What is Emergency Contraception (EC)?
EC is a birth control method that can be used after unprotected intercourse to prevent pregnancy from happening. Some people call EC the "morning after pill." This name is somewhat misleading since a woman can use EC within 72 hours (3 days) after unprotected sex. EC is intended for one-time emergency protection.

There are many reasons why a woman may need to use emergency contraception. Below are some, but not all reasons why a woman might use emergency contraception:

• She made love unexpectedly and didn’t use a condom.
• She was forced to have sex.
• She and her partner had a condom break, slip, or come off.
• She forgot to take several birth control pills.
• She expected her partner to pull out...but he didn't.
• She found out after sex that her diaphragm had slipped

Although EC is safe for most women, it is generally not recommended for those who have ever had:

• A stroke
• Cancer of the breast or reproductive organs
• Migraine headaches
• A heart attack
• Blood clots in the legs or lungs
• Liver disease

Where can someone get EC?
By calling 1-888-NOT-2-LATE (888-668-25283), a woman can learn about clinics in her area that provide emergency contraception. Also, there are some pharmacies in Long Beach that provide EC without a prescription. The cost is about $35-$50 to purchase EC at one of these pharmacies. To get information about pharmacies in Long Beach that provide EC, contact Health Education staff at (562) 570-7924.

Is there anything I can do if it is past 3 days since I had unprotected sex?
An IUD can be inserted in the uterus up to 7 days after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy. Call the Youth Health Education staff at (562) 570-7924 to find out about clinics in the Long Beach area who do this procedure.

Killing sperm – is that possible? Yes, it is in some cases.

Vol. 1: There are birth control methods called spermicides that kill sperm as a way of preventing pregnancy. Spermicides come in different forms including foam, gel, vaginal inserts, and vaginal contraceptive film (VCF). In order to prevent pregnancy, spermicides need to be inserted into the vagina before sex. For VCF and inserts, a person must wait about 10-15 minutes before having sex in order for the spermicide to work correctly (be sure to read any instructions about spermicides that come with the package). A person needs to use spermicide with each act of sex. Since all types of spermicides continue to kill sperm after sex, it is important that women do not attempt to wash out or remove the spermicide after sex; or that a woman does not use a douche to cleanse her vagina.

Vol. 2: Yes, it’s true that spermicides do kill sperm. However, it may still be possible for a person to get a sexually transmitted disease (STD) when using spermicide. Although you may have heard that spermicides also kill different types of diseases, there is no strong proof that this is correct. It is possible for things like gonorrhea, HIV, and other STDs to infect a person even when using spermicides. So, what does that mean? It means that no matter what type of spermicide you use, you ALWAYS have to use a condom along with it. So it’s condoms and foam, condoms and gel, and condoms and VCF…always.

We call them rubbers, jimmy hats, even raincoats…but maybe another nickname for the condom should be “man’s best friend”. Why, because male condoms help protect against sexually transmitted diseases and also is a form of birth control, lowering the chances of an unintended pregnancy. So, what else makes condoms so great?

They’re cheap. For all the work that they do, condoms are very affordable costing about $1 each or less. You can buy condoms at grocery stores, drug stores, and other places.

They’re easy to find. You can get condoms for free at the Health Department and at community clinics.

They come in lots of shapes and sizes. They also come in different flavors and colors, and can be made from different materials. Whatever you do, just make sure you use condoms made out of latex or polyurethane (plastic). Condoms made out of animal skin (lambskin or sheepskin condoms) don’t protect against HIV and other STDs.

But, before you slip one on, there are a few more things you should know…

How to Use a Male Condom

Condom Tips

She’s strong, she’s flexible, and she’s made out of plastic! What more can you ask for?

The female condom is, yet, another way that people can help protect themselves against unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Female condoms are made out of polyurethane (plastic) and are inserted into the vagina before sex. The female condom works sort of like the male condom – it keeps partners from sharing body fluids (like semen or vaginal fluid) with each other.

Now some of you might be saying to yourselves – “Wow, that sounds great. Perhaps if I use a male condom and a female condom together, we will be really safe!” But, that’s not a good idea. The friction between two condoms will probably cause one or both of them to tear, making it possible for partners to share fluids – not a good thing.

Female condoms can be found in many of the same places where you get male condoms – pharmacies, grocery stores, and at some community agencies or the health department. Female condoms cost about $3.00 each and can be used one time. Now, you might say that $3.00 is a high price to pay for having sex one time. But, can you imagine how much more expensive sex without a condom might be if you or your partner gets pregnant (diapers…childcare…toys…clothes)? And, without a condom, there is a chance you could get an STD, and there are some STDs that never go away!

So how do you use a female condom? Check it out…

1 - Condoms need to be stored in a cool, dry place so that they do not get damaged by heat or moisture. Your wallet or the trunk of your care are NOT good places to keep condoms. Som teens use a mint tin as a convenient and fun place to keep their condoms.

2 - Check out your condoms. There are a lot of things you want to look for before you even get the condom open. First, make sure the condom has not expired. The expiration date should be stamped on all condoms. If that date has passed, don't use it. You also should check for any holes or tears in the package too. If you find any openings, throw it away.

