Overview
Birth control is a method used to prevent unwanted pregnancy. It can also be used to treat other medical conditions.
There are varying methods which include reversible methods, barrier methods, and permanent methods. Each method has different possible health benefits and side effects.
What are the Benefits?
Preventing unwanted pregnancy is what birth control is for. But, there are also non-contraceptive benefits that you may not be aware of, such as:
- Regulating menstrual cycles
- Managing premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- Treating polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- Assisting relief with endometriosis
- Reducing unwanted acne
- Treating unwanted excess hair
- Helping with hair loss
What are the Different Methods?
There are different methods for birth control. These include reversible methods, barrier methods, and permanent methods. Deciding which method would be beneficial to you depends on your needs and lifestyle.
Reversible Methods
These reversible methods prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg. Which then prevents sperm from fertilizing the egg. The types of options available include:
- The birth control pill
- The patch
- The vaginal ring
Another option is long-acting reversible contraceptives. This means you can receive it once and the effects last for a longer period.
Examples of this include the shot. This contains a hormone found in some birth control pills (progestin). You can get the shot administered in the doctor’s office once every three months.
Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) are ‘T’ shaped devices placed in the uterus. There are hormonal IUDs and Copper IUDs. You must have a healthcare professional place the device. Depending on the type of IUD chosen, it can remain effective for 3-10 years.
Barrier Methods
The barrier method works by blocking sperm from entering the cervix. This results in not fertilizing an egg. You can buy most of these at a local drug store:
- Male condom
- Female condom
- Diaphragm
- Sponge with spermicide
Lifestyle Methods
Making certain lifestyle decisions can lower the risk of unwanted pregnancy.
Some choose the fertility awareness method. This method is when a woman tracks her window of fertility and then abstains from sex during that period.
If you are breastfeeding you can use the lactational amenorrhea method (LAM). You can use this method until the baby has reached 6-12 months old. This method has very specific rules to be effective.
Permanent Methods
Permanent methods can be non-reversible that you can consider. These include female tubal ligation and male vasectomy.
| Method | Types | Typical Failure Rate | Medication Name | Common Side Effects |
| Reversible | The Pill | 7% | Nausea, headaches, spotting, mood changes, weight gain | |
| The Patch | 7% | Twirla vs. Xulane | Application site disorders, nausea, headache, weight gain | |
| Vaginal Ring | 7% | Nuvaring | Headache, decreased sex drive, menstrual cramps, breast tenderness, nausea, acne, weight gain | |
| The Shot | 4% | Depo-Provera | Irregular menstrual periods or no periods at all, headaches, Depression, acne, weight gain, Osteoporosis. | |
| IUD | 0.1-0.8% | Skyla, Paragard | Anemia, spotting, vaginal irritation, vaginal discharge, backache | |
| Barrier | Male Condom | 13% | Trojan, Skyn | – |
| Female Condom | 21% | Uniq, P.S. | – | |
| Diaphragm | 17% | Nurx, Caya | UTI, vaginal irritation | |
| Sponge | 14-27% | Today Sponge | Toxic Shock Syndrome | |
| Permanent | Tubal Ligation | 0.5% | – | – |
| Vasectomy | 0.15% | – | – | |
| Lifestyle | Abstinence | 100% | – | – |
| Fertility Awareness | 2-23% | – | – | |
| Lactation Amenorrhea | Unknown | – | – | |
| Withdrawal | 4-22% | – | – |
How Can You Get Birth Control?
At The Rx Advocates, we can help you get birth control for yourself. We will work with you and your doctors. We will follow up with the pharmaceutical companies. And we will continue to help you once you are approved.
Please contact us to get help with your prescriptions today.
