.
• If you are a teen (over 13), you can get birth control from a clinic or doctor - and only you and your doctor will know. It's often free too. Check out F-PACT.
• Abstinence (not having sex) and using condoms also protect you from getting HIV and other STDs.
• If your penis touches anywhere near her vagina, she can get pregnant.
• Have an emergency? Your condom broke? Check out the morning after pill.
• Pulling out is better than nothing, but not much.

What can guys do about birth control?

There are lot of things you can do to help make sure she does not get pregnant.

• Talk to her about birth control before you have sex.
• Talk to her about what you would do if she got pregnant.
• Use a condom every time - condoms also protect you from getting STDs.
• Go with her to the clinic or doctor.
  
• Learn about all methods she can use. Ask how you can help her use them.
  
• Pay for the birth control.

Check out all the birth control methods

There are lots of birth control methods. All have pros and cons. Abstinence and condoms are the best at preventing HIV and STDs.

Abstinence

Abstinence means not having any kind of sex. You cannot put your penis in or near her vagina. It also means no anal or oral sex. (She cannot get pregnant from anal or oral sex. But you or your partner can get an STD from anal or oral sex.)

The pros
It's the best way to protect against HIV and STDs.
It's the only 100% effective method of birth control.
It causes no health problems.
It can be used any time.

The cons
She could get pregnant if you change your mind and have sex without any birth control.

Condom (Rubber, Jimmy)

A condom is a thin latex sheath that is rolled onto the man's penis. It keeps sperm inside the condom and away from the woman's egg. Condoms have many names: rubbers, rain coats, jimmies, jimmy hats.

Some condoms also contain spermicides which kill the sperm. Condoms with spermicides work even better. But some people are allergic to spermicides, so be careful the first time trying a spermicide.

Check all the places where you can get free condoms and lube!

How effective are condoms at preventing pregnancy?
Condoms are 88% effective. This means:
If a 100 couples have sex for a year, 12 will get pregnant.

The pros
Protects from HIV and STDs
Can be bought at drugstores, supermarkets, and liquor stores. Or get for free.
Don't cost much.

The cons
Putting on a condom might interrupt sex.
Sex might not feel the same with a condom.
A few people are allergic to latex condoms, so they need to use polyurethane condoms.

Tips about how to use

• Use a new condom every time you have sex.
• Put the condom on before any contact with the vagina or anus.

Once you are hard, put it on with the roll on the outside. Pinch the tip to squeeze out air.	Hold the tip of the condom and unroll it all the way down.	After you come, hold onto the condom and pull out while you are still hard. This stops sperm from spilling out.

What's the deal with lubrication (lube)?

Lube can help in many ways.

• It can make the condom feel better during sex. Try putting two drops of lube on the inside of the condom.
• Lube also prevents the condom from breaking.
• Use only water based lube such as Astroglide, KY Jelly, Slippery Stuff.
• Do not use with an oil-based lube such as Vaseline, hand lotion, or massage oil - this will cause the condom to break.

Check out Rubberman's Safer Sex Tips for more info about condoms:

• Get tips on how to keep condoms from breaking
• Check out Consumer Reports and other reviews of which condoms are best

Spermicides

What are spermicides?
Spermicides kill the sperm. Nonoxynol-9 is a spermicide. Spermicides are put into the vagina before sex. Or some condoms contain spermicides. Spermicides work best if you use them with a condom, cervical cap, or diaphragm.

There are several types of spermicides:
· VCF (Vaginal Contraceptive Film)
· Foam
· Suppositories
· Jelly

How effective are spermicides at preventing pregnancy?
Spermicides are 79% effective. This means:
If 100 couples have sex for a year, 21 will get pregnant.

The pros
Can buy in drugstore.
They are cheap.

The cons
May not protect against HIV or other STDs.
She must put them in right before you have sex.
With some, you must wait for them to foam up.
Some can be messy.
You or your partner might be allergic to spermicides - this means they might hurt!
They taste bad.

Diaphragm

What is it?
A diaphragm is rubber cup that covers the cervix. The diaphragm works two ways. It blocks the sperm from getting near a woman's egg. Also, the diaphragm holds jelly or cream that kills sperm.

How effective is the diaphragm?
The diaphragm is 82% effective. This means:
If 100 couples have sex for a year, 18 will get pregnant.

The pros
It causes few health problems.
It can be put in up to 6 hours before sex.

The cons
A diaphragm may not protect against HIV or STDs.
She must go to a doctor or nurse to get a diaphragm.
A few women get bladder infections.
It may irritate your penis or her vagina.

Tips about how to use a diaphragm
The diaphragm only works if you use it every time you have sex.
Do not use an oil based lubricant with a diaphragm.

Cervical Cap

What is it?
A cervical cap is rubber cup that covers the cervix. It attaches by suction. The cap works two ways. It blocks the sperm from getting near a woman's egg. Also, the cap holds jelly or cream that kills sperm.

