[Detomah]

What Is It?
The birth control shot (also called Depo-Provera) is a long-acting form of the hormone progesterone that is given by injection to protect against pregnancy for 3 months.

How Does It Work?
The hormone progesterone in the birth control shot primarily works by preventing ovulation (the release of an egg during the monthly cycle). If a woman doesn't ovulate, she cannot get pregnant because there is no egg to be fertilized.

How Well Does It Work?
The birth control shot is a very effective method of birth control. Over the course of 1 year, fewer than three out of 1,000 typical couples who use Depo-Provera every 3 months will have an accidental pregnancy. The chance of getting pregnant increases if you wait longer than 3 months to receive your next shot.

In general, how well each type of birth control method works depends on a lot of things. These include whether a person has any health conditions or is taking any medications that might interfere with its use. It also depends on whether the method chosen is convenient - and whether the person remembers to use it correctly all of the time.

Protection Against STDs
The birth control shot does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). For those having sex, condoms must always be used along with the shot to protect against STDs.

Possible Side Effects
Many women who receive the birth control shot will notice a change in their periods. The other side effects that some women have include:

* irregular or no menstrual periods
* weight gain, headaches, and breast tenderness
* depression

Who Uses It?
Young women who have a hard time remembering to take birth control pills and who want extremely good protection against pregnancy use the birth control shot.

Not all women can - or should - use the birth control shot. In some cases, medical or other conditions make the use of the shot less effective or more risky. For example, it is not recommended for women who have had blood clots, high blood pressure, certain types of cancers, certain types of migraine headaches, or uncontrolled diabetes. It's recommended that girls who have had unexplained vaginal bleeding (bleeding that is not during their periods) or who suspect they may be pregnant should talk to their doctor.

A girl who is interested in learning more about different types of birth control, including the shot, should talk to her doctor or other health professional.

How Do You Get It?
The birth control shot must be given every 3 months in a doctor's office. The injection is given in the arm or the buttocks.

How Much Does It Cost?
Each injection (3 months' worth of birth control) of Depo-Provera costs about $50. Many health insurance plans cover the cost of birth control shots, as well as the cost of the doctor's visit. Family planning clinics (such as Planned Parenthood) may charge less.

Emergency Contraception

What Is It?
Emergency contraception is a way to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. Often called the morning-after pill, emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) can be taken any time up to 72 hours after having unprotected sex. ECPs should be prescribed by a doctor.

How Does It Work?
The hormones estrogen and progesterone can prevent pregnancy when prescribed by a doctor in high doses. The number of pills taken depends on the type of pill being used. The first dose of pills should be taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse followed by a second dose of pills 12 hours later. The hormones work primarily by delaying ovulation (the release of an egg during the monthly cycle) and are less effective if fertilization has already occurred.

How Well Does It Work?
About 25 out of 100 women will become pregnant even if emergency contraceptive pills were taken within 72 hours of having unprotected sex. Of course, this is an average figure. Emergency contraception is most effective when taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex. For example, about 5 out of 100 women will become pregnant if the pill is taken within 24 hours after having unprotected sex.

Emergency contraception will not prevent pregnancy if a girl has unprotected sex after taking the emergency contraceptive pills.

Because emergency contraception does not prevent all pregnancies, a woman should see her doctor if she doesn't have a period within 3 weeks after taking ECPs.

Protection Against STDs
Emergency contraception does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). For those having sex, a condom must always be used to protect against STDs even when using another method of birth control.

Possible Side Effects
The larger-than-normal dose of hormone causes side effects in many of the women receiving emergency contraception. These side effects improve within 1 to 2 days and include nausea, vomiting, breast tenderness, and headache. In addition, the menstrual period may be irregular after taking ECP.

Who Uses It?
Emergency contraception is not recommended as a regular birth control method. Instead, it is used for emergencies only. If you are having sex and the condom breaks or slips off, if your diaphragm or cervical cap slips out of place, or if you forgot your birth control pills 2 days in a row, you may want to consider using emergency contraception. It is also available to teens who are forced to have unprotected sex.

Emergency contraception is not recommended for girls who know they are pregnant. In addition, there may be medical conditions and circumstances where this method of birth control is not recommended.

How Do You Get It?
In most cases, a doctor must prescribe ECPs. Many health clinics also provide them. You must call as soon as possible after having unprotected sex because ECPs are most effective during the first 72 hours. Call (888) NOT 2 LATE.

How Much Does It Cost?
Depending on the types of pills that are prescribed, the emergency contraceptive pill costs between $8 and $35. Many health insurance plans cover the cost of emergency contraception and family planning clinics (such as Planned Parenthood) charge much less.

Abstinence

What Is It?
Abstinence is the decision to not have sex.

How Does It Work?
Abstinence is the simplest form of birth control. If two people don't have sex, then sperm can't fertilize an egg and there's no possibility of a pregnancy. Other forms of birth control depend on barriers that prevent the sperm from reaching the egg (such as condoms or diaphragms) or they interfere with the menstrual cycle (as birth control pills do). With abstinence, no barriers or pills are necessary.

Do you have to be a virgin to practice abstinence? No. Sometimes, someone who has been sexually active decides not to continue having sex. Even if someone has been sexually active, they can still choose abstinence to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) from now on.

How Well Does It Work?
Abstinence is the only form of birth control that is 100% effective in preventing pregnancy. Although many other methods can have high rates of success if used properly, they can fail occasionally. The rate of success of other birth control methods varies depending on the type of birth control. Practicing abstinence, however, ensures that a girl will not become pregnant because there is no opportunity for sperm to fertilize an egg.

Protection Against STDs
Abstinence protects people against STDs. Because some STDs spread through oral-genital sex or even intimate skin-to-skin contact without actual penetration (as genital warts can), only complete abstinence from intimate genital contact can prevent STDs. Abstinence does not prevent AIDS and hepatitis B infections that come from nonsexual activities like using contaminated needles for doing drugs, tattooing, or taking steroids.

How Do You Do It?
Not having sex may seem easy because it's not doing anything. But peer pressure and things you see on TV and in the movies can make the decision to practice abstinence more difficult. If it seems like everybody else is having sex, some teens may feel they have to do it, too, just to be accepted. Remember that only you can make the decision to have sex or not. Don't let kidding or pressure from friends, a girlfriend, or a boyfriend push you into something that's not right for you. And you can still have a relationship with someone without having sex. The people who care about you should respect that deciding not to have sex is an important personal choice. You might not realize it, but most teens do practice abstinence.

Choosing to practice abstinence is an important decision, and you may have questions about making this choice or about other methods of birth control. Talking to an adult you trust, such as a parent, teacher, counselor, or coach, can help.

Some if this info is copyrighted to American Social Health Association and TeensHealth.