Have you missed a period? Or experienced breast tenderness, nausea, or strange cravings? If you are using birth control, you may be wondering if the symptoms you are experiencing mean that you might be pregnant, or if it’s just a side effect of the birth control.
The fact is, it IS possible to get pregnant, no matter what type of birth control you are using. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), even women using an IUD (intra uterine device) have a slight risk of getting pregnant. With other types of birth control methods, the risk can be much higher.
If you are experiencing symptoms or have missed a period, it is important to have a pregnancy evaluation as soon as possible. At Life Options, we offer free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, and even STD testing and treatment at no cost to you.
Your Next Step:
CDC Birth Control Failure Rates with typical use.
Methods are listed from least effective to most effective.
- Spermicide: 28%
- Fertility Awareness: 24%
- Sponge: 12%-24% (less effective after childbirth)
- Withdrawal: 22%
- Female Condom: 21%
- Male Condom: 18%
- Diaphragm: 12%
- Ring: 9%
- Patch 9%
- Oral Contraceptive-The Pill: 9%
- Shot/Injection: 6%
- Implant: 0.05%
- IUD: 0.2%-0.8%
- Abstinence from sexual activity: 0%
Of these methods, the only ones that provide any protection against STD’s/STI’s are condoms & abstinence. All other methods provide NO protection against STD’s. Condoms reduce the risk of STI/STD transmission, but do not provide complete protection.
Abstinence from sexual activity (including but not limited to vaginal intercourse) provides complete protection from pregnancy and STD’s/STI’s. Sexual activity within a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner also provides complete protection from STD’s/STI’s.