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Pros and Cons of Birth Control Every Woman Should Know

So, you don't want to get pregnant, but you want to weigh your options on doing so. What are the pros and cons of birth control options? And what is the best for you and your lifestyle, body, and relationship?

By Kelsey LangePublished 6 years ago 9 min read
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When it comes to contraception, there are a copious amount of different options to prevent pregnancy, but which is the best for you? It's always helpful to lay out the different pros and cons when you are making a decision.

It's important to remember that every woman's body is different, and with this comes preference. What might make an option for birth control perfect for you might be a deal breaker for the next. The decision should be made on your own after you are fully educated on your options. It might even take some trial and error before finding your perfect match. Here are the pros and cons of birth control.

The Pill

Pros:

According to Guttmacher Institute, the pill has been the most commonly used contraception among young women since 1982, along with female sterilization. The birth control pill works by not only preventing pregnancy, but also lightening and regulating your period, reducing menstrual cramps, and limiting your chance of getting pelvic inflammatory disease, uterine cancer, and ovarian cysts.

You can pick and choose when you get your period by changing the schedule in which you take the pill. This limits the horror story of getting your special friend on vacation or your wedding day. When taken correctly, there is 99 percent effectiveness of the pill!

Cons:

A huge con to taking birth control is that you have to take a pill every day at the same in order for it to work. So this might not be best for those who have a constantly changing schedule. There is a possibility of a slew of side effects. This can include nausea, decreased sex drive, weight changes, blood clots, vomiting, bleeding between periods, breast tenderness, and mood swings.

Certain medications can cause birth control to be less adequate as well as vomiting or diarrhea. Birth control pills are also not recommended for overweight women or women who smoke above the age of 35.

Female Condom

Advantages:

Getting into the contraceptives that are a little less talked about, the female condom. Specifically, it's a thin polyurethane guard that is placed in the vagina that stops sperm from entering. Much like the male condom, this protects both partners from STDs.

Also similar to the male condom, they are a preventative to pregnancy immediately and have no medical side effects for women like birth control pills, due to hormonal changes. If you are against contraceptives that will alter your hormones, this is a great second option for you.

Disadvantages:

With a 95 percent effective rate, it's a little less successful than the male condom. Female condoms also have the possibility of splitting or breaking. Though they don't require a prescription, they are not as easily accessible as male condoms are and they are much more expensive! This really comes down to preference and feel for you and your partner, so try out both options.

Male Condom

Ups:

Besides the 82 percent success rate in preventing pregnancy and the popularity among males and females as a choice of birth control, male condoms are the contraceptives that provide the most protection against sexually transmitted diseases and infections. Another pro for male condoms is the cost. Most condoms cost less than a dollar each (or you can find them for free) and they are easily accessible at any drug store.

This is an option to maintain birth control without seeing a doctor and with no need for a prescription. One of the best pros for condoms is that they don't affect women's hormones. You or your partner can use this source of protection right away compared to other options that might take time for the woman's body to react to in order to have protected sex.

Downs:

The cons for condoms might seem obvious. But the possibility that the condom might break, slip off, or interrupt sex to be put on can definitely put a damper on your experience. You also cannot reuse a condom and have to rely on having a new one for each sexual act. Oil-based products might break down the latex in the condom, so this is not a great option to be used if you can't let those products go. Take into consideration these pros and cons of birth control.

Contraceptive Implant

Gains:

The number one pro for a contraceptive implant is that it's 99.9 percent successful! That's pretty dang good. It's an extremely small rod that is placed under the skin in your upper arm. This rod will then release progestin and levonorgestrel that stops your ovaries from releasing an egg.

Another great aspect to this option is that it lasts three entire years after one simple operation with your local anesthetic. If you decide that the time is right to start a family your fertility remains the same after being removed.

Losses:

Not many cons to this one besides those of you who are very squeamish and couldn't bring yourself to book an appointment to go under your skin. You can also feel the rod in your arm after it's implanted, but it's not visible.

Side effects of this birth control might include acne, cervical mucus, irregular periods, or your period to stop. Though this might be a pro to this birth control to some. Remember that these pros and cons of birth control weigh into your lifestyle, timeline for pregnancy, and accessibility.

