3 Tips to Determine what Form of Contraception Is Right for You

Contraception, or birth control, is any type of device, medicine, or surgery used in order to prevent unwanted pregnancies. There are lots of kinds to choose from, and they all have different things to offer. Some prevent STIs, while others last for long periods of time. There are some that are more comfortable, while others are more effective. 

Contraception typically falls into five different categories: 

1. Short-term (pills, patches)
2. Long-term (IUDs, implants) 
3. One-time use (condoms, sponges)
4. Permanent (vasectomy, tubal ligation)
5. Emergency (Plan B)

You can also make lifestyle changes like practicing abstinence or fertility awareness to avoid getting pregnant.

Whichever route you decide to go, it’s important to take some things into consideration in order to choose the right contraceptive for you. Our team at Women’s Specialty Care has three tips to help you narrow down your options.

1. Know what you want from your birth control

Different birth control methods have a lot of different pros and cons, so it’s important to know exactly what you want and don’t want in a contraceptive.

Convenience

If you don’t want to have to worry about taking a pill every day or needing a condom every time you have sex, you may want to consider a long-term option like an IUD or an implant. These use hormones in order to prevent you from getting pregnant, and, depending on what brand and type you get, can last anywhere from 3-12 years. If you have a hectic schedule, this can be a great way to have peace of mind when it comes to your birth control.

However, if you’re looking for something quick and easy to use, birth control pills and patches are great options.

Doesn’t affect hormones

Many types of birth control like pills, patches, implants, and some IUDs use hormones to prevent pregnancy by either changing your cervix and uterus or preventing sperm from getting to the egg. However, these methods can affect your mood, menstrual cycles, and other aspects of your health. If you don’t want your contraceptives messing with your hormones, fertility awareness or condoms might be the way to go.

Effectiveness

When choosing your contraception, take into consideration how willing you are to get pregnant. If you don’t want to have any more children, permanent birth control like tubal ligation is a good option since it’s more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. However, if you’re looking for something less permanent but just as effective, IUDs are also 99% effective.

If you’re willing to get pregnant and want something a little less drastic, birth control patches and pills are about 90% effective.

2. Know the side effects

Before choosing your birth control, it’s important to be aware of any side effects certain kinds can have. 

If you choose hormonal birth control, you’ll probably notice your menstrual cycles will be lighter, but you may have to deal with mood swings. 

If you’re looking to prevent any kind of STI, it’s important to use a barrier method like a sponge or a condom. 

If you decide to do fertility awareness, you’ll need to put a lot of thought and effort in keeping track of your cycles and when you’re ovulating in order to avoid having sex on those days.

3. Know what’s best for your body

The most important thing to remember is the only one who knows what the best contraception is for you is you. Make sure you research and ask questions to find out what you want to use and what will work best for your health and lifestyle. 

To learn more about how to choose the right contraception, you can contact our team at Women’s Specialty Care by calling 847-295-0433 or using our online scheduler today.