Women have many choices when it comes to avoiding pregnancy, but men have only two. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 99% of sexually active women used at least one contraceptive method at some point between 2006 and 2010. Here's a look at a variety of birth control methods and how they each work.
A woman's choice —
Women have many choices when it comes to avoiding pregnancy, but men have only two. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 99% of sexually active women used at least one contraceptive method at some point between 2006 and 2010. Here's a look at a variety of birth control methods and how they each work.
Photo Illustration/Thinkstock
A male condom is a thin covering worn on the penis during intercourse. It can prevent sexually transmitted diseases, and is about 82% effective at preventing pregnancy.
A male condom is a thin covering worn on the penis during intercourse. It can prevent sexually transmitted diseases, and is about 82% effective at preventing pregnancy.
Shutterstock
During a vasectomy, a surgeon cuts the vas deferens, the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles. It has a failure rate of about 0.15% and can be reversed, but the procedure is complicated.
During a vasectomy, a surgeon cuts the vas deferens, the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles. It has a failure rate of about 0.15% and can be reversed, but the procedure is complicated.
Shutterstock
An intrauterine device, or IUD, is a flexible T-shaped device that's inserted by a doctor into a woman's uterus. The devices block sperm and change the lining of the uterus, which may keep a fertilized egg from attaching. Pregnancy is prevented from three to 12 years, depending on the type.
IUD —
An intrauterine device, or IUD, is a flexible T-shaped device that's inserted by a doctor into a woman's uterus. The devices block sperm and change the lining of the uterus, which may keep a fertilized egg from attaching. Pregnancy is prevented from three to 12 years, depending on the type.
Photo Illustration/Thinkstock
Approved in 1960 by the Food and Drug Administration, oral contraceptives involve taking a daily pill with a combination of estrogen and a progestin. The hormones prevent ovulation and thicken a woman's cervical mucus, blocking sperm from fertilizing an egg.
The pill —
Approved in 1960 by the Food and Drug Administration, oral contraceptives involve taking a daily pill with a combination of estrogen and a progestin. The hormones prevent ovulation and thicken a woman's cervical mucus, blocking sperm from fertilizing an egg.
Condoms aren't just for men. The female condom fits inside the vagina with a ring at one end that covers the cervix. When used correctly all of the time, the National Institutes of Health says, it's 95% effective, with bonus protection from sexually transmitted infections.
Female condom —
Condoms aren't just for men. The female condom fits inside the vagina with a ring at one end that covers the cervix. When used correctly all of the time, the National Institutes of Health says, it's 95% effective, with bonus protection from sexually transmitted infections.
Keith Brofsky/Getty Images
The diaphragm also fits inside the vagina but covers only the cervix, where it blocks sperm from entering the uterus. It is made of silicone and can last up to two years. A spermicide must also be used for greatest effectiveness.
Diaphragm —
The diaphragm also fits inside the vagina but covers only the cervix, where it blocks sperm from entering the uterus. It is made of silicone and can last up to two years. A spermicide must also be used for greatest effectiveness.
Jenny Swanson/Getty Images
The cervical cap is similar to a diaphragm but smaller in size and made of rubber instead of silicone. It is useful for women who find it hard to keep a diaphragm in place.
Cervical cap —
The cervical cap is similar to a diaphragm but smaller in size and made of rubber instead of silicone. It is useful for women who find it hard to keep a diaphragm in place.
Dorling Kindersley/Getty Images
Implants are flexible matchstick-size devices that are surgically inserted into a woman's arm. They slowly release the hormone progestin into the body, preventing a woman's ovaries from releasing eggs. The protection can last several years.
Implant —
Implants are flexible matchstick-size devices that are surgically inserted into a woman's arm. They slowly release the hormone progestin into the body, preventing a woman's ovaries from releasing eggs. The protection can last several years.
Shutterstock
For women who don't want to take a pill or insert a device, the Ortho Evra birth control patch sticks to the body and releases pregnancy-preventing hormones through the skin. A woman must change her patch once a week for three weeks in a row. No patch is used in the fourth week, and then the cycle starts again.
The patch —
For women who don't want to take a pill or insert a device, the Ortho Evra birth control patch sticks to the body and releases pregnancy-preventing hormones through the skin. A woman must change her patch once a week for three weeks in a row. No patch is used in the fourth week, and then the cycle starts again.
NuvaRing, approved for use in the United States in 2001, is a small, flexible ring inserted into the vagina. It releases estrogen and progestin, the same pregnancy-preventing hormones found in most variations of the birth-control pill.
Vaginal ring —
NuvaRing, approved for use in the United States in 2001, is a small, flexible ring inserted into the vagina. It releases estrogen and progestin, the same pregnancy-preventing hormones found in most variations of the birth-control pill.
Introduced in 1983, the Today Sponge was pulled from the market after fears of toxic shock but returned in 2005 following design changes. The sponge contains spermicide and can be inserted into the vagina before sex, like a diaphragm, to prevent pregnancy.
Vaginal sponge —
Introduced in 1983, the Today Sponge was pulled from the market after fears of toxic shock but returned in 2005 following design changes. The sponge contains spermicide and can be inserted into the vagina before sex, like a diaphragm, to prevent pregnancy.
Meijer/Today Sponge
Depo-Provera, an injection form of birth control, provides protection for three months with hormones that prevent ovulation and block sperm. It doesn't contain estrogen, as do some other forms of birth control. As a result, it is a popular option for women who can't take estrogen or who are breastfeeding.
The shot —
Depo-Provera, an injection form of birth control, provides protection for three months with hormones that prevent ovulation and block sperm. It doesn't contain estrogen, as do some other forms of birth control. As a result, it is a popular option for women who can't take estrogen or who are breastfeeding.
Pfizer
Emergency contraception, frequently referred to as the morning-after pill, can be taken to prevent pregnancy up to five days after unprotected sex. It can prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs and thickens a woman's cervical mucus. The morning-after pill can also thin the uterus lining, which could prevent a fertilized egg from attaching.
Morning-after pill —
Emergency contraception, frequently referred to as the morning-after pill, can be taken to prevent pregnancy up to five days after unprotected sex. It can prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs and thickens a woman's cervical mucus. The morning-after pill can also thin the uterus lining, which could prevent a fertilized egg from attaching.
Birth control methods

