Contraceptive Method

Bacterial

Viral (including HIV/AIDS)

Pregnancy

Condoms

Protective (if used for STD/HIV prophylaxis)

Protective (if used for STD/HIV prophylaxis)

Protective

Sterilization

Not protective (except against salpingitis)

Not protective

Highly protective

Spermicides with nonoxynol-9

Protective against cervical gonorrhea and chlamydial infection; associated with increased risk of urinary tract infections and altered vaginal flora^a

No proven protection in vivo

Protective

Diaphragms

Protective against cervical infection; associated with increased risk of altered vaginal flora^b

Insufficient data

Protective

Oral contraceptives

Associated with increased cervical chlamydial infection; protective against symptomatic pelvic inflammatory disease

Not protective; some studies suggest increased risk for acquisition of HIV;^c others show no effect^d

Highly protective

Implantable/injectable contraceptives

Not protective

Not protective; some studies suggest increase risk for acquisition of HIV infection^d,e

Highly protective

IUDs

Associated with pelvic inflammatory disease in first month after insertion

Not protective

Protective

Rhythm method

Not protective

Not protective

Protective