Contraceptive Options
Choosing a birth control method is one of the most personal health care decisions a woman makes. In nearly four decades of childbearing years, your need for birth control will most likely change many times. But at each life stage, you can make informed decisions by learning about all your contraceptive options and selecting one or more that best fits your reproductive health needs.
Many women are not adequately protected from an unwanted pregnancy by their choice of birth control method. In fact, about half of all pregnancies (49 percent) are unplanned. Of these unplanned pregnancies, more than half (53 percent) of the women were using some form of birth control, reports the Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI), a non-profit organization that focuses on reproductive health research.
According to AGI, there are two main reasons for contraceptive failure. One is inconsistency—for example, forgetting to take your birth control pills or not using a condom every time you have sex. The other is incorrect use of contraception—for example, not inserting a diaphragm the right way or not using enough spermicide.
Myths or personal concerns about the risks and safety of certain birth control options also contribute to incorrect use of birth control. Women may use a particular method only occasionally, for example, thinking that less frequent use is safer than continuous use. Or they may stop using a particular method because of bothersome side effects.
Age-related changes can lead women to believe they no longer need to use contraception. For example, women nearing menopause may mistakenly think they are no longer fertile because their menstrual cycles are no longer regular. However, the AGI notes that as many as half of all pregnancies that occur in women over age 40 are unintended. Although menopause does mark the end of a woman’s childbearing years, you have not gone through “menopause” until 12 consecutive months without a period. You can get pregnant even if your periods are irregular.
Today, American women have more contraceptive options to choose from than ever before. So you should be able to find one that works well for you and fits your lifestyle.
Other things to consider before making a contraception choice:
- Find out how much the contraceptive costs. Do you have to pay for it all at once or can the cost be spread out over a year? Will your health insurance cover it?
- Ask yourself if you can realistically use this method. Are you sure you understand how to use it properly? Will this method embarrass you or your partner? Does it fit with your lifestyle?
- Find out how to use the method correctly and what to do if you forget to use it occasionally.
- Ask your health care professional about side effects. What should you expect? What should you do about them if they occur and when should you expect them to stop?
- Will this method cause any unacceptable weight gain?
You can probably think of many more questions about the birth control method you’re currently using or one you’re considering. Learn as much as you can about your options and make an informed decision about which method is the best and safest for you. Consider your needs and discuss them with your health care professional during your next medical appointment.
To get you started, here is some basic information about contraceptive options approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and resources you can use for more in-depth research. For a comparison of how effective each type of contraception is for preventing pregnancy, please see the chart, “Contraceptive Failure Rates” at the end of this entry.
Information taken from www.healthywomen.org
