Birth control
If you're considering using birth control, you have many options — from natural family planning and over-the-counter birth control products to prescription contraceptives or sterilization. Some birth controls options can have additional benefits for some women, including making menstruation lighter or more predictable.
To help determine which birth control method would be best for you, consider your lifestyle, personal preferences and health status.
How do you feel about:
- Planning for sex.
- Inserting birth control devices into your body.
- Taking a pill at the same time every day or tracking your fertile days.
- Permanently ending the ability to conceive or father a child.
It's important to make an honest assessment of yourself, your partner and your relationship. You may have different birth control needs if you have sex often or you're not in a monogamous relationship. Ideally, you and your partner should discuss the options and reach a mutually beneficial decision.
This infographic outlines popular birth control methods to help you determine what best fits your pregnancy prevention goals and options for accomplishing them:
For more information, talk with your health care provider.
Birth Control Options
-
Birth control pills
Birth control pills are a common type of contraception, and there are a number of options. They allow you to regain fertility once you stop using them. You must take the pill at roughly the same time each day for greatest effectiveness.
There are minipills that contain only one hormone or two hormones. The two types of combination birth control pills are:
- Conventional packs
You will have a period every month. - Continuous dosing
You may have a period only four times a year or eliminate your period entirely.
Each type of birth control pill has its own risks and benefits. Understand the basics, and then work with your health care provider to determine the best birth control pill for you.
- Conventional packs
-
Long-acting reversible contraceptive
If you know you want to become pregnant someday — just not anytime soon — long-acting reversible contraception may be a good choice. With long-acting reversible contraception, you get effective birth control with little day-to-day hassle, and you will return to fertility when you stop using it.
Options for long-acting reversible contraception include:
- An intrauterine device, also known as an IUD, such as Mirena, ParaGard or Skyla. You will promptly return to fertility when the IUD is removed.
- A contraceptive implant, such as Nexplanon. You will promptly return to fertility when the implant is removed.
- A contraceptive injection, such as Depo-Provera. You will return to fertility when you cease injections. Your return to fertility may take a little longer.
You will need a prescription from your health care provider for this type of birth control. The IUD or contraceptive implant requires a visit to your health care provider for removal if you decide you no longer want to use this type of birth control.
-
Natural family planning
Natural family planning may be an appealing birth control option if you can't or choose not to use other contraceptives.
Popular types of natural family planning include the rhythm method, the cervical mucus method and the basal body temperature method. You can use these types of natural family planning to predict when you'll ovulate — and when you need to avoid unprotected sex if you don't want to conceive. Another type of natural family planning is withdrawal, in which the man withdraws his penis from the vagina before ejaculation to prevent pregnancy.
Natural family planning requires motivation, diligence and self-control. Natural family planning isn't as effective as other types of birth control, but it's inexpensive and has no side effects.
-
Sterilization
If you're sure that you don't want to be pregnant — or father a child — at any point in the future, you may consider sterilization.
In men, a vasectomy is the only option for sterilization. During this straightforward surgery, the tubes that carry sperm into the semen are cut and sealed. After a successful vasectomy, a man cannot father a child.
In women, tubal ligation is a surgical procedure that cuts or permanently blocks the fallopian tubes.
Sterilization is an effective method of birth control. The decision to pursue sterilization must be taken seriously, however. Although reversal is sometimes possible after vasectomy or tubal ligation, sterilization of any type is considered permanent.
-
Emergency contraception
Emergency contraception helps prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. Emergency contraception isn't meant to be used in place of routine birth control, but it's an option if you've had unprotected sex, your method of birth control failed or you missed a birth control pill.
To be effective, emergency contraception must be used as soon as possible after unprotected sex. In the U.S., two types of emergency contraception are available: emergency contraceptive pills and the ParaGard copper IUD.
Emergency contraception pills are also known as the "morning-after pill." Many emergency contraception pills brands can be used up to five days after unprotected sex. However, the pills are more effective the sooner you take them.
Another option is the ParaGard copper IUD. To prevent pregnancy, the IUD must be inserted within five days after unprotected sex.
-
Other birth control options
Other birth control options abound, and the choice is yours:
Condoms
Male and female condoms, which are available over the counter, protect against sexually transmitted infections.Contraceptive sponge
This option is available at discount stores without a prescription.Vaginal ring
This option is available at discount stores without a prescription.As you consider your birth control options, consider your personal needs and effectiveness desires. Familiarize yourself with how different types of birth control work, as well as the risks and benefits of each option.