3 - It's best to use a condom that is lubricated (moist) to help keep it from breaking. If you have a condom that is not lubricated or if you need extra lubrication, use a water-based lubricant (like KY-jelly). Any type of oil is a no-no, so forget about the baby oil, cooking oil, and the petroleum jelly (like Vaseline).

4 - Don't mix Mr. Condom & Ms. Condom!! Sure, it might seem like a good idea to use both types of condoms, but don't - although the male & female condom work great by themselves, there is too much FRICTION between the two of them if they are used together, which can cause tearing.

5 - It's also not good to use two condoms at once for the same reason that the male and female condom shouldn't be used together. When you "double up", that increases the chances of your condoms tearing. One condom is perfectly fine - just make sure you are using that one condom the right way...check out

You’ve probably heard of birth control pills – a woman takes a pill every day that prevents her from getting pregnant. But, do you really know how the birth control pill really works? Birth control pills and other kinds of hormonal birth control methods work by stopping the body from releasing an egg each month, an event known as ovulation. If a woman does not release an egg, there is no chance of pregnancy. Hormonal birth control methods also change the environment (space) of the vagina so that it’s hard for sperm to live. A person needs a prescription for all hormonal birth control methods.

Oral Contraceptives (the pill)

• Perhaps the best known hormonal birth control method is "the Pill" or oral contraceptives. Birth control pills are considered very effective – up to 95% – if taken correctly. Oral contraceptives do not protect against STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). They must be taken every day at the same time of day to work properly.
  

The Patch

• The patch (Ortho Evra) looks like a bandage; however, it has hormones on it that enter the body through a woman’s skin. The hormones are in the adhesive (sticky) layer of the patch and are slowly released when the patch is put on the skin. Women who choose to use the patch must apply it to the lower abdomen (belly), buttocks or back/shoulders. One patch is worn continuously for one week and is then replaced with a new patch on the same day of the week for a total of three weeks of patch wear. During the fourth week, no patch is worn; this is the time when a woman has her menstrual period. Just like pills, the patch also does not protect against STDs.
  

Injected Hormonal Methods (Depo Provera)

• Injections are another way that the hormones that stop ovulation can be given to women. Depo Provera is the injection method that is currently available in the United States. With Depo Provera, a woman receives one shot every three months. As with other hormonal methods, Depo Provera does not provide protection from STDs.
  

The Ring

• The vaginal contraceptive ring (NuvaRing) is made of a flexible, transparent, colorless ring that contains the hormones similar to those found in birth control pills. The ring is inserted into the vagina, where it stays for three weeks. During this time, it releases a continuous low dose of hormones, which stop a woman from ovulating. During the 4th week, the ring is taken out and a woman has her period. The next month, a woman starts again with a new ring. The ring does not protect a woman against STDs.
  

Emergency contraception

• also falls under the hormonal list. It can be used if a woman has sex without using birth control or if a condom slips or breaks. High doses of certain birth control pills can be taken up to 72 hours (3 days) after unprotected sex. This medicine causes changes in the uterus so that a woman does not become pregnant.

BEWARE!!!
Although hormonal methods are very effective at preventing pregnancy, there can be problems with using them. Most importantly, a woman should not smoke while using hormonal birth control methods – this can lead to problems such as blood clots, heart attacks or stroke. It is important to be honest with your doctor about your behaviors, like smoking, before getting on any type of hormonal methods and asking questions about how to use them.

Other Birth Control Methods

Intrauterine Devices (IUD)) - An IUD is a small plastic device that is inserted in the uterus that works by preventing fertilization (sperm meeting egg) and by stopping a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterine walls. Hormonal IUDs (ones that release hormones) need to be replaced every 1 to 5 years depending on the type of IUD it is; copper IUDs can remain in place up to 12 years. An IUD provides no protection against STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). Many doctors state that IUDs are best suited for women who have had at least one child. They are considered 98 to 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy.

Sterilization - Sterilization is a permanent method of birth control. Sterilization works by blocking the egg or the sperm so that they can't meet. In women, the process is called tubal ligation; surgery is used to cut and seal (close) the fallopian tubes.

In men, vasectomy is the term given to the cutting of the tubes known as the vas deferens that carry the sperm from the testes to the penis. As a result, the man's ejaculate (cum) will no longer contain sperm, and he will not be able to make a woman pregnant.

In both tubal ligation and vasectomy, the hormones produced in the ovaries (estrogen and progesterone) and the testes (testosterone) continue to be made and moved into the blood stream. There is no protection from STD with sterilization.

Withdrawal – Although some people believe that withdrawal is a method of birth control, it is not an EFFECTIVE form of birth control. Withdrawal is when a male “withdraws” or removes his penis from the vagina before ejaculation. But, this doesn’t work in preventing pregnancy… why?

Well first of all, as soon as a guy gets an erection, there is something called pre-ejaculatory fluid (pre-cum) that is released to clean the urethra, the tube that carries semen and urine out of the penis. This fluid carries sperm inside of it, which can cause a pregnancy because it is released before a guy ejaculates.

Another reason that withdrawal doesn’t work is that guys sometimes are not able to pull out in time. If a guy is late pulling out, it is very easy for a woman to get pregnant. And, of course, withdrawal does not protect against STDs.