Patient education: Choosing birth control (The Basics)

What is birth control? — Birth control is a term used to describe ways to prevent pregnancy. Another word for birth control is "contraception."

Different types of birth control include medicines, devices, and procedures. Some types need to be used every time you have sex. Other types can prevent pregnancy for long periods of time. Some types need a prescription, and others do not.

Which type of birth control should I choose? — There are many different types of birth control, and this is a personal decision. Your doctor or nurse can work with you to choose the type that is right for you. To help you make a decision, think about:

●How well it prevents pregnancy – No birth control works 100 percent perfectly all of the time. But some prevent pregnancy better than others.

●How often you have to use it – For example, if you choose to take birth control pills, you must take them every day. There are other types, like condoms, that you use only when you have sex.

●How easy it is to get – For some types of birth control, you need to see a doctor or nurse. You can get other types at a pharmacy, or at a health clinic like Planned Parenthood.

●How easy it is to use

●Whether it has benefits besides preventing pregnancy – For example, some types of birth control help make your periods lighter or more regular, or reduce period cramps.

●Its side effects or downsides

●How much it costs

●If you think that you might want to get pregnant in the future – Some types of birth control are permanent, meaning that they prevent you from ever getting pregnant. Other types of birth control prevent pregnancy only for a limited amount of time. After that time, you can still get pregnant.

●How soon you might want to get pregnant in the future – Some types of birth control can be started and stopped quickly. Other types can prevent pregnancy for several years.

●Whether it protects you from infection – Condoms are the only form of birth control that can reduce your chance of getting certain sexually transmitted infections ("STIs").

What are the different types of birth control, and how do they work? — Different types of birth control prevent pregnancy in different ways (table 1). Some work better than others. But they are different in other ways, too.

The main types of birth control include:

●Long-acting methods – These are forms of birth control that can prevent pregnancy for years at a time. They include intrauterine devices ("IUDs") and the implant. Some IUDs as well as the implant use hormones to prevent pregnancy.

●Permanent procedures – These make a person permanently unable to get pregnant, or get a partner pregnant. They include tubal ligation (having your "tubes tied") and vasectomy.

●Hormonal birth control – These methods use hormones to prevent pregnancy. They include pills, injections, patches, and vaginal rings.

●Condoms – These are also called a "barrier" method. They prevent sperm from getting into the uterus and reaching an egg.

●"Pericoital" methods – This refers to birth control you use at the time of sex, such as diaphragms, sponges, and spermicides. Condoms are also a type of pericoital birth control.

What about natural forms of birth control? — There are a few forms of "natural" birth control. This means that they require no medicines or devices. They include:

●Withdrawal – This is when the male partner pulls out before ejaculating.

●Fertility awareness – This involves keeping track of your monthly periods so you can predict when you are most likely to get pregnant each month. Then, you can avoid sex during that time, or use some form of birth control then, such as condoms. There are smartphone apps that can help you with tracking.

●Breastfeeding – Breastfeeding can decrease a person's ability to get pregnant. Some people use it as a form of birth control for the first few weeks after having a baby. But for it to work, breast milk should be the baby's only food. The medical term for using breastfeeding as birth control is "lactational amenorrhea method" ("LAM"). If you want to try this method, discuss it with your doctor or nurse.

These forms of birth control are less reliable than other methods. If you feel strongly that you do not want to get pregnant, or get a partner pregnant, you might want to consider other methods instead.

What if I have problems with my birth control? — Tell your doctor or nurse if you have any side effects or problems with your birth control. Sometimes, side effects go away after a few months. If they don't, you might want to switch to a different type. Your doctor or nurse can talk with you about your options.

More on this topic

Patient education: Hormonal birth control (The Basics)
Patient education: Intrauterine devices (IUDs) (The Basics)
Patient education: IUD insertion (The Basics)
Patient education: IUD removal (The Basics)
Patient education: Long-acting methods of birth control (The Basics)
Patient education: Emergency contraception (The Basics)
Patient education: Permanent birth control for women (The Basics)
Patient education: Vasectomy (The Basics)
Patient education: Barrier methods of birth control (The Basics)

Patient education: Birth control; which method is right for me? (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Hormonal methods of birth control (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Barrier and pericoital methods of birth control (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Long-acting methods of birth control (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Vasectomy (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Permanent birth control for women (Beyond the Basics)