Intrauterine Device (IUD)

Benefits:

The IUD is another common choice among women who want a one time appointment. The T-shaped piece made of copper and plastic is inserted into the uterus by your doctor. This can be left in your body for up to 10 years! And can be removed whenever the time is right for you. Because the copper in the piece is what is preventing pregnancy, this does not affect your hormones, so not many side effects with this option. It's also unaffected by other medicines, like many types of contraception unfortunately can be.

Ill Effects:

The operation itself has been said to be painful or uncomfortable, though it takes only a few seconds. Cramping might remain for a few days after, however. The big con to this option is that your period might become longer and heavier as well as unwelcome cramping and spotting between periods.

The Ring

Positives:

This plastic ring is inserted into the vagina for three weeks out of the month to release hormones to prevent pregnancy. It's 91 percent successful and can even make periods lighter and more regulated. This is a popular birth control because once it's inserted for the month, you don't have to think about it until the last week where you remove it.

Negatives:

Like the birth control pill, it's not recommended for women who smoke or are overweight. It might not be something some women are comfortable with considering it has to be manually inserted. There are some reported side effects like weight gain, vaginal discomfort, breast sensitivity, painful periods, and acne. These pros and cons of birth control are important to consider with your own preferences in mind.

Contraceptive Injection

Yay:

With a 94 percent success rate, the injection lasts a total of 13 weeks. This contraceptive does not interrupt with sex and can help reduce heavy periods and even PMS (who doesn't hate PMS?!). You might even luck out and stop getting your period during the time that you are taking these injections. Just be sure to keep up with them, like any other form of BC.

Nay:

Again, this is not the option for those who might be squeamish, especially when it comes to needles. Weight gain might occur as well as unpredictable spotting between periods.

Because the injection lasts long term, these side effects are more important to pay attention to. If they do affect you, they will remain so the entirely the injection is in your body. This is also not an option women should choose if they plan on starting a family in the near future. It can take up to a year for fertility to normalize.

Intrauterine System (IUS)

Pluses:

Very similar to IUD in name and procedure, what is the difference between the two? This small T-shaped item releases hormones that mimic progestin after being inserted into the uterus by your nurse. Rather than the copper in the IUD working as a spermicide, the hormone works similar to the pill.

It's another form of contraception that does not require a thought after the procedure. Your period will also become light or might stop altogether. You can leave this in your body for up to 5 years! And it's unaffected by any medication you might be taking during this time.

Minuses:

Spotting might occur between periods or might even make your period irregular. Compared to IUS, this lasts 3-5 years rather than 5-10. There is a possibility of infection during the first 20 days preceding the insertion. Some women have complained of pain and discomfort during the procedure.

Contraceptive Patch

Good:

A square plastic patch is stuck to your skin weekly that releases estrogen and progestin. Though this is more on the uncommon side of birth control options, it remains 99 percent effective! This might require more thought than options like the IUD or contraceptive injection, but it's not as much work as the pill. This patch also regulates and lightens your period. It can even clear up your skin.

Bad:

Headaches, nausea, and mood changes are common side effects. It has been known to fall off without warning and cause skin reactions where it was placed. There aren't too many downfalls to the patch, but be sure to consider these pros and cons of birth control carefully.

Fertility Awareness

Highs:

This does not require any prescription or procedure, which means that there are no physical side effects. However, it's recommended that this is taught by a specialist. The fertility awareness method is when a woman identifies when her fertile and non-fertile days of the month are and plans her sex life accordingly. She can either choose to abstain from sex during her fertile period or use options like male or female condoms.

Women appreciate this option because they feel that it allows them to learn a lot about their body. This concept can also be used to plan a pregnancy.

Lows:

It has the least effective percentage among these options with 76 percent, which is important to factor. It might be difficult to find a healthcare specialist to help aid you with this method. If you try this on your own, this might increase the risk of pregnancy.

Also, this can cut down on the amount of sex you have in a month. It requires a bit of work logging each period and being careful to use other precautions for up to a week each month.

Though it might seem overwhelming, each of these pros and cons of birth control will help you fit what is right for your body, lifestyle, and preference.

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About the Creator

Kelsey Lange

Passionate about writing, animals, makeup, movies, friends, family, learning, exercising, and laughing!

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