Contraception

Choosing the right form of birth control can be a difficult decision.

The Student Wellness Center offers consultations with students that have questions about birth control options and proper birth control use. We provide free external condoms, internal condoms, personal lubricants and dental dams to students. If you have questions about birth control methods, we can discuss the options with you and refer you to the Student Health Center for further information and prescriptions. Feel free to stop by SSB 4.5 or call 972-883-4275 if you have any questions.

Before you make a decision on forms of contraception, make sure to talk to your partner.

How to Use an External Condom

  1. Give and get proper consent with your partner. Consent is a voluntary, mutually understandable agreement that clearly indicates a willingness to engage in each instance of sexual activity.
  2. Check the expiration date: Expired condoms are likely to fail. Be sure your condom is not expired before a sexual encounter. That way you have time to purchase new condoms before sex takes place.
  3. Using your hands, open the package carefully. Teeth, fingernails and scissors can damage condom materials. If there is a slight chance that the condom may have been compromised while being opened, dispose of the condom and open a new one carefully.
  4. Roll the condom correctly. The ring of the condom should roll upward, on the outside of the condom. The ring of the condom should not be on the inside of the condom. Condoms that are used inside out are more likely to fail than condoms rolled down correctly.
  5. Squeeze the tip. The tip or reservoir of a condom is meant to collect the ejaculate once it is expelled. Squeeze the tip before you begin rolling the condom on.
  6. Roll the condom on an erect penis. While squeezing the tip, roll the condom on all the way to the base of the penis. If the condom is not rolled on all the way, there is a chance that it could come off during sex.
  7. Use lubrication: Most condoms are pre- lubricated in their packaging. It is a good idea to add a small amount of water-based lubricant before sex begins. This will allow comfort for both partners and prevents the condom from breaking. Only use water-based lubricants on condoms. Oil based lubricants and household products, like lotion or baby oil, can negatively affect the condom material.
  8. Hold the rim of the condom after sex as you pull out of your partner. This ensures that the condom will stay on as you pull out and that the contents are not spilled.
  9. Remove the condom away from your partner and dispose of it in a trash can. Do not flush a condom. It can cause severe plumbing issues.

How to Use an Internal Condom

For Vaginal Sex:

  1. Give and get proper consent with your partner. Consent is a voluntary, mutually understandable agreement that clearly indicates a willingness to engage in each instance of sexual activity.
  2. Check the expiration date: Expired condoms are likely to fail. Be sure your condom is not expired before a sexual encounter. That way you have time to purchase new condoms before sex takes place.
  3. Open the package carefully: Teeth, fingernails and scissors can damage condom materials. If there is a slight chance that the condom may have been compromised while being opened, dispose of the condom and open a new one carefully.
  4. Place the inner ring at the bottom, closed end of the pouch.
  5. Use lubrication: Most condoms are pre-lubricated in their packaging. It is a good idea to add a small amount of water-based lubricant to the outside and inside of the condom before sex begins. This will allow comfort for both partners and ensure that the condom material is not compromised by friction. Only use water-based lubricants on condoms. Oil based lubricants and household products, like lotion or baby oil, can negatively affect the condom material.
  6. Find a comfortable position: Sit with your knees apart, squat down or stand with one foot up on the chair.
  7. Hold the pouch with the open end hanging down. While holding the outside of the pouch, squeeze the inner ring with your thumb and middle finger.
  8. Insert the condom with the squeezed ring as if you were inserting a tampon: take your time. It may be difficult the first time you use an internal condom.
  9. Push the inner ring toward the cervix with your index finger: be sure the inner ring is up just past the pubic bone.
  10. Adjust the outer ring: About one inch of the open end will stay outside your body. This is particularly helpful in preventing STI’s that are spread through skin-to-skin contact (HPV, Herpes, Syphilis).
  11. The condom may move around during sex. Side-to-side movement of the outer ring is normal. However, if you notice the condom slipping out of the vagina, STOP, remove and insert a new condom. If the outer ring begins to be pushed into the vagina, STOP, remove the condom and insert a new one.
  12. After intercourse, remove the condom: Squeeze and twist the outer ring in order to keep the ejaculate inside the pouch. Pull condom out gently and dispose of it in a trash can. Do not flush the condom. It can cause severe plumbing issues.

For Anal Sex:

  1. Give and get proper consent with your partner. Consent is a voluntary, mutually understandable agreement that clearly indicates a willingness to engage in each instance of sexual activity.
  2. Check the expiration date: Expired condoms are likely to fail. Be sure your condom is not expired before a sexual encounter. That way you have time to purchase new condoms before sex takes place.
  3. Open the package carefully: Teeth, fingernails and scissors can damage condom materials. If there is a slight chance that the condom may have been compromised while being opened, dispose of the condom and open a new one carefully.
  4. Remove the inner ring of the condom and discard.
  5. Use lubrication: Most condoms are pre-lubricated in their packaging. It is a good idea to add a small amount of water-based lubricant to the outside and inside of the condom before sex begins. You can also add some lubricant to the opening of the anus for comfort. This will allow comfort for both partners and ensure that the condom material is not compromised by friction. Only use water-based lubricants on condoms. Oil based lubricants and household products, like lotion or baby oil, can negatively affect the condom material. If you are using a sex toy, be sure to us a lubricant that is meant to be used on the material that the sex toy is made of.
  6. Place the internal condom on an erect penis or on a sex toy.
  7. Use the outer ring to hold the condom in place at the base of the penis or the end of the sex toy.
  8. Adjust the outer ring: About one inch of the open end will stay outside your body. This is particularly helpful in preventing STI’s that are spread through skin-to-skin contact (HPV, Herpes, Syphilis).
  9. The condom may move around during sex. Side-to-side movement of the outer ring is normal. However, if you notice the condom slipping out of the anus, STOP, remove and use a new condom. If the outer ring begins to be pushed into the anus, STOP, remove the condom and use a new one.
  10. After intercourse, remove the condom: Hold the outer ring as you pull out gently from your partner or gently remove the sex toy. Do not flush the condom. It can cause severe plumbing issues.

