What is birth control?

Birth control, also known as contraception or family planning, prevents pregnancy through methods like intrauterine devices (IUDs), implants, the pill, and condoms. Although no birth control method is 100% effective, some methods, like implants or IUDs, are low maintenance and can help reduce pregnancy chances. If you have already had a baby, use birth control until you’re ready for the next one, waiting at least 18 months between giving birth and getting pregnant again to allow your body to recover from one pregnancy.

How Effective is Birth Control?

Birth control, also called contraception, is a safe and reliable way to prevent pregnancy when you’re not ready to have children. There are many different methods available, each with its level of effectiveness, benefits, and drawbacks. Here’s a breakdown to help you understand your options:

Effectiveness:

Birth control methods are rated by their effectiveness in preventing pregnancy. Two key terms you’ll encounter are:

  • Perfect use: This refers to using the method exactly as directed every single time you have sex.
  • Typical use: This takes into account that people might forget to take a pill or use a condom correctly sometimes.

Birth Control Options

  1. Condoms-In order to prevent a pregnancy, there are condoms available both for men as well as women. These not only perform the primary function but also prevent the passing of infections and diseases, such as STDs and HIV. Women can now get better birth control by using the condom in the best way.
  2. Diaphragm-This is a flexible cup that needs to be placed in the vagina for blocking the sperm from entering the uterus. A woman may have to visit the doctor to check if any holes have developed in the cup at least once every 1 or 2 years. The better the fit of the cup, the higher the chances will be of preventing a pregnancy.
  3. Pills-  A wide range of birth control pills have been developed to prevent pregnancies. A woman can pick the progestin ones or even those that combine estrogen and progestin. Additionally, they also help in reducing the pain experienced during menstruation, decrease symptoms of premenstrual symptoms, and make the flow of periods lighter too.
  4. Patch Vs Ring-Patch is a small plastic piece to be placed on the torso, buttock, arm, and stomach to be replaced weekly. A ring is a flexible device (small in size) that needs to be placed in the vagina for about three weeks. These work quite similar to the effect of pills, but are comparatively quite convenient. Its continuous usage has not resulted in any sort of side effects so far. However, one should opt for these after a proper consultation with a gynecologist.
  5. A hormone Injection woman can get a hormone injection from an experienced doctor or gynecologist to prevent pregnancy for three months with just one injection.
  6. Intrauterine Device-The Intrauterine Device also known as IUD is a plastic piece in the shape of T and is inserted in the uterus by a doctor. The copper IUDs can be retained inside for about twelve years while the IUDs including hormones can be left inside for about five years. The choice is to be made by the concerned woman.
  7. Implantation of Hormones is a form of contraception, which includes progestin and is inserted right under the skin of the upper arm by a doctor. It is a piece of plastic approximately matchstick size, which prevents pregnancy for about three years.
  8. Fertility Awareness a woman keeps the right track of her menstrual cycle, cervical mucus, and body temperature, she may well know when to use birth control. This means no worry about prescriptions or hormones for preventing pregnancy.

Does birth control stop your period?

Delaying or skipping a menstrual cycle can be due to severe symptoms, travel, or personal events, but it is generally safe to do so. Birth control, including hormonal IUDs, combo pills, shots, vaginal rings, and implants, can potentially decrease or even stop a period. However, it is not guaranteed, especially in terms of reproductive health. Some birth control methods may result in a nonexistent or barely-there period over time, but some people will continue to get their period regardless of the type of birth control used.

 

Conclusion At such a time when a woman desires to use any of these or other birth control measures, it is quite essential for her to check with her doctor. A few methods may not be suitable to her keeping in mind her medical history and others may also pose a risk to her health. Hence, no woman should blindly follow any advice. Be smart, read, and gather information, approach the family doctor, and implement the most suitable options for birth control.