Birth Control Options
Birth Control Pills
- Take a pill each day to prevent pregnancy
- Safe, effective, and convenient
- Easy to get with a prescription
- Costs about $15–$50 each month
Birth control pills are a kind of medication that women
can take daily to prevent pregnancy. They are also sometimes
called "the pill" or oral contraception. It's pretty common
for people to be confused about how birth control pills work.
Here's what it boils down to: birth control pills are made of
hormones. Hormones are chemicals made in our bodies. They
control how different parts of our bodies work.
Some
birth control pills contain two hormones - estrogen and progestin.
These are called combination pills. Some are progestin-only pills.
Most women on the pill take combination pills.
The hormones
in the pill work by keeping a woman's ovaries from releasing
eggs - ovulation. Pregnancy cannot happen if there is no egg to
join with sperm. The hormones in the pill also prevent pregnancy
by thickening a woman's cervical mucus. The mucus blocks sperm
and keeps it from joining with an egg.
The hormones also thin
the lining of the uterus. In theory, this could prevent pregnancy
by keeping a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus.
How Safe Are Birth Control Pills?
Most women can use birth control pills safely. That's one of the
things that make it the most popular method of reversible birth
control in the U.S. It is a lot safer than childbirth, for example.
But all medications have some risks, so safety is a concern when choosing
a birth control method. Certain conditions increase the risk of serious side
effects. Talk with your health care provider about your health and whether
the pill is likely to be safe for you.
There are many other methods
of birth control that may be safe for you if you cannot take the pill. Read
about other methods to find one that may be right for you.
Birth Control Shot
- A shot in the arm that prevents pregnancy
- Safe, effective, and convenient
- Easy to get with a prescription
- Lasts for three months
- Costs $35–$75 per injection, plus any exam fees
Birth Control Pills
The birth control shot does not contain estrogen, another type of hormone that
is in many types of birth control, including the pill, patch, and ring. This
means the shot can be a good choice for women who cannot take estrogen and for
women who are breastfeeding.
The birth control shot is an injection of
a hormone that prevents pregnancy. Each shot prevents pregnancy for three
months.
The shot is also known by the brand name Depo-Provera, or by
the name of the medicine in the shot, DMPA.
Like other methods of birth
control, the birth control shot releases a hormone - progestin - into the body.
Hormones are chemicals made in our bodies. They control how different parts of
our bodies work.
The progestin in the shot works by keeping a woman's
ovaries from releasing eggs - ovulation. Pregnancy cannot happen if there is no
egg to join with sperm. The progestin in the shot also prevents pregnancy by
thickening a woman's cervical mucus. The mucus blocks sperm and keeps it from
joining with an egg.
The hormone also thins the lining of the uterus.
In theory, this could prevent pregnancy by keeping a fertilized egg from attaching
to the uterus.
If you get the birth control shot within the first seven
days after the start of your period, you are protected from pregnancy immediately.
Each shot of Depo-Provera will protect you from pregnancy for 12 weeks. So you will
need to go to your health care provider every 12 weeks for a shot. If you are two
or more weeks late getting your shot, your health care provider may ask you to take
a pregnancy test, or may advise you to use emergency contraception if you had vaginal
intercourse in the previous 120 hours (five days).
Vaginal Ring
- A small ring you put in your vagina once a month for three weeks to prevent pregnancy
- Safe, effective, and convenient
- Easy to get with a prescription
- Costs about $15–$50 a month
The vaginal ring is a small, flexible ring a woman inserts into her vagina once a month
to prevent pregnancy. It is left in place for three weeks and taken out for the remaining
week each month. The vaginal ring is commonly called NuvaRing, its brand name.
Like
other methods of birth control, NuvaRing releases hormones. Hormones are chemicals made
in our bodies. They control how different parts of our bodies work.
The hormones
in NuvaRing are the same hormones as in the birth control pill - estrogen and
progestin.
The hormones work by keeping a woman's ovaries from releasing
eggs - ovulation. Pregnancy cannot happen if there is no egg to join with sperm.
The hormones in NuvaRing also prevent pregnancy by thickening a woman's cervical mucus.
The mucus blocks sperm and keeps it from joining with an egg.
The hormones also
thin the lining of the uterus. In theory, this could prevent pregnancy by keeping a
fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus.
Many women who use the vaginal ring
have more regular, lighter, and shorter periods. And a woman's ability to become pregnant
returns quickly when use of the ring is stopped.
Because the ring works like the
pill, it probably offers the same benefits. These health benefits may include some
protection
against:
- acne
- bad menstrual cramps
- breast growths that are not cancer
- ectopic pregnancy
- endometrial and ovarian cancers - protection increases with each year of use
- iron deficiency anemia
- ovarian cysts
- pelvic inflammatory disease, which often leads to infertility when left untreated
- premenstrual symptoms, including headaches
Birth Control Patch
- A small patch that sticks to your skin to prevent pregnancy
- Safe, effective, and convenient
- Easy to get with a prescription
- Costs about $15–$50 a month
The birth control patch is a thin, beige, plastic patch that sticks to the skin. It is used
to prevent pregnancy. A new patch is placed on the skin once a week for three weeks in a
row,
followed by a patch-free week.
The birth control patch is commonly called Ortho Evra,
its brand name.
Like other methods of birth control, the birth control patch releases
hormones. Hormones are chemicals made in our bodies. They control how different parts of our
bodies work.
The hormones in the patch are the same hormones as in the birth control
pill - estrogen and progestin.
The hormones work by keeping a woman's ovaries from
releasing eggs - ovulation. Pregnancy cannot happen if there is no egg to join with sperm.
The hormones in the Ortho Evra patch also prevent pregnancy by thickening a woman's cervical
mucus. The mucus blocks sperm and keeps it from joining with an egg.
The hormones
also thin the lining of the uterus. In theory, this could prevent pregnancy by keeping a
fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus.
The IUD
- Small, "T-shaped" device inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy
- Safe, effective, and long lasting
- Must be inserted by a health care provider
The letters IUD stand for "intrauterine device." IUDs are small, "T-shaped" devices made of
flexible plastic. A health care provider inserts an IUD into a woman's uterus to prevent
pregnancy.
The Mirena IUD releases a small amount of progestin, a hormone. It is
effective for five years.
The Mirena IUDs affect the way sperm move, preventing
them from joining with an egg. If sperm cannot join with an egg, pregnancy cannot happen.
Mirena also alters the lining of the uterus.
The progestin in the Mirena IUD helps
prevent pregnancy. Progestin works by keeping a woman's ovaries from releasing eggs
(ovulation).
Pregnancy cannot happen if there is no egg to join with sperm. Progestin also prevents
pregnancy by thickening a woman's cervical mucus. The mucus blocks sperm and keeps it from
joining
with an egg.
What Are the Benefits of an IUD?
- The Mirena IUD may reduce period cramps and make your period lighter. On average, menstrual flow is reduced by 90 percent. For some women, periods stop altogether.
- IUDs can be used during breastfeeding.
- The ability to become pregnant returns quickly once the IUD is removed.