How do contraceptives prevent stds

Read this article to get the basics on birth control. Read this article to learn what birth control pills are, how well they work, and more. Learn more about the IUD and to find out how well it works for teens. Find out what implantable contraception is, how well it works, and more. Read this article to find out how condoms work — and how well they protect against pregnancy and STDs. Some people — even those who are having sex — are embarrassed by the topic of condoms. Here are some tips for talking about condoms with your partner.

Some birth control methods work better than others. This chart compares how well different birth control methods work. The good news is that STDs can be prevented. Find out how to protect yourself. Nonoxynol-9 also has microbicide abilities. Microbicides are medications gels, creams, suppositories that can be inserted into the vagina or anus to theoretically prevent or decrease the risk of spreading STIs, like HIV 16, However, the spermicide nonoxynol-9 should not be used by people who have a high risk of contracting HIV.

This spermicide may actually increase the risk of HIV transmission by causing trauma and abrasions 16,18, More research is needed to develop microbicides and other ways to prevent spreading STIs People not at high-risk of HIV can safely use spermicides alone or in conjunction with another method to reduce the risk of pregnancy, though some people may experience a reaction or irritation They are considered safe for HIV positive people to use.

IUD insertion and pelvic inflammatory disease An IUD is inserted through the opening of the cervix and placed or sometimes attached into the uterus by a healthcare practitioner.

Some STIs, like gonorrhea and chlamydia, can cause an infection of the cervix. Researchers have studied people who got an IUD inserted while they had an asymptomatic chlamydial or gonorrheal infection, or who are at higher risk of STIs.

They found that people with asymptomatic infections who got an IUD inserted were no more likely to develop PID compared to people who were using another form of contraception This research helps to show that an IUD insertion does not make a person more susceptible to developing pelvic inflammatory disease among asymptomatic people 19,29 , and that screening for STIs can be done at the same appointment as IUD insertion—no need to delay if there are no active markers of infection IUDs, implants, and condom use Users of some contraceptives may be more or less likely to use condoms.

In one study, people using long acting reversible contraceptives LARC , like IUDs and implants , were half as likely to consistently use condoms when having sex, compared to people who were using other forms of birth control, though the overall rate of consistent condom use was low among across both groups 6.

This reiterates the importance of consistent condom use to protect against STIs, regardless of which birth control you use. Progestin, the synthetic progesterone in birth control methods, may possibly decrease the risk of getting some STIs, while increasing the risk of others. The evidence is a little conflicting, and the increase or decrease in risk is probably associated with both the type of STI and the type of progestin. Does progestin decrease risk of STIs? It has been suggested that progestin, the synthetic progesterone in hormonal birth control, might protect against pelvic inflammatory disease.

In one study comparing a large group of women who were randomly given a hormonal IUD or a copper IUD, the hormonal IUD group had significantly fewer cases of pelvic inflammatory disease Progestin thickens cervical mucus, and so researchers hypothesize that this thickening prevents STIs from entering the cervix 19, While these results are interesting, only one study has been conducted, and more research is needed to confirm these results.

Does progestin increase risk? The evidence is not considered very strong 32,33, More research is needed in this area. CDC says that the advantages of injectables for preventing unwanted pregnancy outweigh the potentially increased risk of acquiring HIV. Skip to content. In Crisis? Methods to prevent pregnancy and STIs Contraception — also known as birth control — is any method used to reduce the chances of unplanned pregnancy.

The different types of birth control Some forms of contraception act as a physical barrier to prevent sperm from meeting an egg, while others use hormones to prevent pregnancy. Call Now.