Download Birth Control Methods - Anthem Medicaid Members

All birth control methods work best if used
correctly and if used every time you have sex.
Choosing whether or not to become
a parent is a big decision.
Be sure you know the right way to use them. Talk with your doctor about
which methods could work for you and ask if you have questions. You may
feel shy at first, but your doctor is used to talking about birth control.
Maybe you know without a doubt you don’t want to have kids.
Or maybe you aren’t ready right now, but won’t rule it out in the
future. Birth control, or contraception, gives men and
Other questions I want to ask my doctor:
�What do I do if I forget to use my birth control?
�What can I do to protect myself from STIs?
�How will my medications affect my birth control?
This includes antibiotic, over-the-counter and herbal medicines.
�How will smoking affect my birth control?
�Will my weight affect how my birth control method will work?
�Will my chronic conditions affect my birth control?
�What do I do if my birth control doesn’t work?
women some control over when and if they become parents.
Both you and your partner should talk to each other about how you feel and
be involved in the planning process. There are many types of birth control
methods to choose from.
Keep in mind, even the most effective birth control
methods can fail. But your chances of getting pregnant are
lowest if the method you choose is always used correctly and
used every time you have sex.
Before choosing a birth control method, think about:
�Your overall health
�How often you have sex
�The number of sex partners you have
�If you want to have children someday
�How far apart you want to have children
�How well each method works to prevent pregnancy
�Possible side effects
�Your comfort level using the method
�How a child would fit into your lifestyle (work, school, family, social life)
Customer Service: Please see the number on your member ID card.
Source:
Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website: Birth Control Methods
Fact Sheet: www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/birth-control-methods.html,
July 2012 (Accessed April 8, 2014.)
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For more information about birth control methods,
visit the Office on Women’s Health website at
www.womenshealth.gov or call 1-800-994-9662
(TDD: 1-888-220-5446).
Birth control
that’s right for you
www.anthem.com/ca
To begin with, you can check to see which types
of birth control are covered in your benefit plan.
Method
Description
Barrier methods
A block or barrier to keep sperm from reaching the egg
Diaphragm
A shallow latex cup inserted into a woman’s vagina that fits over the cervix.
How long does the diaphragm need to stay
in place after I have sex?
Cervical cap
A thimble-shaped latex cup inserted into a woman’s vagina that fits over the cervix.
What if I am allergic to latex?
Female condom
This condom is worn by the woman inside her vagina.
Can this be used at the same time a male
condom is being used for added protection?
Male condom
A thin sheath worn over the penis to keep sperm from entering a woman's body.
What should I do if the condom breaks?
Hormonal methods
Prevents pregnancy by interfering with ovulation, fertilization and/or implantation of the fertilized egg
The pill
The pill is taken every day to keep an egg from being released.
Who should not take the pill? What if
I take antibiotics while taking the pill?
The patch
Like the pill, a patch releases hormones into the bloodstream to prevent
an egg from being released. The patch is changed every week for three weeks.
No patch is worn the fourth week.
Where can I wear the patch?
The vaginal ring
This is a thin, flexible ring that releases the hormones progestin and estrogen.
It works by stopping the ovaries from releasing eggs.
Do I keep the ring in all the time or just
when I have sex?
Questions
for your doctor
The shot/injection
An injection of the hormone progestin is given every three months. It keeps an
egg from being released.
Should I be prepared
with another method
just in case?
Is there a risk for bone loss if I get the shots for
more than two years in a row? Will the shots cause
weight gain or irregular periods?
Implants
Devices that are inserted into the body and left in place for a few years
Implant
A matchstick-size, flexible rod put under the skin of the upper arm. It releases
progestin that keeps the sperm from joining an egg.
How long does the implant work?
Intrauterine Device (IUD)
An IUD is a small device shaped like a T that goes in your uterus to prevent
sperm from fertilizing an egg or the egg from implanting in the uterus. There are two
types: copper and hormonal.
How long can the IUD stay in my uterus?
Permanent birth control
For people who are sure they never want to have a child or they do not want more children
Sterilization
Women: Tubal ligation – surgery to keep the egg from traveling down to the
uterus where it can be fertilized.
Men: Vasectomy – surgery to keep sperm from leaving the body during sex to prevent
fertilization.
Emergency birth control
Used if a woman’s primary method of birth control fails. It should not be used as a regular method of birth control
Morning-after pill
It works by stopping the ovaries from releasing an egg or keeping the
sperm from joining with the egg. It can also keep a fertilized egg from
attaching to the uterus.
Then talk to your doctor about which of those options
is right for you and your partner.
Abstinence, not having sex of any kind, is the
only sure way to protect yourself from unwanted
pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
For people who do have sex, the male condom
is the only birth control method proven to help
protect you from STIs. This includes HIV.
Each birth control method works
differently and may have side effects.
Method
Description
Abstinence
This means not having
sex at any time. It is
the only sure way to
prevent pregnancy
and protect against
STIs, including HIV.
Natural family
planning
Rhythm/Calendarbased method
A form of birth control that is based
on the timing of sex during a woman’s
menstrual cycle
Using cervical mucus
and body temperature
to know when you’re
most likely to become
pregnant and not having
sex on those days or
using another form
of birth control on
those days.
How do I measure my
temperature?
How do I know if I’m
doing this correctly?
Questions for your doctor
If I decide I want to have children later,
can sterilization be reversed?
When should I take the morning-after pill?
Note: This is not a complete list of all birth control methods. Talk to your doctor about any possible side effects and other options not listed here.