While it is important for young people to understand the different kinds of birth control methods, the reality is this: All the methods below, except abstinence, are going to fail at one time or another. For example, if a couple is counting on a condom or the birth control pill to protect them, they may not only find themselves with an unplanned pregnancy, an incurable sexually transmitted disease (STD) or AIDS, but very likely they will also find themselves having to deal with some kind of emotional, social, mental, and/or moral consequence these methods cannot protect against. The risk of failure is much too great as you can see from the information below. (Note: A more detailed description of each method is presented at the end of the chart.)

BIRTH CONTROL METHODS

Condoms
Most condoms ("rubbers") are made of latex, plastic. They look like long thin deflated balloons. They are supposed to prevent body fluids from mixing when two people have sex, yet there is always a risk they will leak or tear and body fluids pass from one person to another. The condom is put onto the penis before the penis comes into contact with the vagina. At least 20% or about 1 out of 5 teenage couples experience an unplanned pregnancy even when condoms are used.

Oral Contraceptives: "The Pill"
One type of oral contraceptive or “birth control pill” is called the combined oral contraceptive because it contains two hormones, an estrogen and a progestin. This pill is supposed to prevent pregnancy by stopping ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary) and by making the lining of the uterus thinner so if fertilization does occur, it is unlikely the fertilized egg will be able to survive. The failure rate of the pill for teens is almost 13%. That means if a teenaged girl is on the pill and has sex 7 or 8 times, she probably will still get pregnant. One study found that women on the pill still ovulate about half of the time making it possible for pregnancy to occur.

Another kind of birth control pill is the progestin-only pill which contains only one hormone, a progestin. It works much like the combined oral contractive described above, yet it also thickens the cervical mucus so it is harder for sperm to reach the egg. However, it is not very effective in preventing ovulation (the release of an egg). The failure rate for teens is still about 13%. (Note: This method provides no protection against AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.)

Depo-Provera Injections: "The birth control shot"
The birth control shot contains a medicine called Depo-Provera, a hormone much like the progesterone a woman produces during the last 2 weeks of each monthly cycle. It is supposed to stop the woman from releasing an egg and provides other contraceptive effects. The failure rate for the “shot” is approximately four percent. (Note: This method provides no protection against AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.)

Contraceptive Patch: Ortho Evra
The contraceptive patch (Ortho Evra) is a thin, plastic patch containing a combination of estrogen and progestin, the same chemicals found in the birth control pill. A woman wears the patch on the skin of her hip, buttocks, upper arm, or upper torso for one week for a total of three consecutive weeks. The skin absorbs the hormones, which help prevent pregnancy much like the birth control pill and Depo-Provera shot are supposed to. This contraceptive method fails to prevent pregnancy from 1-5% of the time. (Note: This method provides no protection against AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.)

Vaginal Contraceptive Ring: Nuvaring
The vaginal contraceptive ring (Nuvaring) is a two-inch in diameter flexible ring that is inserted by the woman into her vagina. She is to leave the ring in place for three weeks. It releases a continuous low dose of a combination of estrogen and progestin hormones which are supposed to help reduce the chance of pregnancy just like other devices which have these chemicals, e.g., the birth control pill, Depo-Provera shot and Norplant. The failure rate is between 1-5%. (Note: This method provides no protection against AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.)

Norplant Implants
Norplant implants are 6 matchstick size rods inserted into the upper arm. After a woman is given a local anesthetic, insertion takes about 7 to 10 minutes. Sometimes the procedure can be painful. Norplant implants give off very small amounts of a hormone much like the progesterone a woman produces during the last 2 weeks of each monthly cycle. However, having the implants removed from a woman’s arm may require surgery and lead to various complications. (Note: This method provides no protection against AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.)

Withdrawal: "Pulling out"
If a couple is having vaginal sex and the male senses that he is about to ejaculate (release seminal fluid), he “withdraws” or pulls his penis out of the vagina. It is very likely his seminal fluid will come out when he withdraws, and the woman could get this fluid on the outside of her genitals. If this occurs, any sperm cells deposited near the opening of the vagina could enter the woman’s body and lead to an unplanned pregnancy. Over 40% of couples who use this method still wind up with a pregnancy! (Note: This method provides no protection against AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases for the male.)