How effective is the cervical cap?
The cervical cap is 82% effective. This means:
If 100 couples have sex for a year, 18 will get pregnant.

The pros
The cap can be put in ahead of time.
You can have sex more than once for up to 48 hours.
Once in place, most people don't feel it.

The cons
A cap may not protect against HIV or STDs.
She must go to a doctor or nurse to get a cap.
Putting the cap in or taking it out can be tricky.
For women who have had a child, there is a much higher chance of getting pregnant while using the cap.

Tips about how to use the cervical cap
The cap only works if you use it every time you have sex.

The Pill

How does the pill work?
The pill stops the woman's egg from being released from her ovaries.
· The woman takes one pill every day.
· Since there is no egg to meet with the man's sperm, the woman does not get pregnant.

How effective is the pill?
The pill is 97% effective. This means:
If 100 couples have sex for a year, 3 will get pregnant.

The pros
It does not cause any serious problems in most women.
It can help protect women from cancer of the ovaries
It does not interrupt having sex.

The cons
Does not protect against STDs and HIV.
She must take the pill around the same time everyday.
She must go to a doctor or nurse for an exam.
She could have weight changes, mood changes, or some bleeding at odd times.

Tips about how to use the pill
The pill works if she takes it everyday around the same time.

Norplant (Birth Control Implants)

Norplant stops the woman's egg from being released from her ovaries. Since the egg does not meet with the sperm, she does not get pregnant.
Six small tubes are placed under her skin in her arm.

How effective is norplant?
Norplant is 99% effective. This means:
If 100 couples have sex for a year, 1 will get pregnant.

The pros
Norplant works for 5 years.
Implants work well without having to think about it.
Does not cause major health problems in most women.

The cons
Does not protect against STDs and HIV.
She must go to the clinic to put the implants in and to take them out.
Most women have changes in their periods and other side effects.

The birth control shot (Depo-provera)

The shot works mainly by keeping the woman's egg from leaving her ovaries.
· Since the egg does not meet the sperm, the woman does not get pregnant.
· She has to get the shot every 12 weeks at a clinic.

How effective is the shot?
The shot is 99% effective. This means:
If 100 couples have sex for a year, 1 will get pregnant.

The pros
This is an easy method for her to keep private - there are no pills lying around for someone to find!
It lasts for 12 weeks.
It does not interrupt having sex.

The cons
Does not protect against STDs and HIV.
She will have changes in her period and other side effects.

Emergency Contraceptives (the morning after pill)

The morning after pill should only be used in an emergency.
· Maybe your condom broke last night
· Maybe you did not use any birth control at all
· Maybe your partner forgot to take her birth control pills the last few days

How does it work?
The morning after pill releases hormones that start her period. It must be taken within 3 days (or 72 hours) after sex.

Where do you get it?
To get the morning after pill, your partner should go to the clinic at the County Health Services Agency (763-8010, 454-4030) or at Planned Parenthood (724-7525, 426-5550) right away. The morning after pill will not work 3 days after sex, and earlier the better.

Remember, only for emergencies!
The morning after pill should not be used as your regular "'birth control." Its not fun to take. She might feel like throwing up. Also, it also does not keep you from getting HIV or STDs.

Sterilization

Sterilization is surgery for people who no longer want to have children.
· In men, the tubes that carry the man's sperm are cut.
· In women, the tubes that carry the woman's eggs are cut.

Sterilization is not a good method for teens
Sterilization is permanent. You cannot change your mind and have children later on.

IUD (intrauterine device)

The IUD is a small piece of plastic that is put in the woman's uterus at the clinic. It keeps the egg from growing in the woman's uterus.

IUDs are not a good method for teens
The uterus of some young women is too small to fit an IUD.

Natural Family Planning (NFP) or Periodic Abstinence

Your partner learns about signs in her body that show when she can and cannot get pregnant.
· She needs to take a class to learn about these signs.
· You cannot have sex during the time your partner can get pregnant.

Natural Family Planning is not a good method for teens
· This method does not protect against HIV and other STDs.
· It also works best for women with very regular periods, and teens often have irregular periods.
· You might want to have sex during the "unsafe" time.
· It works best if you are in stable and committed relationship.

Withdrawal (Pulling Out)

A man pulls his penis out of her vagina before he comes.

Withdrawal is not a good method
· Pulling out is better than nothing, but not much! You might come very quickly, before you realize it. Stopping in time is very difficult. Also, even before you come, you might be leaking sperm.
· Pulling out does not protect you against HIV or other STDs.

Acknowledgment

Much of the text regarding birth control comes from a brochure called, "What is right for you? Choosing a birth control method." The brochure was funded and copyrighted by the Office of Family Planning at the California Department of Health Services and was developed by Education Program Associates.