Other Contraception

BIRTH CONTROL PILLS
(oral contraceptives)

Birth control pills are taken every day. 8 for every 100 people using the pill will get pregnant in a year so they are typically 92% effective.

There are pills that have both estrogen and progesterone and some with progesterone only
The ones with estrogen are not safe for smokers over 35 or patients with a strong family history of strokes and blood clots
Birth control pills may increase migraines and blood pressure
You will usually have regular periods with most pills however, they are usually lighter than normal
About 20/100 patients get side effects like breast tenderness, nausea, headaches, weight gain, mood swings, spotting
If you miss a pill, are more than 12 hours late taking your pill or have vomiting or diarrhea, use a back up method
(like condoms or emergency contraception)
Many pills are free with the BC Medical Services Card

PATCH (Evra)

The patch is a sticker worn on the skin that is changed once a week. 8 for every 100 people using the patch will get pregnant in a year so they are typically 92% effective.

The patch has both estrogen & progesterone in it
The patch is not safe for smokers over 35 or patients with a strong family history of strokes and blood clots
They may increase migraines and blood pressure
Typically you will have regular periods that are lighter than normal
About 20/100 patients get side effects like breast tenderness, nausea, headaches, weight gain (usually no more than 5 pounds), mood swings, spotting. A few get skin irritation from the patches.
If you forget to change your patch, or are 2 days or more late changing your patch, use a back up method (like condoms
or emergency contraception)
The patch is not covered by the BC Medical Services Card and is about $25 – $35 per month

DEPO PROVERA (shot)

Depoprovera is an injection every 3 months. 6 for every 100 people using the shot will get pregnant in a year so they are typically 94% effective.

The shot has progesterone only and no estrogen
It is generally safer for smokers over 35 and patients with a strong family history of strokes and blood clots
It does not tend to increase migraines or blood pressure
It can give you irregular periods that usually disappear after one year
About 20/100 patients get side effects like weight gain,
mood swings, spotting, may decrease bone density
If you miss your shot by more than one week,
use a back up method (like condoms or emergency contraception)
The shot is free with a BC Medical Services Card
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RING (NuvaRing / Haloette)

The ring is a flexible ring inserted in your vagina for 3 weeks each month. 8 for every 100 people using the patch will get pregnant in a year so they are typically 92% effective.

The ring has both estrogen & progesterone
It is not safe for smokers over 35 or patients with a strong family history of strokes and blood clots
It may increase migraines and blood pressure
Generally, people have regular periods with the ring and they are usually lighter than normal
About 5/100 get vaginal irritation and about 20/100 get side effects like breast tenderness, nausea, headaches, weight gain (usually no more than 5 pounds), mood swings, spotting.
If you forget to put in a new ring on the right day or took it out for more than 3 hours during the 3 weeks, use a back-up method (like condoms or ECP).
There is a type of vaginal ring that is free with the BC Medical Services Card

Barrier Methods of Birth Control

FEMCAPS:

No longer available in Canada.

CONDOMS:

Condoms are used each time you have sex. 18 for every 100 people using condoms will get pregnant in a year so they are typically 82% effective.

Condoms act as a physical barrier to sperm
They are not as effective as other methods but they are the only form of birth control that also prevent sexually transmitted infection

DIAPHRAGMS:

What is a diaphragm? It is a soft silicone cup to use each time you have sex. Spermicide jelly is placed inside and the cup is placed in the vagina to hold the spermicide next to the cervix.

How does it work? The cup is a physical barrier to the sperm and the spermicide stops the sperm chemically.

How effective is it? Similar to condoms, about 2% of patients will become pregnant in one year of perfect use. Since they need to be used each time you have sex, about 25% of people who choose this as their method get pregnant (because they don’t use it every time).

How do I get a diaphragm? You will need to be fitted for a diaphragm and taught how to put it in your vagina correctly. We can do this at Willow Clinic.

What does it cost? Your BC Services Card pays for the fitting by the doctor and the diaphragm costs $50-$75.

Advantages: no hormones, no latex, controlled by the patient.

Disadvantages: must be used every time you have sex, not as effective as birth control pills or IUDs.

For more information about Caya, see:
Caya Diap hragms – Website