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Choosing the Right Birth Control: What is Best for Women

July 8, 2024 Edward

Saying no to pregnancy, birth control or contraction enable women to decide whether or not they want to be pregnant. This paper will identify the many types of birth control available today, their advantages, disadvantages and their separate rate of efficacy. That is why, choosing a birth control method, it is necessary to learn the information, think of what aspects can be crucial to you, and consult with your doctor.

This guide discusses the advantages and disadvantages associated with different forms of birth control to help you make an informed decision.

Table of Contents

Setting Priorities for Your Birth Control

It is therefore advisable to first know your preferences when it comes to choosing a birth control method so that when you are informed of the available methods you can be in a better position to choose the most appropriate one.

Would you like something non-invasive like a little pill? Or would you like a long-acting implant or an intrauterine device where you do not need to bother about it too often? Are you in desperate need of an enclosed area or would you be fine with going to a clinic? You also need to decide how high of a level of efficacy is satisfactory to you, and how much you are willing to pay out of pocket or if it will be reimbursable under your insurance plan.

Some key priorities to reflect on include:Some key priorities to reflect on include:

Ease of use: How easy and easy to use will this contraceptive tool be?
Duration of effectiveness: Would you like to use contraception for a short time or for a longer time of your life?
Availability: Are there insurance issues or financial constraints that would influence acceptable levels of radiologic technologist exposure?
Side effects: How crucial is it to eat foods that yield least side effects on our health?
Ability to stop: Is this method easy to terminate if this has to be done, for some reason?
Effectiveness: How effective a pregnancy prevention method do you consider appropriate?

The following is the list of contraceptives with an indication of what to consider when making a choice: It is now time to look at several of the more well-known methods of birth control which are available.

Hormonal Birth Control Overview

Hormonal contraceptive is a broad term that includes many different types and they affect your body by introducing synthetic hormones into your system.

These hormones help to suppress ovulation, create a thick layer of cervical mucus that does not allow sperm to pass through, and also make the endometrium shed to prevent implantation. Some advantages of hormonal birth control include:Some advantages of hormonal birth control include:

Very safe but must be used correctly if one intends not to fall pregnant.
Candied conditions are like acne, PMS, endometriosis pain, and heavy flow.
This substance helps to control and reduce the number of menstrual cycles a woman has.
Some methods as implants and IUDs are effortless

However, vical-based methods have drawbacks: They cause side effects including headaches, irregular menstruation, mood swings, weight gain, and others.

It is also important to note that there are some health risks associated with the use of electronic cigarettes, however their occurrence is relatively low. However, it is crucial to realize that hormonal birth control has contraindications; thus, before its use, consult a physician with your medical history on hand.

The Pill

Combination pills are still one of the most popular and highly effective types of hormonal contraception. Generally, it may control the pregnancy by preventing the occurrence of an unintended pregnancy in about 91% of the women who use the pill.

Lo Loestrin Fe and Mircette, for example, appear to have a very low hormone dose. The former is referred to as combination pills and consists of both estrogen and progestin while the latter is known as the mini pill containing only progestin.

Some benefits of the pill include:Some benefits of the pill include:

If perfect use is done daily, the efficacy rate is at 99 percent.
They also reduce the risk of ovarian, uterine, and colon cancer.
What are some of the mild signs? Lighter periods, more frequent periods, and less pain during periods.
Enhances situation like polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, acne

There are some disadvantages though: one must take it at the same time each day, some people experience side effects, and there are some severe but very rare health consequences.

Consult your ob-gyn to seek advice on beginning the pill in order to decide if it is suitable for you.

The Patch

The birth control patch (Xulane) is a small, thin square of plastic that must be affixed to the skin and releases hormones into the bloodstream. It has to be replaced each week for three progressive weeks, then the fourth week is off because of menstruation. The patch can be used consistently with an estimated effectiveness of 91 percent.

