FAMILY PLANNING METHOD

Protection

Protection from

Possible

from

STIs

Side

Pregnancy

Other Important Information

Effects
Most effective when used with

Condom for men

spermicide and water-based

Good

lubricant. Use with other

methods to prevent STIs.

Condom for women

Good

Diaphragm (with spermicide)

Most effective when used with

Good

spermicide. Effective only

when using the correct size.

More effective when used

Some

with another barrier method

like diaphragm or condom.

Spermicide

Skin allergy

Hormonal Methods

Birth control pill, patch,

VERY
injections
GOOD

These methods may be

dangerous for women with
Nausea,

Implants

headaches,

changes in
monthly

BEST

bleeding

certain health problems.

This method may be

BEST

dangerous for women with

heavy and

certain health problems.

painful
monthly
bleeding

IUD

Sexual touch rarely passes

Sex without intercourse (penis

STIs. Oral sex is less likely to

not inside vagina at all)

BEST

pass STIs. Anal sex easily

passes STIs.

Breastfeeding (during the first 6

months only)

To be effective, a woman

must give her baby only

VERY

breast milk, and her monthly

GOOD

bleeding must not have

returned.

Fertility awareness

A woman must understand

when she is fertile and be

GOOD

able to choose when to have

sex with intercourse.

Sterilization

BEST

A woman or a man will never

be able to have babies after
this operation.

Pulling out (Withdrawal)

More effective when used
SOME

with another method like

spermicide or diaphragm.