Discussing Contraception Options in Spanish

When you talk about contraception in Spanish, you generally cover a handful of subtopics: cost, effectiveness, any STI protections, OTC vs prescriptions, etc.

So in this free medical Spanish lesson, you will learn how to discuss various aspects of contraception, including:

Efficacy of preventing pregnancies
How long a particular method lasts and/or how long you use it
If it helps alleviate / lighten menstrual periods
Whether or not it prevents spread of STIs
If it requires a prescription
If it requires a provider or nurse to get or place
If it includes hormones
The cost

Here is the Contraception Options in Spanish lesson that I taught on YouTube and to our Facebook group:

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Opciones de Contracepción – Contraception Options

Talking about contraception options in Spanish requires you to manage a bunch of specific vocabulary to address your patient’s needs and concerns, specially when some people are talking about a possible “Corona baby-boom”, so you need to be ready to have this conversation 🙂

*Credits: Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition*

Vocabulario de Contracepción – Contraception Vocabulary

Let’s get started with some useful vocabulary you may use when explaining the available contraception options in Spanish.

Spanish	English
La abstinencia	Abstinence
El anillo vaginal	Vaginal ring
El condón	Condom
El condón interno	Internal condom
El capuchón cervical	Cervical cap
El DIU (Dispositivo interuterino)	IUD
El diafragma	Diaphragm
La espermicida	Spermicide
La esponja	Sponge
El implante	Implant
La inyección	Injection
El parche	Patch
La píldora (pastilla)	Pill

For some of them you can add the adjective “anticonceptivo/a” to specify their function.

Examples:

El implante anticonceptivo.
La píldora anticonceptiva.

Verbos de Contracepción – Contraception Related Verbs

There are some verbos you can use when talking about métodos anticonceptivos (contraceptive options).

Spanish	English
Cambiar	To change
Colocar	To put / place
Contagiarse infección	To get (infection)
Costar (o-ue)	To cost
Durar tiempo	To last (time)
Evitar	To avoid
Insertar	To insert
Liberar hormonas	To release hormones
Poner	To put / place
Prevenir (e-ie)	To prevent
Protegerle contra	To protect you against
Recordar (o-ue)	To remember
Requerir (e-ie) una cita	To require an appointment
Retirar / Quitar	To take out
Tomar la píldora	To take the pill
Usar por tiempo	To use for amt (time)
Usar # veces	To use # times

Examples:

Necesita tomar la píldora todos los días.
Recuerde protegerse contra las ITS y ETS usando condón.
El implante dura hasta cinco años.

Temas importantes de contracepción -Important Contraceptive Topics

When talking about contraception options with your patients, you might address some topics such as: efficacy, duration, side effects, cost, etc.

In this specific part of the lesson, we are going to talk about two main contraception options in Spanish, but feel free to share your own examples in the comments below 🙂

1. Condones – Condoms

Usar condones ayuda a prevenir los embarazos y las enfermedades (infecciones) de transmisión sexual. Puede usar condones cada vez que tiene sexo vaginal, anal u oral para protegerse contra las ETS.

Using condoms helps prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (infections). You can use condoms every time you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex to protect against STDs.

También los condones son eficaces en prevenir el embarazo. Son entre 85% y 98% efectivos (dependiendo del uso correcto) en evitar embarazos.

Condoms are also effective in preventing pregnancy. They are between 85% and 98% effective (depending on correct use) in preventing pregnancy.

Los condones son económicos y los puede comprar sin restricción ninguna.

Condoms are economic and you can buy them without any restrictions.

2. El implante anticonceptivo – Contraceptive Implant

El implante anticonceptivo es una pequeña varilla que un médico o una enfermera necesita poner en el brazo. Libera hormonas en el cuerpo que previenen el embarazo por hasta 5 años.

The contraceptive implant is a small bar that a doctor or nurse needs to put in your arm. It releases hormones into the body that prevent pregnancy for up to 5 years.

El costo del implante varía dependiendo de su seguro. Puede costar hasta $1.300 y requiere una cita en su centro de salud.

The cost of the implant varies depending on your insurance. It can cost up to $1,300 and requires an appointment at your health center.

El implante es muy eficaz en prevenir el embarazo. Es el 99% efectivo en prevenir embarazos. Y también ayuda tener períodos menstruales más ligeros. Pero, el implante no protege contra las ETS / ITS. Necesita usar condones para protegerse contra ETS / ITS.

The implant is very effective in preventing pregnancy. It is 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. And it also helps to have lighter periods. But, the implant does not protect against STIs/STDs. You need to use condoms to protect against STIs/STDs.

Un comentario – A comment

Selecciona un método anticonceptivo abajo y descríbelo un poquito siguiendo el modelo de los ejemplos / Select any of these contraception options below and describe it a little bit in Spanish following the model of the examples:

La abstinencia
El anillo vaginal
~~El condón~~
El condón interno
El capuchón cervical
El DIU (Dispositivo inter-uterino)
El diafragma
La espermicida
La esponja
~~El implante~~
La inyección
El parche
La píldora (pastilla)

Our CGI team will keep an eye on your comments to help you if needed!

Lecciones relacionadas – Related Lessons

Su tarea – Your Homework

Review the notes & vocabulary
Identify additional points and topics to discuss with patients
- Let me know if you need help 🙂
Remember to keep it simple if you need to
Ask for help in the comments below
Give it a try with your patients!

Now it’s your turn! I packaged all of this vocabulary in Spanish into some flashcards for you to study.

I packaged all of this into easily downloadable .pdf notes–Get your copy for free today!

Keep up the good work speaking responsible Spanish to your patients! Check out our other books, classes & products to help you learn medical Spanish!

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