Some upsides to the weekly patch are:Some upsides to the weekly patch are:

This means that you do not need to pop a pill every day.
Originally required to replace it every two days, but now only have to replace it once a week.
These can be worn concealed in areas such as the belly, back, arm, or buttocks.

On the other hand, drawbacks are skin irritation, falling off, some of the side effects, and the efficacy reduces in women with breasts of 198 pounds and above. Give your doctor an opportunity to explain the patch and determine whether its benefits correspond to your goals.

The Ring

NuvaRing is a soft, small ring that you put into the vagina monthly to release the hormones in the body gradually. It is used for three weeks then you have to take it off for the period week though the pad is worn the whole week. When used properly, it is a little above 99% effective while if used in the normal way it is about 91%.

Some benefits of the NuvaRing are:Some benefits of the NuvaRing are:

This thinking does not have to be done on a daily basis or on a weekly basis for that matter – once a month is sufficient.
It has its own opening and closing mechanism that you can use to insert and remove it at home.
This means that the patient does not have to take any pill every day.
Low hormone dose in circulation or low concentration of hormone in the bloodstream

Possible downside effects include irritation of the female genitalia, variations in the quality of discharge, certain health risks, and unwanted effects. However, there are side effects that are more severe and these are rare with the use of the ring. Consult with your doctor and find out whether the NuvaRing matches your requirements.

Birth Control Shots

Depo-Provera is a contraceptive shot that is administered after three months with no daily taking of pills like in the case of other types of pills. It contains progestin only. The traditional efficacy has been estimated to be approximately between 94% and 97%.

Potential advantages include:

It involves provision of health services for a continuous period of three months.
I had no other task assigned until the next shot was fired.
To sum up, they all mean a reduction in the number of periods which reduces cramps and the risk of getting anemia.

But there are also disadvantages to consider:But there are also disadvantages to consider:

May increase irregular bleeding between periods
For shots to be administered, you need to visit the doctor after every 12 to 13 weeks.
Fertility may take anything between six (6) months to one year or even more for it to come back after stopping.

If you won’t remember pills but want longer term protection against pregnancy, you may wish to consider Depo-Provera.

The Arm Implant

Nexplanon is about the size of a matchstick and it is inserted beneath the skin of your outer arm.It gradually releases progestin hormones that enable it to provide pregnancy protection for up to five years. The implant has thus a failure rate of less than 1% under standard use.

Advantages include:

It takes up to 5 years before its effects are worn out.
Manipulation with slight degree of office endoscopy
Clandestine – There is no present or utensil used every day.
May help relieve cramps as well as heavy bleeding

Some drawbacks are:

Possible side effects include that while they are uncommon, they are severe.
These procedures require an office visit.
May take longer periods of time for menstruation

If you want long-acting, low-interference pregnancy prevention that comes close to 100 percent, you should talk to your doctor about an implant such as Nexplanon.

Intrauterine Devices (IUDs)

IUDs are t-shaped plastic placed inside the uterus; they provide long-term, non-surgical contraception that may last 3 to 7 years on average. IUDs come in two types: hormonal IUDs and copper IUDs which act to prevent the union between sperm and the ovum. They are extremely effective with high rates ranging between 95% and 100%.

Some top advantages of IUDs are:Some top advantages of IUDs are:

Sterilization methods are equally efficient with a failure rate that should not exceed 1%.
It is a long term position spanning for several years at a time.
Coitus interruptus or withdraw, insert and forget it birth control
It eventually makes a swift return to fertility once removed.

But there are also some potential disadvantages:But there are also some potential disadvantages:

Insertion and removal entails a doctor and must be done so by a trained one.
Expulsion or perforation are risks, but the possibility of them happening is low.
Increased volume of blood flow and discomfort in painful periods for some

This particular birth control only requires a one-time insertion and has a long-lasting effect without requiring the individual to remember to take or use anything, therefore, discussing IUD with your ob-gyn is a good idea.

