No birth control is 100% effective against Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). The only way to be 100% safe from STDs is to abstain from (or not have) sex.
Some types of birth control offer no protection from STDs (like the pill) because they create no barrier between you and your partner, which is how many STDs spread.
Birth Control Effectiveness and Risks
Condoms
The Pill
Some types of birth control offer no protection from STDs (like the pill) because they create no barrier between you and your partner, which is how many STDs spread.
Birth Control Effectiveness and Risks
Condoms
- May have a failure rate of 14%, if not used correctly.
- Not necessarily effective in preventing Chlamydia, herpes, HPV, or syphilis. You can be infected with any of these STDs even when using condoms.
- Some protection may be found against gonorrhea. Condoms may reduce the risk of HIV/AIDs, if used properly and consistently.
The Pill
- May cause nausea, headaches, bleeding, and increase risk of stroke or blood clots.
- May cause nausea, abdominal pain, tiredness, headache, dizziness, breast tenderness, and vomiting.
- May cause an irregular or delayed period.
- Women who are or may be pregnant should not take it.
- May cause swelling, pain and redness near the implant site.
- May cause irregular bleeding (such as more or less frequent bleeding, bleeding for longer or shorter duration, or absence of bleeding) and weight gain.
- May cause irregular bleeding, missed or no periods, depression, breast tenderness, allergic reaction, and possibly an inability to get pregnant after discontinuation.
- If used for more than 2 years, it can cause a temporary loss of bone density the increases with longer use.
