Contraception

If you’re not planning to start or add to a family, it’s best to prevent pregnancy than to deal with it later, and using contraception can help. Anyone who has sex can use it, no matter how old they are. You can choose from different types like condoms or pills, but it’s important to pick the right one to avoid problems.

Taking care of your reproductive health is important, and using contraception can help you stay safe and healthy.  Simply put, it allows women and men to take control of their reproductive health and make informed decisions about their bodies.

Reversible Methods of Birth Control

There are different ways to prevent pregnancy, like taking pills with estrogen called oral contraceptives. They work well and don’t stop women from having babies later. But sometimes, women might have bleeding that’s not regular while taking them.

Hormonal Methods
Hormonal contraception uses hormones like progestin to stop pregnancy. Active pills with levonorgestrel are effective if used correctly. The best kind of hormonal contraception for you depends on what you like and need.

Talk to your doctor about your choices and any worries you have, like bleeding.

• The Vaginal Ring is a type of birth control that is put in the vagina for three weeks. It has hormones that stop ovulation and make it hard for sperm to get to the uterus. After three weeks, it is taken out for a week so a period can happen.   Vaginal rings have estrogen hormone. They only need changing once a month and have 15-25 mcg of hormone. They’re easy to use but may cause headaches, nausea, or breast tenderness.
• The Pill:  You can also take a pill with the same hormones if you don’t want to use the ring.
• Injections: Hormonal injections are given every three months by a healthcare provider. They also work by preventing ovulation.
• Patches: The patch is a small adhesive patch that releases hormones through the skin into the bloodstream. It works similarly to birth control pills but only needs to be changed once a week.
• Contraceptive Implants: These are small, flexible rods placed under the skin of the upper arm. They release progestin and provide contraception for up to three years.

Barrier Methods
Barrier methods stop sperm from reaching the egg. They work okay, but not as well as hormonal methods.

• Cervical Cap
• Diaphragms and cervical caps go in the vagina before sex and stop sperm from getting in.  The cervical cap stops sperm from entering the uterus. It’s a small silicone cup that goes over the cervix and can stay for up to 48 hours.   To work better, cervical caps need spermicide. They are not as good as other birth control methods and fail about 15% of the time. Some women may not find them comfortable or they may not fit well.
• Copper IUDs
  Often referred to as ‘the coil’, IUDs are good at stopping pregnancy for a long time. Copper IUDs have copper that stops sperm from moving.  Copper IUDs work really well to stop pregnancy and you don’t have to take them every day like the pill. But they might make your periods heavier or cause cramps. They’re not good for some medical conditions. And they don’t have estrogen like the ring.
• Sponges are small foam things with spermicide that girls put in their vaginas before having sex.
• Condoms: Men use condoms on their penis during sex, while women use condoms that go inside their vagina before sex. Both types stop sperm from reaching eggs.

Natural Methods

•  Fertility Awareness-Based Methods (FABMs) These involve tracking menstrual cycles, basal body temperature, and cervical mucus to identify fertile and infertile days. They require diligence and awareness of fertility signs.
• Withdrawal Method Also known as “pulling out,” this method involves the man withdrawing his penis from the vagina before ejaculation.

When picking a birth control, women should think about how well it works, how easy it is to use, if it has any bad effects, and what they like. They should also talk to a doctor about their health before trying a new kind of birth control.

Permanent Methods

Permanent contraception involves surgery to stop having babies.  Tubal ligation for women and vasectomy for men.

• Tubal ligation is a surgery that stops eggs from getting to the uterus by blocking or cutting the fallopian tubes.
• Vasectomy is a surgery that stops sperm from coming out during ejaculation by cutting or blocking the vas deferens.

Which Methods Work Best and Are Safe?

Women have many birth control choices, like pills. It’s important to know the options and how well they work before picking one.
The efficacy rate shows how well birth control works in the first year. No method is perfect, but pills work better than other methods.
If women use birth control pills, patches, injections, or vaginal rings, it’s more than 90% effective. Copper IUD is over 99% effective, and hormonal IUD is over 99.9% effective.
Condoms and diaphragms don’t work as well for women as hormonal methods or IUDs. Condoms can be 82-98% effective if used right, but this can be different for women. Diaphragms are 88-94% effective if used right every time, but this can also vary for women.

Safety Concerns
Contraceptives stop women from getting pregnant, but some can make them sick. Hormonal ones can cause mood changes, weight gain, headaches, nausea, and other problems. They can also raise the chance of blood clots or stroke in rare cases.  Condoms and other barrier methods can cause irritation or allergies in some women due to latex or spermicide sensitivity.

Women should talk to their doctor about their medical history before picking a birth control method. Some health problems might make certain options riskier, so it’s important to be safe.

Regular Use
It’s important for women to use contraception regularly. Hormonal methods need to be taken daily or as directed by a healthcare provider. IUDs need to be inserted by a healthcare provider and checked regularly.  Women must use condoms correctly every time to make sure they work. If they don’t, they may get pregnant without meaning to.

Menstrual Cycles and Periods
Permanent and long-acting birth control methods can change menstrual cycles and periods. Tubal ligation and hormonal implants may cause lighter bleeding or no period. IUDs may cause longer and heavier periods at first. Women should talk to their healthcare provider about any concerns before choosing a birth control method.

Emergency Contraception: What You Need to Know

Emergency contraception, also called the “morning-after pill,” is a way for women to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or failed birth control.  It has levonorgestrel, a hormone that stops ovulation. You can buy it at drugstores.

How Does Emergency Contraception Work?
Emergency contraceptive pills stop eggs from being released. If taken right after unprotected sex or birth control failure, they can lower the chance of getting pregnant. But they might not work as well if taken too late.

When Is Emergency Contraception Effective?
Emergency contraception works best when taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex or birth control failure. It can still work up to five days (120 hours) later, but it’s less effective. So, take it as soon as possible.

Where to Get Contraception and Emergency Contraception
Lots of ways to stop pregnancy exist, but some folks don’t know where to find them or emergency birth control. Here are some spots to check out for contraception and emergency contraception.

Local Clinics
You can get birth control options at clinics. They offer pills, condoms, IUDs, and implants. The clinic staff can tell you how each method works and its side effects.
Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood provides reproductive health services in the US. They offer different types of birth control, including emergency contraception like Plan B or Ella. They can also help you choose the right contraceptive method.
Over-the-Counter Pharmacies
You can buy Plan B or Ella at most pharmacies without a prescription. You can also purchase online at amazon. You don’t need to see a doctor or go to a clinic if you need it right away.
College and University Health Centers
Lots of colleges and universities give students free or cheap birth control at their health centers. Students can get check-ups, advice, medicine, and even long-lasting birth control like IUDs for not much money or even nothing.
Telemedicine Services
Telemedicine is getting more popular because it’s easy and you can talk to doctors on the phone or video. You can also get contraception prescriptions delivered to your house.

Importance of Accessible and Effective Contraception
Having access to good birth control is important for people to take charge of their reproductive health. There are many types of birth control, like ones that can be undone and ones that can’t. Everyone is different, so it’s important to find the one that works best for you.  Before deciding, think about how well each method works and how safe it is. Emergency contraception is also available if you have unprotected sex or your usual method fails.