Natural Family Planning Methods

The method of natural family planning involves identifying when women ovulate, the time between the onset of menstruation and ovulation is termed as the fertile window within which pregnancy can occur. They are the days you do not engage in unprotected intercourse, as you are fertile. When employed effectively, the failure rate stands at less than one percent, but it is about twenty-four percent with standard usage.

Benefits include:

Method that has no cost and does not require any doctor’s interference
Would not affect future fertility
Perhaps it can help to improve the awareness of one’s body.

Downsides are:

It is less effective than any of the other choices.
Must be done on a daily basis and with the preparation of an organized schedule
Aside from the above-discussed issue, another shortcoming of the program is that there is no protection against STDs.

Natural family planning can be effective without the use of hormones or devices if fertility awareness methods are maintained with appropriate compliance. These should be discussed with your doctor to develop a suitable plan that will be most effective.

Barrier Methods Overview

Physical methods of contraception prevent conception by placing a barrier between sperm and the possibility of reaching an egg. These are male and female condoms, diaphragms, cervical cap for women, spermicidal foam or gel, and spermicidal sponge or cap. The failure rate for perfect usage ranges between 2% – 15% depending on the specific method used. However, the typical usage exposes the devices to failure risks of approximately 21 percent; primarily attributed to sporadic use.

Benefits of barrier methods include:Benefits of barrier methods include:

also known as non-hormonal and non-pharmacological approaches
Practice safe sex and avoid diseases that are spread through sexual contact
This can be easily purchased over the counter from a chemist in most of the countries across the world.
Since it means easier access to cheap options.

Limitations involve:

It is mandatory to use or insert properly every time the couple feels like making love
Failure rates tend to be higher than those found in hormonal or implanted contraceptives.
May cause inflammation or skin reactions in hypersensitive areas or in individuals with allergies.

If you do not want to use artificial hormones, it is still possible to discuss with your doctor how to use different barrier methods to avoid pregnancy most effectively.

Permanent Contraception

In cases where a female or a couple is very sure that they do not want any more children, they can go for a tubal ligation so that they never have the chance of getting pregnant again in future. Tubal ligation refers to the process of collapsing the fallopian tubes, and female sterilization through tubal ligation. Nonetheless, what can be safely claimed is that the outpatient procedure is over 99% effective.

This is a form of contraception that is carried out on the male reproductive system where the tubes that transport sperm are blocked and then ligatured. A vasectomy concludes the chances of pregnancy to be approximately 1-2 percent where one woman out of every hundred is likely to get pregnant in one year after her partner has been castrated.

Benefits of permanent contraception include:Benefits of permanent contraception include:

Once-in-a-lifetime procedure
Bye bye to the need of thinking about birth control once more
Almost all insurance plans provide coverage

The biggest disadvantages involve:

It is defined as the permanent impairment of fertility or complete inability to conceive.
When it comes to regret after the procedure, there is a small chance of experiencing it.
Does not prevent individuals from getting other sexually transmitted diseases.

If your family is already fulfilled, you may go over permanent birth control with your urologist or ob-gyn.

Birth control is one of those things that every woman needs to know about and in order to make a good choice, here are some factors that you should consider.

As you can observe, there are numerous types of birth control available in the market and one has the privilege of choosing from any of them with the fact that each has its merits and demerits. Do not take anything lightly, make sure that you investigate every possible chance you get.

Remember to report information about your priorities, needs and the lifestyle that you lead to ensure that whatever you are to choose will suit your circumstances. Seek the opinion of personnel in the health profession who can guide you better and even prescribe if needed.

Hence, being an informed consumer is the key to identifying which method of birth control is best for your reproductive needs when it comes to safe, dependable, and low-maintenance birth control. Take charge of freeing yourself from worry and uncertainty concerning the contraception choices made.

That means that when choosing the right birth control there need not be any compromise on intimacy but rather one can comfortably go on knowing that there will be no unwanted pregnancy.