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One method of birth control isn't right for everyone -- thank goodness there are more options available than ever before.
Birth Control Pill
By National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association
The facts:
Birth control pills contain hormones that prevent pregnancy. The pills are taken every day. There are two types of birth control pills -- pills that combine the hormones estrogen and progestin and progestin-only pills. Birth control pills do not protect you from HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases.How well it works: Very effective in preventing pregnancy, with effectiveness rates as high as 99 percent, if taken every day at about the same time. The effectiveness depends on how consistently the pills are taken.
Pros:
- Very effective in preventing pregnancy and provide continuous pregnancy protection while you are taking the pills.
- Regularizes menstrual cycles and can relieve severe cramps and heavy bleeding.
- Protects against ovarian and endometrial cancers, ovarian cysts, benign breast lumps, pelvic inflammatory disease and iron deficiency anemia.
- Progestin-only pills are safe to use while breastfeeding.
Cons:
- Does not protect you from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
- It can be hard to remember to take a pill each day.
- Side effects may include nausea, bleeding between periods, headaches, breast tenderness, weight gain, mood changes or changes in your sex drive.
- Not recommended for women with heart problems or high blood pressure, or those over age 35 who smoke.
Where to get it:
Visit your health care provider or a family planning clinic. Birth control pills require a prescription.
Cost:
Birth control pills ordinarily require an initial (and then yearly) visit with a clinician, which can cost from $50 to $150. A month of combined oral contraceptive pills generally costs between $20 and $35. A month of progestin-only pills costs about $30. Medicaid and some private health insurance plans cover most or some of these costs. Many family planning clinics provide services and supplies free or on a sliding scale, based on your income.
Cervical Cap
The facts:
The cervical cap is a barrier method that a woman inserts into her vagina before sex. It is a shallow cap made of soft, latex rubber that prevents pregnancy by creating a barrier over the cervix and holding spermicide against the cervix. This method provides only limited, if any, protection from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
How to get it work:
About 80 percent effective in preventing pregnancy in women who have not already had children and 60 percent effective in preventing pregnancy in women who have had children.
Pros:
- Does not contain hormones.
- Does not require direct involvement of the male partner.
- Does not interrupt intercourse.
- Few health risks or side effects are associated with cervical caps
Cons:
- Provides only limited, if any, protection from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
- Not as effective in preventing pregnancy as other birth control methods such as the male condom, the birth control pill or the shot.
- Requires action before or during and after sex, and can be difficult to insert.
- Side effects may include increased urinary tract infections, allergic reactions to latex or irritation from spermicides.
Where to get it:
Visit your health care provider or a family planning clinic to get a cervical cap.
Cost:
Cervical caps require an initial visit with a clinician, which can cost from $50 to $150. The cap itself lasts for about a year and costs approximately $30 to $40. Tubes of spermicidal creams, jellies and foam and packages of suppositories that are used along with the cap cost from $8 to $17. Medicaid and some private health insurance plans may cover most or some of these costs. Many family planning clinics provide services and supplies free or on a sliding scale, based on your income.
Condom
The facts:
The condom is a thin sheath that fits over an erect penis. It is made of latex, polyurethane, Tactylon or natural membranes ("lambskin" condoms). By creating a physical barrier that prevents semen from entering the vagina, the male condom is very effective in preventing pregnancy. Latex and polyurethane condoms (but not condoms made of natural membranes, which contain microscopic holes) also act as a barrier to the viruses and bacteria that cause sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV
How to get it work:
Very effective in preventing pregnancy, with effectiveness rates as high as 97 percent, if used correctly.
Pros:
- Provides excellent protection against HIV and some protection against other sexually transmitted diseases.
- Widely sold at pharmacies and grocery stores, does not require a prescription and is inexpensive.
- Very few health risks or side effects.
Cons:
- A small percentage of people are allergic to latex or to spermicides used to lubricate some condoms. Those allergic to latex can use polyurethane condoms, while those allergic to spermicides can use non-lubricated condoms.
- Some men complain that using a condom reduces their pleasure, but others find that condoms enable them to maintain an erection longer.
Where to get it:
Can be purchased over-the-counter without a prescription at drug stores.
Cost:
Condoms vary in cost. Latex condoms can be found for less than $1 each. Non-latex condoms are more expensive. Many health centers and clinics give condoms away for free.
Diaphragm
The facts:
The diaphragm is a shallow cap made of soft, latex rubber that prevents pregnancy by creating a barrier over the cervix and holding spermicide against it. A woman inserts a diaphragm into her vagina before having sex. Diaphragms provide only limited, if any, protection from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
How to get it work:
About 80 percent effective in preventing pregnancy.
Pros:
- Does not alter a woman's hormone patterns.
- Does not require direct involvement of the male partner.
- Does not interrupt intercourse.
- Once in place, provides effective contraceptive protection for six hours.
Cons:
- Provides only limited, if any, protection from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
- Not as effective in preventing pregnancy as other birth control methods such as the male condom, the birth control pill or the shot.
- Requires action before or during and after sex, and can be difficult to insert.
- Side effects may include increased urinary tract infections, allergic reactions to latex or irritation from spermicides.
Where to get it:
Visit your health care provider or a family planning clinic to get a diaphragm.
Cost:
Diaphragms can cost from $50 to $150. They last for about two years and cost from $40 to $60. Tubes of spermicidal creams, jellies and foam and packages of suppositories cost from $8 to $17. Medicaid and some private health insurance plans may cover most or some of these costs. Many family planning clinics provide services and supplies free or on a sliding scale, based on your income.
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Birth Control Patch
The facts:
The birth control patch (also called "the patch") releases the hormones progestin and estrogen through the skin into the bloodstream to prevent pregnancy. An alternative to birth control pills, the thin, beige, one-and-three-quarter-inch square clings to your skin like a band-aid. The patch should be applied to the lower abdomen, buttocks or upper torso, excluding the breasts. It is worn for a week at a time and is changed on the same day of the week for three consecutive weeks. The fourth week is "patch-free," when a user should experience her period.
How to get it work:
99 percent effective when used correctly -- comparable to birth control pills.
Pros:
- Extremely effective in preventing pregnancy.
- Much easier for many women to use the patch rather than the pill -- it's more convenient to change a patch once a week rather than remember to take a pill every day. (Most of the reported seven percent failure rate of oral contraceptives is due to missed pills.)
- Remains effective when a woman changes it at any time on her weekly "patch change day."
- Can be worn on different parts of the body and remains attached and effective while bathing, swimming, exercising or in humid conditions. Thin enough to be worn discreetly beneath clothing.
Cons:
- Does not provide protection from sexually transmitted diseases.
- Contains hormones similar to those found in birth control pills, causing many of the same side effects, such as breast discomfort, headache, moodiness and nausea. Additional side effects can include upper respiratory infection, menstrual cramps and abdominal pain.
- Seems to be less effective for women weighing over 198 pounds.
- Women who use the patch are strongly advised not to smoke, as doing so can increase the risk of severe cardiovascular effects.
- Not recommended for women who have blood clots, certain cancers, a history of heart attack or stroke, and those who are or may be pregnant.
Where to get it:
Available by prescription.
Cost:
The monthly cost of the patch, if not covered by insurance, is similar to that of birth control pills (approximately $30 to $35).
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