birth control methods: what's effective?
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If you decide you are ready to have sex, or if you're having sex already, there are two huge issues to think about: safer sex and birth control. Safer sex helps you protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), while birth control helps prevent pregnancy. If you are having sex and not protecting yourself on either or both of these fronts, you are treating yourself and your sex partner with a tremendous amount of disrespect, and are and putting both of you at risk.
|
 |
| Birth Control Method |
Effectiveness against STDs |
Effectiveness against pregnancy |
|
|
 |
| Abstinence (no sexual activity) |
100% |
100% |
|
 |
| Condom |
High. Apart from abstinence, this is the best protection against STDs. |
86-98% (male latex condom)
79-95% (female condom) |
|
|
| Diaphragm with spermicide |
Low. Spermicide may protect against chlamydia and gonorrhea |
80-94% |
|
|
| Cervical cap with spermicide |
Low. Spermicide may protect against chlamydia and gonorrhea |
80-90% (for women who haven't had a child)
60-80% (for women who have had a child)
|
|
 |
| Spermicide alone |
Low. May protect against chlamydia and gonorrhea |
72-94% |
|
 |
| Birth control pill |
None |
95-99.9% |
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
| IUD (intrauterine device) |
None |
97.4-99.2% |
|
 |
| Surgical Sterilization |
None |
Above 99% |
|
 |
|
|
 |
Note: The percentages above assume a range of sexual behavior from typical (not completely safe) to completely safe. |
