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Birth Control Options
Worn on the penis (male condom)
Worn inside vagina or anus (female condom)
- Protect against STIs and pregnancy
- Available for males and females
- No side effects
- Latex-free condoms available for allergies
- Improper use makes pregnancy and STIs more likely
- Must plan ahead to make sure you have one
Free
- Local health centre
- High schools, recreational centres (some communities)
- Medication a woman takes every day at the same time.
- Many different types of pills.
- Talk to a nurse or doctor to find the right one.
- Prevents pregnancy
- More regular menstrual cycle
- Shorter, lighter periods
- May help to prevent acne
- Easy to use
- Does not protect against STIs
- Must take every day at the same time
- Side effects possible—sore breasts, bleeding between periods, nausea, lower sex drive
FREE—Nunavut Land Claims Beneficiaries (NLCB) and JBNQA Beneficiaries (Nunavik)
OR
FREE with some health insurance companies
OR
Around $28 to $52 per month
Local health centre
- Sticky patch on the woman’s skin, like a band aid.
- Change it once a week.
- Prevents pregnancy
- Simple and easy to use
- More regular menstrual cycle
- Shorter, lighter periods
Does not protect against STIs
Side effects possible: bleeding between periods, tender breasts, nausea and vomiting, skin irritation from the patch
FREE for Nunavut Land Claims Beneficiaries (NLCB) and JBNQA Beneficiaries (Nunavik)
OR
FREE with some health insurance companies
OR
About 43 $ per month
Local health centre
- An injection a woman gets every 3 months
- Prevents pregnancy
- Think about it only four times a year
- May reduce menstrual bleeding over time
- Does not protect against STIs
- Need nurse’s appointment every three months
- May cause irregular bleeding at the start
FREE for Nunavut Land Claims Beneficiaries (NLCB) and JBNQA Beneficiaries (Nunavik)
OR
FREE with some health insurance companies
OR
About $60 per shot
Local health centre
- T-shaped gadget goes in the uterus
- Health care worker inserts it
- Protects against pregnancy
- Lasts up to five years
- May reduce menstrual bleeding over time
- Does not protect against STIs
- Must have a doctor or nurse insert and remove it
- Side effects possible: cramps, backaches, irregular bleeding. For most women, these side effects are gone after 3-6 months.
FREE for Nunavut Land Claims Beneficiaries (NLCB) and JBNQA Beneficiaries (Nunavik)
OR
About $300 to $530 (one-time cost)
Local health centre
- Flexible ring worn inside the vagina for three weeks
- Protects against pregnancy
- May cause shorter and lighter periods
- May clear up acne
- Does not protect against STIs
- May cause irregular bleeding
- Side effects possible: Sore breasts, nausea, lower sex drive
FREE for Nunavut Land Claims Beneficiaries (NLCB) and JBNQA Beneficiaries (Nunavik)
OR
About $30 per month
Local health centre
- Woman MUST take it within five days (120 hours) of having sex.
- Most effective if taken within three days of having sex.
- Prevents pregnancy
- Side effects possible: nausea, vomiting, headache, stomach pain, sore breasts, irregular period
FREE for Nunavut Land Claims Beneficiaries (NLCB) and JBNQA Beneficiaries (Nunavik)
OR
About $22 to $40
Local health centre
Pharmacy