Tips On Choosing The Right Birth Control

Birth control is not one size fits all. There are many different types that do different things. Pills, patches, rings, the shot, and IUDs. There are many things to consider so here are tips on choosing the right birth control.

Be Honest With Yourself

Pills: Are you really going to remember to take your pill every day at the same time? I know that I am a very forgetful person so the pill is not an option for me. If I were to go on the pill and I missed a dose, I would freak out and I have other things to worry about than a pregnancy scare.

The Patch: Are you ok with replacing the patch every week?

The Ring: Are you sure you want to be responsible for placing a plastic ring full of hormones inside yourself once a month?

The Shot: Are you ok with needles? Fortunately, you only get this shot once every three months.

Can You Tolerate the Side Effects?

Pills: According to Mayclinic.org the side effects can include “irregular bleeding, bloating, breast tenderness, nausea, depression, weight gain, and headache.”

The Patch: According to Xulane.com side effects can include “acne, less sexual desire, bloating or fluid retention, blotchy darkening of your skin, especially your face, high blood sugar, especially in women with diabetes, high fat (cholesterol, triglycerides) levels in the blood, depression, especially if you have had depression in the past, problems tolerating contact lenses, and weight gain.”

The Ring: According to Nuvaring.com side effects can include “tissue irritation inside your vagina or on your cervix, headache (including migraine), mood changes (including depression, especially if you had depression in the past), the ring slipping out or causing discomfort, nausea and vomiting, vaginal discharge, weight gain, vaginal discomfort, breast pain, discomfort, or tenderness, painful menstrual periods, abdominal pain, acne, and less sexual desire.”

The Shot: According to Pfizermedicalinformation.com side effects can include “irregular vaginal bleeding, such as lighter or heavier menstrual bleeding, or continued spotting, weight gain, abdominal pain, headache, weakness, tiredness, nervousness, and dizziness.”

IUD’s: According to Plannedparenthood.org side effects can include “pain when the IUD is put in, cramping or backaches for a few days after the IUD is put in, spotting between periods, irregular periods, heavier periods and worse menstrual cramps (ParaGard).

Getting Your Period: Yay or Nay?

If you are like me, you think periods are a pain, literally and figuratively. If you have painful heavy periods, or you think they’re just a nuisance, there are options. There are some birth control methods that lighten your period, and then after a while, stops it completely.

IUD’s: Liletta, Kyleena, Mirena, and Skyla

Pills: Lybrel

The Shot: About 50% of women stop getting their period after the first year.

Implant (Nexplanon): About a third of women stop getting their period after a year.

The Ring: According to Webmd.com “Hormones released by this small, flexible ring stop eggs from leaving your ovaries much like oral contraceptives do. You put the ring into your vagina and wear it for 3 weeks in a row. You take it out in the 4th week; that’s usually when you get your period. But you can stop your period if you wear it for week 3, take it out, and put in a new one.”

Long-Term or Short-Term?

How long do you want to prevent pregnancy? Some birth control methods let you get pregnant almost immediately after you stop them. Methods such as hormone IUD’s prevent pregnancy for 3-6 years. The copper IUD lasts up to 12 years. The shot lasts for 3 months, however, it may take 10 months or longer to get pregnant after you stop this method.

What are some tips you’d like to add to help our fellow women contemplating birth control? Let us know in the comments below.

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