Rhythm Method: Basal Body Temperature Charting
The so-called rhythm method requires that a woman understands her individual reproductive system by observing and writing down fertility signs. These signs determine whether or not she can become pregnant on a given day. Actually a woman can only become pregnant one day per menstrual cycle. This method requires her to chart her body temperature and have sex after her body temperature has risen above her normal temperature for 3 days in a row. This indicates that ovulation has occurred and the egg has already passed. (Note: This method provides no protection against AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.)

Cervical Cap and Diaphragm
The cervical cap is a small cap made of soft rubber. The woman puts spermicide (which helps kill sperm cells) into the cap and then places it up into her vagina and onto her cervix (the opening of the uterus). Suction helps keep the cap in place so it is more difficult for sperm to enter the uterus. The failure rate for this method is about 13–20%. (Note: This method provides no protection against AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.)

The diaphragm is similar to the cervical cap in that it is a rubber disk which the woman places into her vagina so that it covers her cervix, the opening to the uterus. The diaphragm is supposed to help block the man's semen from entering the cervix. A spermicide placed onto the diaphragm helps destroy sperm and physically blocks the cervix. However, the failure rate for this method is approximately 13–20%. (Note: This method provides no protection against AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.)

Intrauterine Device (IUD)
An IUD is a small device which is placed into the uterus. The vertical and horizontal arms of the IUD contain some copper, so the IUD slowly releases the copper into the uterine cavity which may help stop sperm from going through the uterus into the fallopian tubes, thus preventing fertilization. However, if fertilization does occur, the IUD prevents the fertilized egg from successfully implanting in the lining of the uterus, and thus is dies and the pregnancy ends. (Note: This method provides no protection against AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.)

Contraceptive Foam or Jelly
Contraceptive foams or jellies are vaginal spermicide creams which are placed into the woman's vagina using an applicator. They have two contraceptive effects: They are supposed to kill sperm cells (which is why they are called "spermicidal") and prevent sperm from reaching the egg by blocking the opening of the uterus. About 20-30% of the time an unplanned pregnancy still takes place. (Note: This method provides no protection against AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.)

Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECPs): "The morning after pill"
ECPs are two large doses of ordinary birth control pills. If a woman is takes these pills within 72 hours after having sex, the medication may help prevent fertilization, but it is more likely to cause a fertilized egg from continue to develop. There is evidence the “morning after pill” actually causes an early abortion thus controlling whether or not birth will occur. (Joe S. McIlhaney, Jr., M.D., 1001 HEALTH-CARE QUESTIONS WOMEN ASK, page 507). (Note: This method provides no protection against AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.)

Tubal Ligation: Sterilization for women
Tubal ligation is an operation which blocks the fallopian tubes which carry a woman's egg to her uterus. Often this operation is performed through a laparoscope which is an instrument inserted through a small incision in the abdomen. The surgeon places rings on, applies clips to, and/or burn the fallopian tubes, so an egg cannot pass beyond that point and reach the uterus, nor can sperm cells reach an egg to bring about fertilization. This contraceptive method fails less than 1% of the time, and is considered a permanent, irreversible procedure for those who are certain they do not want to have more children. (Note: This method provides no protection against AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.)

Vasectomy: Sterilization for men
A vasectomy is an operation which blocks the tubes (the vas deferens) which transport sperm to the penis. This operation is not a temporary procedure, but a permanent one because it may be difficult to reverse it. The failure rate ranges from about one in a hundred to one in five hundred men. (Note: This method provides no protection against AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.)

Abstinence: Not having sexual intercourse
Abstinence means choosing not to have any kind of sexual relationship, particularly vaginal sex which can lead to pregnancy. Teens who choose not to have vaginal sex not only will avoid an unplanned pregnancy, but they are also protecting themselves from experiencing the serious emotional, mental, social, financial, and moral problems sex before marriage often cause. This method of birth control will never fail – it is guaranteed to work 100% of the time! (Note: Unlike any other birth control method, this method provides 100% protection against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and the virus that causes AIDS (HIV) when it is transmitted through sexual activities! The decision to have sex is YOUR decision, not someone else’s.