If you use birth control, you may ask yourself, “Is this the best option for me?” With so many choices, you may feel overwhelmed with the thought of switching. But if your current form of contraception doesn’t work for you, it’s important to look for one you feel more comfortable with. Here are some things to think about if you want to make a switch.
What Birth Control Options Can You Choose From?
There are short-term, long-term, permanent, and temporary forms of birth control. They include:
Barrier methods. You may use female or male condoms, a diaphragm, contraceptive sponge, or cervical cap to block the sperm from the egg.
Short-term birth control forms. These include birth control pills, vaginal rings, skin patches, or the injection. These options are short-acting, which means you’ll have to use them daily, weekly, or monthly.
Long-term birth control forms. You might want to use a birth control method that lasts longer. You can use an intrauterine device (IUD) or an implant. These are long-acting because they last for 3- 10 years after your doctor puts it inside of you.
Spermicide and vaginal gel. These options don’t have any hormones in them. But spermicide can kill or stop sperm so that it can’t get to the egg. Vaginal gel will stop sperm so that they won’t get to fertilize and egg. You’ll have to put these into your vagina right before you have sex.
Fertility awareness methods. You’ll have to keep track of the days in the month that you’re fertile or able to get pregnant. You can do this through your body’s temperature and cervical mucus. With this method, you won’t want to have sex on or around the days that you can get pregnant. Or you can use a barrier method around this time.
Sterilization. This method is permanent. You can get a tubal ligation if you have a vagina. Or you can get a vasectomy if you have a penis. You should only do this is you’re sure that you don’t want to have kids through sex.
How Does Birth Control Affect Your Health?
One of the things you’ll want to consider is how your choice of birth control affects your overall well-being. Think about factors like:
Your risk of STIs. Most forms of birth control don’t protect you from sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The only ones that do are male and female condoms.
This is the case even if you’re on other forms of birth control because they won’t lessen your risk of STIs.
How your birth control can affect your period. Some birth control methods might stop your period. Some people like this, but others would rather have a normal bleed. Ask your doctor which ones could stop your period and which ones won’t. This can help you make your choice.
Any side effects. Some birth control methods, especially hormonal ones, can have side effects. IUDs may have painful insertion, or hormonal birth control could cause side effects like breast tenderness and spotting. These may be a dealbreaker for you. You should read up on all the side effects of a birth control option before you decide to use it.
How Does Your Birth Control Fit Into Your Lifestyle?
When you switch birth control methods, you should also think about if your new method fits into your life. If you’re in a relationship, you may also want to see how your partner feels about your preferred form of contraception. Chat with them about their thoughts on birth control.
It’s also important to think about:
How it fits into your religious or cultural beliefs. Some birth control methods might not fit into your religious laws or traditions. You’ll want to consider this when you make your decision.
Family planning. Do you want to have kids? If so, when do you plan to have them? If you want to get pregnant soon, you’ll want to choose something that’s short-term, like the pill or a barrier method. But if you want to wait awhile, other options like an IUD or implant may be a good choice.
If you don’t want to get pregnant at all, you or your partner could get sterilized.
Breastfeeding. You can still get pregnant while you breastfeed, but your chances are lower. But you may still want to be on birth control. Talk to your doctor about which option is best for you. You can start a lot of birth control options right after birth. This includes IUDs, implants, shots, and progestin-only pills.
Ease of use. To work right, you must use your birth control the correct way. Some methods are low maintenance, like the IUD or implant. These only require occasional checkups. But options like the pill or barrier methods require you to actively do something every day or every time you have sex. It’s important that you stay on top of these things if you want to prevent a pregnancy.
Other options, like fertility awareness, require a lot more work and a lot more risk. Because of this, this option has higher rates of pregnancy than the others.
You’ll also want to consider how easy it is to access your birth control. Pills require a prescription. You must refill this regularly, which can be inconvenient for some. With barrier methods, it’s important to have them handy before sex. Most stores carry condoms, so it’s generally easy to find them.
If you use the pill, an IUD, the implant, or some other hormonal forms, you’ll need to see your doctor at times. Consider how convenient these doctor appointments are for you as you decide which option is best.
The cost of the birth control. Some options are very expensive, like sterilization, while others are cheaper, like buying condoms. Decide how much you want to spend on your contraceptive method. Talk to your insurance provider about what options are covered and which aren’t.
When you decide to switch birth control methods, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor. They can also bring up good points to consider. Make sure to ask plenty of questions so that you feel informed about your decision. At the end of the day, it’s important that you’re comfortable with your contraceptive choice.
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Photo Credit: Lifestock / Getty Images
SOURCES:
Mayo Clinic: “Birth Control Options: Things to Consider.”
Cleveland Clinic: “Contraception During Breastfeeding.”
