What are the different types of birth control and how do they work?
Is there a birth control method that also prevents sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?
Can I get birth control without a gynecological exam?
My partner and I don't have sex often - do we need birth control?
Which birth control method should I use?
How much does birth control cost?
My partner doesn't like the way condoms feel; why can't we use something else?
Can you use the male and female condoms at the same time?
If I'm under 18 and want to obtain birth control, do I need my parents' permission and if not, will they find out that I'm using birth control?
Do you offer "no-scalpel" vasectomy?
Is withdrawal ("pulling out") and effective method of birth control?
| What are the different types of birth control and how do they work? |
Birth control falls into five main categories:
Hormonal Methods
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Use hormones to prevent a woman's ovaries from releasing eggs
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Cause thickening of cervical mucus to make it more difficult for a man's sperm to penetrate
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e.g. Birth Control Pill, Depo-Provera, Patch, Ring, Mirena IUD
Barrier Methods
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Prevent the egg and the sperm from meeting
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e.g. Condom, diaphragm, cervical cap
Behavioral Methods
IUDs
Permanent Methods
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tubal sterilization (for women) closes off the fallopian tubes. When the tubes are closed, sperm cannot reach the egg, and pregnancy cannot happen.
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vasectomy (for men) a simple operation which results in keeping sperm out of the ejaculate (cum).
Using birth control correctly and consistently - every time you have sexual intercourse - is necessary for reducing the risk of pregnancy.
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| Is there a birth control method that also prevents sexually trasmitted infections (STIs)? |
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Using Male Condoms and Female Condoms can greatly reduce the risk of both pregnancy and STIs by creating a physical barrier that bacteria, viruses and sperm cannot pass through. -
All couples should use condoms (even if they are using other hormonal forms of birth control like the Pill) to prevent the spread of STIs, including HIV / AIDS, if they are having any kind of sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal or oral).
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| Can I get birth control without a gynecological exam? |
Yes. You can now get your birth control pills or Depo-Provera without having a pelvic exam. After more than 30 years of medical research, we now know that it is medically safe to offer hormonal methods of birth control without a pelvic exam. We still highly recommend a regular pelvic and breast exam to screen for cancer and sexually transmitted infections, but now you don't need these exams before receiving your birth control. Remember to ask for HOPE if you are interested.
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| My partner and I don't have sex often - do we need birth control? |
Yes. Even partners who don't have sexual intercourse often need to use birth control. Pregnancy occurs when a sperm meets an egg and the fertilized egg successfully implants in the uterus. A woman who only has sexual intercourse one time can get pregnant, so it is important to use birth control with every act of intercourse. Because of the risk of STIs, it is also vital to use a condom with every act of anal, oral and vaginal sexual intercourse.
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| Which birth control method should I use? |
There are several different types of Birth Control available. A health care provider can help you decide which contraceptive method is best for you. Hormonal methods such as Depo-Provera are highly effective. Birth control pills, another hormonal method, are also very effective when taken every day at the same time.
No matter which hormonal method of birth control you use, remember that only condoms and abstinence reduce the risk of pregnancy and the spread of STIs, including HIV / AIDS. Always use either a male or a female condom - but not both together.
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| How much does birth control cost? |
Different methods of birth control have different costs. Fees for services at Planned Parenthood are based on your income. If you are uninsured or don't have much money, you may qualify for a lower fee scale. You also may be eligible for State money that can cover the full cost of your visit. For more information, you can speak to a Call Center Representative at 1-800-967-7526. Note that the prices quoted are estimates and cannot be guaranteed. Actual charges for your visit may vary depending on additional services, supplies or tests required at the time of your visit.
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| My partner doesn't like the way condoms feel; why can't we use something else? |
Condoms, male or female, are the only birth control method (other than continuous Abstinence) that reduces the risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections, so it is important to use them either alone or with another method every time you have intercourse.
Using condoms during intercourse may feel a little different from when they are not used, but there are ways condoms can be made to feel more "invisible." Putting a water-based lubricant with spermicide on the outside of the male latex condom will increase lubrication. Putting a small amount of lubricant in the tip of the condom before the male puts it on can increase sensitivity for the condom wearer. It is important, however, not to use too much lubrication or the condom may slide off the penis.
A man and a woman can also choose to use the female condom instead of the male condom. The female condom is inserted in the woman's vagina with the loose-fitting pouch held in place by a ring that fits over the cervix. (This ring is similar to a diaphragm.) Since nothing restricts the man's penis, intercourse with a female condom may feel better to some men. Unlike the male condom, oil-based lubricants can be used with female condoms. Female condoms can be inserted into a woman's vagina up to 6 hours before intercourse so they don't interrupt sex.
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| Can you use the mail and female condoms at the same time? |
No. Male Condoms and Female Condoms should NOT be used at the same time. They are made of different materials (some male condoms are made of latex; female condoms are made of polyurethane), so when used together, they are likely to tear from friction. Even if you use a male condom that is made of polyurethane, we do not recommend using it with a female condom.
Also, only water-based lubricants can be used with the male condom, while either oil-based or water-based lubricants can be used with the female condom. If oil-based lubricant is used with the latex condom, the material can decompose and cause holes in the condom.
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| Water-based lubricants (safe with all types of latex condoms) |
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Water-based lubricants (safe with all types of latex condoms) Oil-based lubricants (only safe with polyurethane female and male condoms) |
Aloe-9®
AquaLube®
AstroGlide®
deLube®
ForPlay®
glycerin
Gynol II®
H-R ® lubricating jelly
K-Y® Jelly
PrePair®
Ramses® Personal Spermicide
silicone lubricant
spermicide
Touch® Personal Lubricant
water and saliva
Wet® |
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baby oil
cold creams
Cornhuskers® lubricant
edible oils (olive, peanut, corn, sunflower)
head and body lotions
massage oils
mineral oil
petroleum jelly
shortening
suntan oil and lotions
Bag Balm®
whipped cream
certain vaginal yeast infection medications |
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| If I'm under 18 and want to obtain birth control, do I need my parents' permission and if not, will thy find out that I'm using birth control? |
No. You do not need your parents' permission to get birth control at Planned Parenthood, and we will not tell your parents that we have seen you. At Planned Parenthood all of our services are confidential to teens age 12 and older.
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| Do you offer "no-scalpel" vasectomy? |
We offer a procedure that is very similar to the "no-scalpel" vasectomy procedure at our San Francisco Health Center. Find out more about Vasectomy Services at Planned Parenthood Golden Gate.
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| Is withdrawal ("pulling out") an effective method of birth control? |
No. Of every 100 couples who use withdrawal as a birth control method, 19 of the women will become pregnant. There are many reasons that withdrawal is not an effective contraceptive method, including:
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Before ejaculation, almost all penises leak fluid that contains sperm that can cause pregnancy
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Some men cannot tell when they are going to ejaculate
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Some men ejaculate very quickly, before they realize it
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Some men lack the experience and self-control to pull out in time
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Some men have been known to say they will pull out, but they get so excited and carried away that they don't
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Some men have been known to say they will pull out, but don't mean it
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