Types of birth control
There are more than 15 methods of contraception in the market. They can be split into the following categories;
- Barriers- these include diaphragms, cervical caps, condoms, and contraceptive sponges.
- Hormonal methods- there are two types of hormonal methods, short-acting and long-acting. The short-acting methods include pills, patch vaginal rings, and contraceptive injections. They are usually taken on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Long-acting methods include copper and hormonal IUDs and contraceptive implants. They are designed to last for three to ten years or until the device is removed.
- Awareness methods- these focus on which days you can and cannot get pregnant. They are based on basal body temperature as well as cervical mucus.
- Sterilization- these are permanent methods like vasectomy and tubal ligation in men and women, respectively.
Factors to consider when choosing the best method of contraception
Below are some of the main factors you need to consider when choosing the best birth control method;
- How effective is contraception?
Some methods of contraception work better than others. The best ones are the ones that require the least amount of effort on your side. For instance, sterilization, IUDs, and implants are some of the best in the market. The reason is that there are no risks, like forgetting to take a birth control pill or follow a piece of instruction that could fail the method. Pills and condoms can also be very effective if they are used consistently and correctly. The least effective methods of contraception are self-control types like withdrawal and fertility monitoring (also known as the safe days’ method). The choice you make depends on how meticulous you are with the following instructions.
- Side effects
Most contraceptives, especially those that are hormone-based, tend to cause a lot of side effects. Some of these side effects include tenderness of the breasts, bleeding between periods, weight gain, nausea, damages to the skin and hair as well as depression, among others. When determining the best method of contraception, make sure to talk to a professional about the side effects. Consider a technique whose side effects you can tolerate. You can also go for non-hormone based methods like IUDs, which have the least amount of side effects.
- Your long-term reproductive goals
When choosing the best birth control method, it is also important that you consider whether or not the method is reversible. There are permanent methods like sterilization that should not be taken too lightly. You should only find the technique if you are positive that your family is complete. However, if you are looking to plan your family or put off getting pregnant for a later time, consider methods that you can easily stop and reverse completely. The most reversible methods are condoms and oral contraceptives. IUDs are suitable for people that are not ready to have kids for a long time. Pills are also good, but for someone who is on the pill and wants to have kids, the process of ridding the body of the birth control pills may belong.
- Health and lifestyle
Some hormone-based methods of contraception are not safe for women with underlying health conditions. Such conditions include liver disease, uterine cancer, and migraine headaches. Also, women that are older than 35 and smoke should stay away from hormone-based birth control because they tend to increase the risk of heart disease. Make sure to share your medical history with your health provider when consulting about the best contraceptive method.
When it comes to your lifestyle, you need to consider factors like whether or not you are in a monogamous relationship or not. If you are not, you want to find barrier methods because other methods do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. Your age, weight, and what your daily routine are also factors to consider.
Conclusion
Different contraceptives work in different ways. Some methods work by preventing the sperm from reaching the eggs while others inactivate the sperm. Others thicken the cervical mucus to prevent the sperm from penetrating, and others alter the uterine lining. Before choosing the best method, make sure to consult with a professional and find out the pros and cons of each of the methods.