Story highlights

AAP recommends other birth control options for teens, including IUDs

IUDS, implants have lower failure rate than "the pill"

These are called long-acting reversible contraception

CNN  — 

When it comes to effective birth control for teens, “the pill” might be considered a reproductive relic.

An updated policy statement released today by the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests doctors counsel teens about the advantages of other birth control options – like intrauterine devices (IUDs) or birth control implants – before the pill.

“On some level, when people see ‘teens should have IUDs,’ it sounds surprising,” said Dr. Mary Ott, associate professor of pediatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine, and one of the lead authors of the policy statement.

The AAP “is not recommending that young people have sex. It is recognizing that young people will have sex and we want them to be safe and protected with the most effective methods available.”

For the uninitiated, the pill is taken on a daily basis to inhibit ovulation. And that detail – taking it daily – is part of why unintended pregnancy occurs about 9% of the time for this method among adults. Experts say the rates are likely higher among teens.

The failure rate for IUDs – a T-shaped device inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy – and implants is less than 1%.

IUDs and implants are more effective, in part because the risk of failure and pregnancy does not hinge on taking a pill daily. They are implanted and last for years, not days – part of a category of contraceptives called long-acting reversible contraception, or LARC.

“Adult women can’t remember to take the pill every day,” said Dr. Tonya Chaffee, director of the Teen and Young Adult Health Center at San Francisco General Hospital. “How should we expect adolescents to remember?”

It would seem to be simple: Use the most effective birth control methods, and rates of teen pregnancy – and maybe even abortions and STDs – could plummet. It is what happened when health officials in Colorado introduced low-cost IUDs to young women at high risk of pregnancy: The state’s teen birth rate dropped 40%.

Colorado teen birthrate drops 40% with low-cost option

But the conversation is far from simple. American culture is still skittish about the idea of teens having sex, say experts. That makes practical conversations about contraception between doctors and teenagers that much more difficult, says Chaffee.

“Our culture in general is so afraid of sex, and that has led to high adolescent pregnancy and STD (sexually transmitted disease) rates,” she said.

According to a 2012 study, U.S. teens are about twice as likely to give birth as teens in Canada; four times as likely as teens in Germany.

“Teen pregnancy rates in the United States are unacceptable,” said Ott. “It’s not about differences in sexual behavior. What’s different is we don’t use contraceptives as well as kids in other countries.”

Not as well and not as often, said Ott.

One way to broach this issue is by parents and doctors broadening their talks with teens, said Chaffee.

“The conversation should be more above the waist, not just about latex and IUDs,” said Chaffee, adding that conversations should be about relationships, break-ups, cheating, falling in love, trust and self-respect.

“We don’t have those conversations – that’s the problem,” said Chaffee, a professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco. “So we’re not preparing (teens) in an adequate way.

“Once we get to that level, having the conversation about what kind of birth control to use is easy.”