23Andme Family Planning and Sexual Health

Best Family Planning and Contraceptives Buying Guide

Sam's Club sells high-quality condoms, pregnancy tests and other family planning products at excellent prices. To help you select the family planning product that's right for you, we've created this brief guide.

Condoms are one of the best over-the-counter products for both birth control and safe sex. They are effective at preventing sexually transmitted diseases, and a very affordable form of birth control.

If you think you may be pregnant, over-the-counter pregnancy tests are the best way to know for sure. They're inexpensive and proven to be 99 percent accurate -- all you have to do is urinate on a stick.

What Different Types of Family Planning Products Are Available at Sam's Club?

Condoms

According to Planned Parenthood, condoms are 85 percent effective at preventing pregnancy. If used correctly every single time, they are 98 percent effective.

Condoms also prevent STDs

Male condoms and female condoms (sometimes called internal condoms) are the only types of birth control that can also prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV.

It's important to remember that STDs and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are not the same things. Condoms are effective against STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhea, but not against other diseases that can spread through skin-to-skin contact, like herpes or syphilis.

Condoms are an affordable and effective way to help maintain sexual health for you and your partner.

Pregnancy tests

Pregnancy tests work by checking your body for a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin, otherwise known as HCG. The body produces HCG after a fertilized egg attaches to your uterus. These tests have been found to be accurate 99 percent of the time.

A positive HCG result indicates pregnancy. A negative result means you are not pregnant. False positives are possible, but very, very rare. Most over-the-counter pregnancy tests have a 99 percent accuracy rate. Nonetheless, if you receive a positive pregnancy test, you should visit your doctor for a blood test to be sure.

False negatives are also technically possible, but very unlikely. If you take multiple tests and get different results, you should call a doctor, who may recommend a blood test.

What to Consider When Buying Condoms

There are several things to consider when buying condoms

Even if you and your partner are using another form of birth control, like the birth control pill or an IUD, condoms will still reduce your chance of pregnancy and help prevent STDs and STIs. Consider the following factors when buying new condoms.

Size

Condoms must stay on during sex in order to be effective, so it's important they fit well. Sam's Club sells condoms in various sizes, to accommodate different anatomies.

Material

If you or your partner have a latex allergy, there are alternatives to latex condoms. Other condom varieties include polyurethane condoms and lambskin condoms. Polyisoprene condoms, which are relatively new, are considered stretchier than polyurethane condoms or other non-latex condoms.

Lubricated vs. Non-lubricated

Lubricated condoms can enhance the experience for you or your partner, but have no effect on birth control or STD prevention. As with latex, some people are sensitive to lubricants and must avoid them.

Texturized or other novelties

Condoms can come in a lot of different textures: ribbed, studded, ultra-thin. Some are even flavored for oral sex. Experiment with your partner and add to your pleasure while using an effective form of birth control and STD prevention.

Spermicide vs. non-spermicidal

In studies, spermicidal condoms have not been shown to be more effective at birth control than non-spermicidal condoms. They are also not more effective against STDs than other condoms. They are generally more expensive and have a shorter shelf life.

Brand

Condom brands made by reputable manufacturers do not vary significantly in terms of their effectiveness at birth control or STD prevention. The difference between brands is mostly in size, texture, lubricant and other novelties.

Price

Condoms are one of the least expensive forms of birth control.

Expiration dates

Most condoms have a shelf life of about five years, depending on the manufacturer and storage condition. Don't use condoms that are past the expiration date printed on the package. Condoms with spermicide typically have a shorter shelf life, of about three years.

What Brands of Condoms Does Sam's Club Sell?

• Trojan
• Durex
• Crown
• Lifestyles
• Royal

What to Consider When Buying Pregnancy Tests

How early you'll be taking your test

You can take home pregnancy tests as soon as you have a missed period. You'll dip the test into your urine stream, in order to check your urine for the amount of HCG.

If an at-home test is positive, a doctor can also check your blood for HCG levels to confirm the pregnancy. A blood test can detect pregnancy more quickly than a urine test, but it takes much longer to get the test results (usually days instead of minutes).

Remember, the tests are checking the levels of HCG in your blood. If you're pregnant, your HCG levels will increase as time passes, making it easier for tests to detect the pregnancy.

Clear readings

Pregnancy tests come in both manual and digital versions. Digital pregnancy tests will have a readout that says "positive" or "negative." Manual tests will require you to read the test and then consult the instructions to figure out what indicates a positive result or a negative result.

Studies have shown that there is no difference between the tests in terms of accuracy. However, digital tests are generally more expensive.

How many you'd like to purchase at once

Most pregnancy tests come in packs of three to five.

Price

Pregnancy tests generally cost between $8 to $15. If that's out of your budget, your local health clinic may have a free test you can take.

Expiration dates

Pregnancy tests expire after two or three years. It's important to use a non-expired pregnancy test.

What Brands of Pregnancy Tests Does Sam's Club Sell?

• First Response
• Clearblue
• Wondfo
• EPT

FAQ - Condoms and Pregnancy Tests

Do you have to be 18 to buy condoms?

No. There is no age restriction or prescription needed to buy condoms.

Do condoms prevent STDs?

Yes, condoms can help prevent STDs.

What are the best condoms?

The best condom is one that has been put on correctly. Correctly using a condom drastically increases its effectiveness at both birth control and STD prevention.

What condoms should I buy?

You should buy unexpired condoms that fit well and have the characteristics you and your partner seek, like lubrication, ribbing or flavors.

How do I buy condoms?

Simply add your preferred condom variety to your cart and check out.

Where to buy condoms?

Sam's Club offers a wide variety of condoms to meet your needs.

Are there female condoms?

Yes. They are sometimes called internal condoms.

How soon can you take a pregnancy test?

You can take a pregnancy test the first day after your menstrual cycle is late.

Can you detect pregnancy at 1 week?

The chemical pregnancy tests look for, HCG, is present as soon as six days after fertilization. However, it becomes easier to detect pregnancy as time goes on. HCG levels rise rapidly in early pregnancy, so if you're unsure after one test, take another one in 48 hours.

What is the best pregnancy test?

Most pregnancy tests are similarly effective. Choose based on factors that are important to you like digital readout or price.

Where to buy pregnancy tests?

Sam's Club sells a variety of pregnancy tests to meet your needs.