Lesson video

Hi, my name is Ms. Wittams-Howarth.

Welcome to today's lesson on contraceptive choices.

Some of today's lesson might be difficult or uncomfortable, and you are required to have an adult with you.

If at any point in the lesson you feel upset or uncomfortable or worried, then close the screen and talk to the adult that's with you.

Let's get started.

The outcome of today's lesson is "I can evaluate the different methods of contraception available and know when each one might be suitable." Before we start the lesson properly, let's do some ground rules.

We've got Laura and she says, "Listen to others.

It is okay to disagree with each other, but we should listen properly before making assumptions or deciding how to respond.

When disagreeing, challenge the statement, not the person." Andeep says, "Respect privacy.

We can discuss examples, but don't use names or descriptions that identify, anyone including ourselves." A good tip is to say, "my friend," and then we don't know if it's anyone that you've seen on telly, that you've read about, that you've seen on social media, or that it's yourself, or one of your friends or family.

It keeps everyone safe and anonymous.

Jacob says that there is "No judgement.

We can explore beliefs and misunderstandings about a topic without the fear of being judged." And that means as well that there aren't any silly questions.

If you've got a question that you want answered, there'll be plenty of other people with exactly the same question I'm sure.

Don't be scared to ask.

And then Izzy, last of all, says, you can "Choose your level of participation.

Everyone has the right to choose not to answer a question or join in discussion.

We never put anyone 'on the spot'" and that includes the adults with you.

So, let's have a look at some keywords.

We have these keywords for the lesson, and you will find them in bold throughout so they're easy to spot.

The first one is contraception methods or devices used to prevent pregnancy during sexual intercourse.

Then we have barrier method, a type of contraception that blocks the sperm from reaching the egg.

For example, condoms and diaphragms. Then we've got the hormonal method, contraceptive methods that use hormones to regulate or stop ovulation, such as contraceptive pills and hormonal IUDs, or intrauterine device.

And that brings us onto the last definition, an intrauterine device, or IUD for short.

And that is a small device inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy.

Our lesson today has two parts to it.

The first part is, what are the different methods of contraception? And the second is, how effective is each contraceptive method? Let's get started with this first one.

What are the different methods of contraception? So, there are different methods of contraception.

There are barrier methods.

For example, condoms and diaphragms. There are hormonal methods, including the contraceptive pill, hormonal IUDs, intrauterine devices.

And there are IUDs and they can be hormonal, or they can also be made of copper.

And then lastly, we can have natural methods.

So, that kind of means fertility tracking.

Dr.

Elsie says that "Each method is designed to prevent pregnancy and, in some cases, protect against sexually transmitted infections, or STIs." Barrier methods prevent sperm from reaching the egg.

For example, condoms. And here you can see on the left hand side of the page that there are some different illustrations of condoms. And there are internal condoms designed to be worn inside the body.

And then there are external ones designed to be put on the penis.

Dr.

Elsie says, "Barrier methods like condoms work by creating a physical barrier that prevents sperm from reaching the egg.

Condoms are the only method that also protects against sexually transmitted infections, or STIs for short, and they're easy to find in pharmacies or health clinics.

The only thing to remember is that you need to use them correctly every time to be effective." Another type of contraception is hormonal methods.

And they use hormones to regulate or stop ovulation.

So for example, there's contraceptive pills.

We've also got the illustration of a hormonal IUD, so that's placed inside the womb or the uterus.

And it releases hormones to stop and regulate ovulation.

There are also other hormonal methods such as injections and the implant as well.

"Hormonal methods like contraceptive pill, patches, hormonal IUDs work by using hormones to stop ovulation or make it harder for the sperm to reach the egg.

They're highly effective, but you'll need a prescription for most of them.

Some people experience side effects, but they can also help regulate periods." Sometimes people use emergency contraception.

For example, the emergency coil, or IUD, which is a small device a doctor or nurse can put inside the uterus.

And then emergency contraception pills, which are sometimes called the "morning-after pill." It's important to note that emergency contraception works best the sooner you use it after unprotected sex.

And it also becomes less effective the more time passes, so it's really important to act quickly.

The maximum time for an emergency contraceptive pill is about 72 hours, and an IUD is five days.

But the sooner you get it sorted, the better the outcome.

"Emergency contraception is meant for emergencies only.

It's not something that you should use as a regular method to prevent pregnancy.

