| METHOD | EFFECTIVENESS | HOW TO USE | BENEFITS | SIDE EFFECTS | WARNINGS |
| HORMONAL ** |
| The Pill | P 99.9% T 91.0 % | Take a pill at the same time every day | · Lighter/shorter periods · Cycle regulation · Less cramping · Improves acne | · Irregular bleeding · Nausea · Breast tenderness | · Slight risk of blood clots · DO NOT use if you get migraines with aura · Does not protect against STIs · May interact with other medications |
| Progestin Only Pill (POP) | P 99.9 % T 89-94% | Take a pill at the same time every day | · Lighter/shorter periods (some women will have no period) · Less cramping · Can be used if estrogen can’t be taken | · Spotting in the 1st cycle · Slight risk of headache, acne, bloating and breast tenderness | · Must be taken within a 3 hour time frame to be effective · Does not protect against STIs |
| The Ring | P 99.9 % T 91.0% | Insert 1 ring into the vagina and leave in for 3 weeks, remove for 1 week then insert a new ring and repeat | · Private · Does not require daily attention · Usually not noticeable during sex | · Irregular bleeding/spotting · Headache · Nausea · Breast tenderness · Vaginal discharge | · Slight risk of blood clots · DO NOT use if you get migraines with aura · Does not protect against STIs · May interact with other medications |
| The Patch | P 99% T 90.0% | Apply a patch to the abdomen, upper arm or back weekly | · Lighter/shorter periods · Cycle regulation · Less cramping · Improves acne · Do not need to remember daily | · Irregular bleeding · Nausea · Breast tenderness · Skin reactions at the site of application | · Slight risk of blood clots · DO NOT use if you get migraines with aura · Does not protect against STIs · May interact with other medications |
| Depo Provera (The Shot) | P 99.9% T 99.6% | See your health care provider for an injection every 12 weeks | · Does not require daily attention · Reliable · Economical | · Unpredictable bleeding · Weight gain · Headache · Nausea · Breast tenderness | · Decrease of bone density (might not be completely reversible) · May not be suitable for people with a history of depression or diabetes · Does not protect against STIs |
| Intrauterine System (IUS) | P 99.8% T 99.8 | To be prescribed and inserted into the uterus by a trained health care provider | · Reversible · Works for 3-5 years | · Light periods · Many experience no periods after 1 year · Depression · Acne · Headache · Breast tenderness | · Need to be screened for vaginal infections prior to insertion as the risk of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease is increased in the first 3 weeks. · Slight chance of uterine perforation · Costly · Does not protect against STIs |
| Emergency Contraceptive Pill | P 95% T 58-95% | Take a pill as soon as possible after unprotected sex | · Can be taken after unplanned or unprotected sex | · Nausea · Vomiting · Dizziness · Fatigue · Abdominal pain | · Works best the sooner it is taken after unprotected sex. · Can work for up to 5 days but effectiveness decreases over time · Consider a pregnancy test if no period 21 days after taking · Does not protect against STIs |
| METHOD | EFFECTIVENESS | HOW TO USE | BENEFITS | SIDE EFFECTS | WARNINGS |
| NON-HORMONAL** |
| Intrauterine Device (IUD) | P 92.0% T92.0% | To be prescribed and inserted into the uterus by a trained health care provider | · Private · Long term · No hormones | · Irregular bleeding · Heavier periods | · Slight risk of uterine perforation · Infection risk is increased during the 20 days after insertion · Pelvic Inflammatory Disease · Does not protect against STIs |
| Internal Condoms | P 98.0% T 82.0% | Ensure the unattached ring lies within the closed end of the pouch Insert the condom into the vagina just prior to or up to 8 hours before sex | · High level of pregnancy prevention · Covers more genitals than the external condom, therefore added STI protection · Made of polyurethane so no risk of latex allergy | · N/A | · Costly · May be difficult to insert at first, may need practice · May slip during sex |
| External condoms | P 95.0% T 78.0% | Put the condom on the tip of an erect penis, pinch air from the tip and roll down the shaft. | · Reduces risk of STBBIs · Reduces the risk of pregnancy · Very accessible | · Possible allergy to latex | · Non latex are costly · 2-8% of condoms will come off or break during sex · If using condoms with a spermicide STI transmission risk is increased. |
| Tubal Ligation | 99% | Surgery | · Safe · Permanent · Cost covered by OHIP | · Shoulder pain · Lower abdominal or pelvic pain · Bruising or bleeding from incisions · Post-op nausea or light-headedness | · Risks associated with any surgery · Does not protect against STIs · Need to be sure · If pregnancy occurs post tubal ligation 33% chance of ectopic pregnancy · Reversal requires major surgery and is very expensive, not covered by OHIP |
| Vasectomy | 99.9% | Surgery | · Safe · Permanent · Cost Covered by OHIP | · Localized pain · Swelling · Bruising | · Reversal can be done but not guaranteed, cost is not covered by OHIP · Does not protect against STIs · Complications are rare, but infection is possible |
