Articles
Birth control options: Things to consider
Content
What birth control options are available?
How do the different birth control options work?
What is the method's effectiveness?
Is it reversible?
Is it compatible with your religious beliefs or cultural practices?
Is it convenient and affordable?
What are the side effects?
Does it protect against sexually transmitted infections?
Does it offer other benefits?
Is it acceptable to your sexual partner?
What's the bottom line?
What birth control options are available?
Your birth control options include:
- Barrier methods. Examples include male and female condoms, as well as the diaphragm, cervical cap and contraceptive sponge.
- Short-acting hormonal methods. Examples include birth control pills, as well as the vaginal ring (NuvaRing), skin patch (Xulane) and contraceptive injection (Depo-Provera). These are considered short-acting methods because you have to remember to use them on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.
- Long-acting hormonal methods. Examples include the copper IUD (ParaGard), the hormonal IUD (Mirena, Skyla, Kyleena, others) and the contraceptive implant (Nexplanon). These are considered long-acting methods because they last for three to 10 years after insertion — depending on the device — or until you decide to have the device removed.
- Sterilization. This is a permanent method of birth control. Examples include tubal ligation for women and vasectomy for men.
- Fertility awareness methods. These methods focus on knowing which days of the month you are able to get pregnant (fertile), often based on basal body temperature and cervical mucus. To avoid getting pregnant, you do not have sex on or around the days you are fertile, or you use a barrier method of birth control.
It's also important to be aware of emergency contraception — such as the morning-after pill (Plan B One-Step, Aftera, ella, others) — which can be used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex.
