No Glove, No Love

No Glve, No L ve

Story By Lexi Wicks | Design By Evelyn Perez-Sanchez

Sex. It’s a word that is not always talked about within households and a topic that many students wouldn’t dare to bring up in the presence of family or friends. This can leave sex education limited and not often revisited despite new birth control options available. Sex can be whatever you want it to be as long as it’s consensual and talked about with your partner. Yet there is an important question a lot of people ask themselves: what birth control should we use? It is essential to know your options. You know your body better than anyone. The decision is yours to make.

87% Effective

Male Condoms

Pros:

–Provides protection against STIs –Doesn’t cost much and can buy at almost any drug store –Men feel they can last longer when using a condom –Allow men to have an active part in preventing pregnancy

Cons:

–Have to use a new one every time you have sex –May disrupt/interupt sex –Women may be allergic to latex

Intrauterine Device (IUD)

99% Effective

Pros:

–Protects as soon as it’s inserted –Doesn’t need daily attention (check once a month to see if it’s in place) –Comfortable (you cannot feel it) –Lessens menstrual flow (can be effective for heavy periods)

Cons:

– Does not protect against STIs –Slightly higher in risk of infection in the first 20 days after insertion –The Copper IUD can have side effects: cramping, heavy period and spotting in between menstrual periods

Withdrawal (Pulling Out)

80% Effective

Pros:

–Natural, no side effects –Doesn’t cost anything –Allows men to be an active part of preventing pregnancy

Cons:

–Doesn’t protect against STIs –Not very effective method of contraception –Difficult for male to always predict ejaculation –No control by women - need to rely completely on men to prevent pregnancy

The Sponge

76 83% Effecti ve

Pros:

–Can insert right before or several hours before sex, provides protection for 24 hours –Doesn’t need a prescription

Cons:

–Doesn’t protect against STIs and may increase the risk of HIV infection in women who have sex multiple times a day (due to the irriation from spermicide) –Increases UTIs

Female condom79% Effective

Pros:

–Provides protection against STIs –Can be inserted well before intercourse (less interruption) –Male does not need to withdraw right after ejaculation, as he does with a male condom

Cons:

–May move or be uncomfortable –Can only use for one act of sex –Cost about $2.50 each

Arm Implant - (Nexplanon)

99% Effecti ve

Pros:

–Long-term method: 3 years after insertion - it can be removed by a health care provider when you want to or you can wait for 3 years when it’s time for a change of implant –May cause light or loss of menstrual periods

Cons:

–Does not protect against STIs –Requires minor surgery and insertion of tiny rod(s) underneath skin –May have side effects: irregular periods, depression, nervousness, hair loss and weight gain

Cervical cap The Patch (Xulane®)

91% Effective

Pros:

–Can be inserted several hours before sex –Can leave in place 24-48 hours, will give protection for up to 48 hours –Use less spermicide with the cap than with the diaphragm, no need to apply more spermicide with each act of intercourse

Cons:

–Doesn’t protect against STIs –Costs $30-$50, plus the cost of spermicidal gel –Needs to get fitted by a healthcare provider –Needs a prescription –Limited sizes available –Can’t take out until 6-8 hours after intercourse –May get moved out of place –Some women may be allergic to the cap or spermicide –Can’t be used by women with a history of abnormal pap tests –Can cause an increase in UTIs

Pros:

–Makes periods more regular and lighter –Decreases cramps and acne –Makes you less likely to get ovarian and uterine cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease, ovarian cysts and anemia –Doesn’t interrupt sexual activity

Cons:

–Doesn’t protect against STIs –Can’t be used by women with certain medical problems or by women taking certain medications –May have side effects: nausea, increased appetite, headaches and irregular bleeding within the first few cycles –Increased risk of blood clots 79% Effective

Pros:

–Provides 3 months of protection –Many women stop getting menstrual periods while getting injections –Helps protect against uterine cancer –Doesn’t interupt sexual activity

Cons:

–Doesn’t protect against STIs –Need to see healthcare provider every three months –Depending on insurance, it could cost a co-pay –May have side effects: weight gain, tiredness and decrease in bone density –Common to have irregular menstrual bleeding or spotting for 3-6 months, sometimes longer

Spermicides

96% EfHormonal Injection (Depo-provera®) Pros: –Periods are more regular The Ring (NuvaRing®, Annovera™)fective Pros: –Doesn’t cost much, available in many drug stores and lighter –Doesn’t require a prescription –Decreases menstrual cramps Cons: –Makes you less likely to get ovarian –Doesn’t protect against STIs cysts and anemia and may increase the risk of HIV –Doesn’t interrupt sexual activity infection in women who have sex Cons: –Doesn’t protect against STIs –Can’t be used by women with certain multiple times a day (due to the irriation from spermicide) –Effectiveness usually lasts only medical problems or by women taking one hour (must reapply each time) certain medications –Some men or women may be –May have side effects: nausea, in- allergic to spermicides creased appetite and headaches –May interrupt sex –Increased risk of blood clots –Has lower effectiveness against pregnancy than many other types of contraception 93% Effective The Diaphragm

93 & 97% Eff ect i v e 83% Effective

Pros:

The Pill

Pros:

–Menstrual periods are more regular and lighter –Decreases menstrual cramps and acne –Makes you less likely to get ovarian and uterine cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease, ovarian cysts and anemia

Cons:

–Doesn’t protect against STIs –Depending on insurance, it could cost a co-pay –You need to remember to take every day at the same time –Can’t be used by women with certain medical problems or taking certain medications –May have side effects: nausea, increased appetite, headaches and very rarely blood clots –Need a prescription –Can be put in place right before intercourse or 2-3 hours before intercourse –Doesn’t need to take out between acts of sexual intercourse (protects against pregnacy for about 6 hours, however, you need to reapply spermicide)

Cons:

–Doesn’t protect against STIs –Needs to get fitted by a healthcare provider –Needs a prescription –May be difficult to find –Can’t take out until 6 hours after intercourse –Costs $25-$45, plus the cost of spermicidal gel –May get moved out of place during sex –Some women may be allergic to the diaphragm or spermicide –Need to be re-fitted after a 10 pound weight gain or loss and after pregnancy –Can be messy –Need to reapply spermicide with each act of sexual intercourse –Can cause an increase in urinary tract infections (UTI)