Forms of Contraception

Barrier Methods

External Condom

This form of contraception is worn by a male and prevents sperm from entering the other partner’s body. Latex condoms are the most common form of condom, but non-latex versions are available. External condoms help prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. However, External condoms protect against some STIs better than others. For example, HPV is spread through bodily fluids as well as skin-to-skin contact. This means that while external condoms to help prevent HPV, they do not protect you and your partner from HPV as effectively as STIs that are spread through fluids only. External condoms should be used with water based lubricants only. Oil based lubricants and other household products, like baby oil and lotion, can damage the condom and make them ineffective at preventing pregnancy and STIs.

Note: Condoms are not effective if they are not worn properly.

Internal Condom

Internal condoms helps prevent sperm from entering the body and limits skin-to-skin contact during sex. Internal condoms can be inserted in the vagina up to eight hours before sexual intercourse. Internal condoms do prevent STIs and are more effective at preventing sexually transmitted diseases that are spread thru skin-to-skin contact than external condoms. external condoms should not be used with internal condoms. The material from both condoms will cause the condoms to break

Diaphragm or Cervical Cap

Diaphragms and cervical caps are placed inside the vagina, against the cervix to block sperm. Bothe the diaphragm and the cervical cap must be fitted to a woman by a doctor. These barrier methods do not protect against STIs and they have a typical failure rate of about 12%

Hormonal Methods

Birth Control Pill

There are many different forms of the birth control pill and it must be prescribed to a woman by her doctor. Some pills will have both progestin and estrogen and others will have progestin only. Most women discuss the different options with their doctors to determine the best choice for them. The most important thing to remember about the pill is that it must be taken at the same time every day to be effective. The pill causes hormone levels to rise and prevents ovulation. If a woman forgets to take the pill one day or takes it hours later than she did the previous day, she will risk ovulation and a possible un-planned pregnancy. The pill has about a 9% failure rate so male condom use is suggested with the pill to prevent pregnancy. Also, the pill does not protect against STIs and condom use with the pill is highly recommended.

The Patch

The patch is worn on the lower abdomen, buttocks, or upper body (not on the breast). This method must be prescribed by a doctor and releases progestin and estrogen into the bloodstream. Women will wear a new path every week for three weeks. On the fourth week, women do not wear the patch and have a menstrual cycle. There is a 9% failure rate in pregnancy prevention and the patch does not protect against any STIs. Use of the patch with a condom is recommended to prevent against pregnancy and STIs. Ask your doctor for more information if you are interested in the patch.

Implant

The implant is a single, thin rod that is inserted under the skin of a woman’s upper arm. The rod contains progestin that is released into the body over 3 years. Typical failure rate is .05%. The implant does not protect against STIs.

The Shot

The shot contains progestin and is injected into the arm or buttocks every three months. Typical failure rate for the shot is 6%. The shot does not protect against STIs.

The Ring

The ring releases progestin and estrogen into the female body. You placed inside the vagina for three weeks and remove it for one week to have a period. At the end of the week you will insert a new ring. The hormones inside the ring are released by the heat of the human body. If left in high temperatures, like a hot car, the ring will begin to release hormones before it is inserted into the body rendering it useless to prevent pregnancy. Be sure to store the ring in a cool area, like a refrigerator. The typical failure rate of the ring is about 9%. The ring does not protect against STIs.

Intrauterine Contraception

Copper T intrauterine device (IUD)

This IUD is a small device that is shaped in the form of a “T”. It is inserted into the uterus for up to ten years to prevent pregnancy. The Copper IUD does not use estrogen or progestin. IUD has a failure rate of .8% and it does not protect against STIs.

Mirena

Mirena is an IUD that delivers a small amount of progestin in the uterus. It is inserted by a doctor and provides 5 years of pregnancy prevention. While Mirena does not protect against STIs it has a failure rate of less than 1%.

Skyla

Skyla is a form of IUD that contains levonorgestrel, a progestin hormone that can cause changes in the cervical mucus and uterine lining, making it harder for sperm to reach the uterus. Skyla does not contain estrogen. Skyla is inserted by a doctor and can be worn for up to 3 years. Skyla is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy, but does not protect against STIs.

Emergency Contraception

Emergency contraception is meant to be used when another form of birth control fails (a condom breaks) or another unintentional incident occurs. It is not meant to be a regular form of birth control or be used as an afterthought when someone chooses not to use any form of protection during sex.

Emergency contraception prevents pregnancy much like a regular birth control pill prevents pregnancy, by preventing or delaying the release of an egg and/or preventing the sperm, from fertilizing a released egg.

For more information about emergency contraception, contact the Student Wellness Center or the Student Counseling Center.