The other downside is that it doesn't protect you from STIs, so you still need to think about other ways of staying safer." Nurse Daniel says, "If you're ever unsure, you can talk to your doctor, your nurse or your pharmacist for advice.

They're there to help you without judgement ." Remember as well, there are lots of youth clinics around the place that you can go to for advice and support as well.

So, do look those up.

Let's check how well have you been listening.

True or false, the contraceptive pill is an example of a hormonal contraceptive, true or false? I'm gonna give you a second or two to think about it and then we'll look at the answer.

Off you go.

So if you said true, you'd be absolutely right.

Well done.

IUDs, or intrauterine devices, are placed in the uterus to prevent pregnancy, and they usually come in the form of hormonal or copper IUDs.

So, we've got picture there on the left of a copper IUD.

Dr.

Elsie says, "I often recommend IUDs for people looking for long-term contraception.

These small devices are placed inside the uterus by a doctor or nurse.

They can last for years and are highly effective, but implanting one involves a medical procedure.

There are two types: there are hormonal IUDs and copper IUDs, each with their own benefits." So, we mentioned earlier that another method of contraception was natural methods to track fertility cycles.

People use calendars and they take their temperature and monitor other physical signs to work out when they're fertile and to avoid having unprotected sex.

"Natural methods, " Nurse Daniel says, "involve tracking your fertility by monitoring things like your menstrual cycle, your body temperature, or your cervical mucus.

They don't involve any hormones or devices, which some people prefer.

However, they are less reliable than other methods, and they don't offer any protection against STIs." Let's do another check.

Which type of contraceptive methods provides both pregnancy prevention and STI protection? Have a little think.

Is it barrier methods, hormonal methods, or natural methods? So, we'll take some feedback in a moment.

So, if you said barrier methods, you'd be absolutely right.

And the barrier methods we're talking here for STI protection are just condoms. There are other barrier methods like diaphragms and caps, but they don't offer protection against STIs.

So, when we're talking about barrier methods to prevent STIs, we are just talking about condoms. I've got a task for you now.

And what I would like you to do is to complete the table with the correct information about the different methods of contraception.

So, you can see down the side we've got the different methods.

We've got barrier methods, hormonal methods, and natural methods.

Then in the middle column, what I'd like you to do is to think of different examples.

We've talked about loads in the first part of this lesson, so see if you can remember some and put those in the middle column.

And then see if you can remember how that method works.

And then put that in the far right hand column.

What I suggest you do while you have a go at that task is pause the video and then we'll take some feedback when you've had a go at the task in a few minutes time.

Off you go.

So, your table should have looked a little bit like this.

So, for an example, barrier methods.

We had condoms and they work by stopping sperm from reaching the egg.

And then we have hormonal methods.

And we had the hormonal IUD and the contraceptive pill.

You might have mentioned the patch, the injection, the implant.

They use hormones to stop or delay ovulation.

And then lastly, we've got natural methods.

And we have fertility tracking.

And that works by tracking fertility and bodily signs to avoid pregnancy.

Well done if you've got those right.

That's really great.

We'll move on to the second part of the lesson now, which is, how effective is each contraceptive method? Contraceptive methods vary in how effective they are at preventing pregnancy.

It's important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each method to determine what might work best in different situations.

This helps people make informed decisions.

And when you are, if you are choosing contraceptive options, then it's a really good idea to talk to a health professional.

So, let's look at highly effective methods.

So copper or hormonal IUDs, the contraceptive pill, patches, and injections, and the implant really effective, over 99% effective with perfect use, and that's the key.

The advantages are that they are long-term and reliable.

And you don't need to make too much effort on a day-to-day basis.

The other advantage is that they can help regulate periods and reduce menstrual pain too.

The disadvantages are that they may cause side effects like mood changes, nausea, weight gain.

Sometimes people find that their skin doesn't react very well.

And IUDs require a medical procedure to insert, which can cause initial discomfort.

The other problem with things like injections and implants is that you have to then have a surgical procedure to remove the implant.

And injections last four months.

So if it doesn't agree with you, it's more difficult to kind of undo those effects.

You kind of have to wait for the injection to wear off.

So, really effective, but there are some real things to consider.

Dr.

Elsie says, "Highly effective methods, like IUDs and hormonal contraception, are great for long-term protection.

However, some people might not like the side effects or the medical involvement required.

Different people will make different choices based on what works for them." And another important to note about the longer term methods and particularly hormonal contraception is that sometimes if you have medical conditions, doctors might suggest that you don't have a hormonal method of contraception because it might make that existing medical condition worse.

