Birth Control Methods
Medical Editor:
Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD
Birth Control Methods
What Are the Types and Option of Birth Control?
Discuss your birth control needs and preferences with your health care provider. Many methods are available from your doctor and can be arranged for during an office visit. Some options, such as a diaphragm (used with spermicide) or a cervical cap (also used with spermicide), require fitting, which can also be done during an office visit. An intrauterine device (IUD) must be placed by a health care professional.
Examples of types and options of birth control include:
Continuous Abstinence
Natural Family Planning/Rhythm Method
- Barrier Methods
- Contraceptive Sponge
- Diaphragm, Cervical Cap, and Cervical Shield
- Female Condom
- Male Condom
Hormonal Methods
- Oral Contraceptives - Combined pill ("The pill")
- Oral Contraceptives - Progestin-only pill ("Mini-pill")
- The Patch
- Shot/Injection
- Vaginal Ring
Implantable Devices
- Implantable Rods
- Intrauterine Devices
Permanent Birth Control Methods
- Sterilization Implant
- Surgical Sterilization
Emergency Contraception
SOURCE: womenshealth.gov. Birth Control Methods.
Is birth control right for me?
If you are of childbearing age, you may consider using a form of birth control to prevent becoming pregnant. The practice of preventing pregnancy is as old as human existence. For centuries, humans have attempted to avoid pregnancy at certain times of their lives to accommodate their careers, marital situations, and preferences.
Today, the voluntary control of fertility is of paramount importance to modern society. From a global perspective, countries currently face the crisis of rapid growth of the human population that has begun to threaten human survival.
Keep in mind that doubling time cannot be used to project future population size because it assumes a constant growth rate over decades when growth rates are constantly changing. Nevertheless, these figures do provide a picture of how fast the population is growing at present.
The ability to control whether and when you become pregnant can affect your ability to achieve your own goals and can contribute to your sense of well-being.
What type of birth control is best for me? Does my situation in life affect my choice of birth control?
Your choice of birth control method involves factors such as how easy it is to use, safety, risks, cost, and personal considerations. Each form of birth control has its own advantages and disadvantages.
If you are a woman and would have trouble remembering to take a pill each day, daily birth control pills may not be your best choice. Talk with your health care provider about the method that is right for you.
How do I prevent getting or spreading sexually transmitted diseases?
Sexually transmitted diseases are easily spread and can have serious consequences for your health and the health of a child if you become pregnant.
The
male condom is the best way to protect yourself against getting or spreading a
sexually transmitted disease such as genital herpes or chlamydia or more serious
HIV (which leads to AIDS). Talk with your health care provider and your sexual partner about your concerns. Risks exist, even with condom use. Condoms can break during sexual intercourse. Using condoms correctly can minimize these risks.
