Sex is supposed to be fun and relaxing. It can be stressful, though. In the back of your mind, you might have a lingering fear or concern about pregnancy. Those thoughts can ruin a night of romance or even a moment of passion.
Using effective birth control can sweep away those worries. You may be a bit puzzled about what type of birth control is best for you, though. Do you want or need something with hormones, or do you want to go hormone-free? Is expense a concern — isn’t it always? What about convenience? Look at these six options to find one that works best for you.
1. Pills, Patches, Shots (and Rings) — Oh My!
When it comes to birth control you take on a schedule, there’s a lot to choose from. You can even order birth control online conveniently and discretely. Based on your insurance, it can be free or you may pay up to $200.
Depending on what you choose, you’ll use it daily, monthly, or quarterly. Stick to the schedule for maximum protection. They all use estrogen, progestin, or a combination, and they’re more than 90% effective. Remember, though, you’re only getting pregnancy protection, not sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention.
All these methods can improve your acne and bone health while making your period less problematic. On the flipside, they can cause nausea, breast tenderness, and headaches.
2. Implants
If you want a set-it-and-forget-it option, a birth control implant might be for you. A doctor or nurse can implant this thin, matchstick-size rod under the skin in your upper arm. Once it’s in place, you’ll get roughly five years of 99% pregnancy protection. It can be expensive, though. It carries up to a $1,300 price tag, so be sure it fits in your budget.
Like other hormonal options, implants use progestin to halt your ovulation. An implant also changes your internal environment. Your cervical mucus gets thicker. So it’s a lot harder for your partner’s swimmers to get close to your egg if one happens to break free. With an implant, your period will be lighter. You can still get headaches, breast soreness, and nausea, though, and you won’t get any STI protection.
3. IUDs
An intrauterine device is another long-term, highly effective birth control method. During an outpatient procedure, your doctor can implant it in your uterus. Once it’s in place, it’s 99% effective and lasts for three to 12 years, depending on which device you select. Like an implant, though, it will cost you a chunk of change — up to $1,300.
With an IUD, you can choose whether you want hormones. Some release the hormone progestin slowly over several years to prevent pregnancy. Others are made of copper that simply repels sperm. Copper IUDs are also an emergency contraception option if another birth control method fails or you forget to use protection. You still won’t get any STI prevention, though.
4. Diaphragms, Cervical Caps, and Sponges
This trio has a lot of similarities. These birth control options are barriers you insert before you have sex. They’re hormone-free. You don’t have to do anything on a schedule, and they won’t require an implantation procedure. From the top, though, you should know these pregnancy protectors can move out of place at the worst moment.
The concept behind how they work is simple. You put one in a few hours before you think things might heat up. They’re basically a roadblock for your cervix. Be sure you use spermicide every time, though, just in case a few swimmers wiggle their way past. When used correctly, they can be between 85% and 90% effective. In the real world, though, you can bank on roughly 70% protection against pregnancy and none against STIs.
5. Condoms
If you’ve been waiting for added STI protection, this is it! Condoms are the only birth control method that can prevent those diseases. They’re also pretty effective at side-stepping a pregnancy.
When used perfectly, they’re 97% effective. If they’re put on wrong or late or if they don’t fit, success drops to 85%. They’re still your most affordable option, topping out around $2 per condom.
Most condoms are latex. If you have a latex allergy, though, plastic or lambskin condoms are also available. If you need lube, be sure to use one that’s water- or silicon-based. Other types can create tiny holes and tears in condoms, rendering them useless. (A quick note about lambskin condoms — they can stop sperm, but not STIs. So proceed with caution.)
6. Sterilization
Better known as getting your “tubes tied,” this birth control method is at least 99% effective and permanent. It’s a surgical procedure that either closes off or removes your fallopian tubes so your eggs can’t leave your ovaries. At roughly $6,000, it’s also the most expensive birth control option available.
Think about this choice long and hard. Don’t do it if you think you might ever want to get pregnant or if someone is pressuring you to. Alongside offering no STI protection, it also carries risks. You could develop a rash, swelling, a fever, and belly pain. Plus, if you still have your fallopian tubes, an ectopic pregnancy is possible. It’s rare, but it’s a medical emergency.
Your sex life should enjoyable. Sure, you’ll have decisions to make and things to worry about. Which birth control option to choose shouldn’t be one of those stresses. Consider these options and talk with your doctor. Find a method that makes you comfortable, and you’ll have more fun between the sheets.