Let's check how well have you been listening.

Fill in the blank.

IUDs and hormonal contraception are often seen as a good option for something term protection.

Have a little think.

See if you can fill in the gap.

We'll take feedback in a moment.

If you said long-term protection, you'd be absolutely right.

Really well done.

Great listening.

So, let's move on and have a look at some moderately effective methods.

Barrier methods, like condoms, are 85% and 98% effective, depending on correct and consistent use.

So, advantages.

They're really widely accessible.

They're not expensive.

They also provide protection against STIs.

That's really important to note.

Disadvantages.

They must be used every time.

And you have to be consistent.

And you've got to pay attention to what you're doing.

Condoms can break or be used incorrectly, and that will reduce their effectiveness.

So, they're great and really effective.

They prevent STIs, or help prevent STIs, but you've got to pay attention to what you're doing and use them correctly.

So Dr.

Elsie says "Barrier methods like condoms are popular because they protect against STIs and are easy to get hold of.

But they need to be used correctly every time." Let's do a check how well were you listening.

Which of the following statements are true? Condoms can break, reducing their effectiveness.

Condoms are widely accessible and inexpensive.

And, condoms provide protection against STIs.

Have a think.

We'll take feedback in a moment.

So, if you said all of them, they're all true, then you'd be right.

Really well done and great listening.

Last of all, let's have a little look at some less effective methods.

Natural methods depend on careful and consistent tracking of fertility.

The advantages are that they are non-invasive and they're hormone-free.

There's no need for medical procedures.

The disadvantages.

They require really accurate fertility tracking.

And if someone makes a mistake in tracking, or someone has irregular menstrual cycles, that can really reduce the effectiveness of fertility tracking.

So, some people use it, but it's definitely a tricky option.

Nurse Daniel says, "Natural methods might appeal to people who prefer avoiding medical or hormonal options, but they require careful tracking to work effectively." Let's do another check.

True or false? Natural methods of contraception, such as fertility tracking, are always effective.

True or false? So, if you said false, you'd be absolutely right.

Natural methods of contraception, like fertility tracking, need careful planning and consistency to be effective.

So, let's do a task.

Task B.

Firstly, what I would like you to do is to rank the following methods in order of effectiveness.

We've got natural methods, barrier methods, IUD and hormonal methods.

So, put those in order.

Put the most effective at the top, and the least effective at the bottom.

And then the second part of the task is for each method, think of one advantage and one disadvantage considering factors like ease of use, side effects and protection against STIs.

What I'd like you to do is pause the screen and spend a few moments on this task.

And then we'll take some feedback.

Off you go.

So, for the first part of the task, I asked you to rank the following methods of in order of effectiveness.

And your answer should have included as the most effective, IUDs and hormonal methods.

Second, moderately effective, should be barrier methods.

Stuff like condoms. And then least effective, natural methods.

So, well done if you've got that order correct.

That's brill.

And then let's have a look at the second part of the task.

So, I asked you to think of one advantage and one disadvantage considering factors like ease of use, side effects, STI protection.

So, you might have included the following ideas.

So, IUDs and hormonal methods.

The advantages are things like their long-term, they're really reliable.

Disadvantages.

They might cause side effects, or require a medical procedure.

Barrier methods.

An advantage, they protect against STIs.

They're widely accessible.

A disadvantage is that they must be used correctly every time.

And then natural methods.

The advantage is that they are hormone-free and they don't require medical intervention to use.

And a disadvantage is they require careful tracking and they're less reliable.

So, really well done if you've got those ideas down.

Brilliant work.

Let's have a look at a summary of today's learning.

There are different types of contraception.

There are barrier methods.

For example, condoms. Hormonal methods, for example, the contraceptive pill and intrauterine devices.

And natural methods, like fertility tracking.

Some methods are more effective than others, and they are IUDs and hormonal methods.

They're the most reliable.

Barrier methods are effective if they're used correctly.

Natural methods need careful, careful tracking to be reliable.

Some methods of contraception have side effects, or they don't protect against STIs.

Contraception is about choosing the best option for a person's needs and situation.

On this last slide, there are sources of support.

So, the NHS website has loads of advice about health and prevention and contraceptive choices too.

And then there's also Childline.

And there's a website and phone line and that can offer confidential advice and support.

Thank you ever so much for learning with me today.

It's been great to have you.

Thank you for all of your hard work and your ideas.

I look forward to seeing you for another lesson soon.

Take care of yourselves.