Did you know that nearly half of pregnancies every year in the United States are unplanned?
Chances are you or someone you know have had an unplanned pregnancy. With millions of pregnancies in the
United States every year, unplanned pregnancies are incredibly common. For those individuals who want
more control over if and when they get pregnant, there are many options, Not all birth control
are the same and understanding the differences can help someone decide which method is right for them.
But remember, condoms are the only way to prevent sexually transmitted infections and can be used
in combination with other methods. In this video we will cover some common questions about birth
control.
How well does birth control work?
Nothing is a hundred percent, however, some methods do work better than others.
When choosing a method it's important to understand how well the method works at preventing pregnancy.
We call this effectiveness. This tells us how many people successfully prevent pregnancy in the first year of using the method.
This number can be different for someone using their birth control perfectly, compared to the real world where people don't always use it perfectly, like forgetting to take your pill.
Let's take a look at condoms to better understand these numbers.
Condoms are 98% effective with perfect use What this means is that for someone who
uses the condom correctly every single time they have sex and it doesn't break,
two out of every 100 people will still have a pregnancy by the end of one year. However in
the real world, with typical use, where condoms aren't always used consistently or properly,
13 out of every 100 people who use condoms as their only form of birth control, will have a
pregnancy at the end of one year. The more often the person using the method has to do something,
the more of a difference between perfect and typical use we see. For the iud or implant once you
get the device placed by your health care provider you don't have to do anything to be sure that you
are using it correctly. We call this forgettable contraception and perfect use and typical use are
both 99%. Or only 1 out of every 100 people having an unplanned pregnancy when using this method.
Although these methods can be used for three to twelve years, when you want to become
pregnant or just stop using the device, your healthcare provider can remove it at any time.
Are there non-hormonal options for birth control?
Yes, there are. The most effective non-hormonal option is the copper iud it's over 98 percent effective
and can last about 10 to 12 years.
Other non-hormonal methods include condoms, diaphragm, and fertility awareness.
These have higher chances of pregnancy, so are better options for those who want to reduce the chance
of pregnancy but also wouldn't mind so much if they got pregnant. These methods also can be used
in combination to lower the chances of pregnancies like using condoms with fertility awareness.
The fertility awareness method involves tracking your menstrual cycle, temperature, and maybe your
cervical mucus to determine on which days you are fertile, or in other words most likely to
get pregnant. On these days you either use condoms or avoid sex to minimize the chances of getting
pregnant. This method may be a good choice for those who have regular periods that are 26 to
32 days apart, and have the discipline needed to abstain or use condoms during the fertile days.
Does birth control cause weight gain?
This is a very common worry for many people
while any hormonal method could cause weight gain, studies show that significant weight gain is rare.
The exception to this is the injection or the shot. A small number of people who use the shot will
gain some weight over time. Although weight gain can be controlled or decreased through healthy
eating and exercise, weight gain is a reason some people will choose to switch their birth control method.
Does hormonal birth control increase my chances of getting cancer?
The simple answer to this is no. In fact many types of birth control can actually help lower your chances of getting
certain cancers. The pill, patch, ring, and iud reduce your risk of ovarian and uterine cancer.
And the pill may lower your chances of colorectal cancer and does not appear to increase your
chances of breast cancer.
Will birth control affect my ability to get pregnant in the future?
Birth control does not affect your ability to get pregnant in the future the exception to
this rule is permanent contraception like a tubal ligation or removal of the tubes
or a procedure like vasectomy. These forms of birth control are not reversible.
But, for other forms of birth control that are reversible fertility normally returns very
quickly after stopping birth control. There's also no indication that you need to wait a
certain amount of time before trying to conceive after stopping your method. It is normal once you
stop birth control to take several months to get pregnant. If you're planning a pregnancy be sure
to take a prenatal vitamin and see your provider to optimize your health prior to pregnancy.
There are so many types of birth control how do I choose the one that's right for me?
There are many factors to consider when choosing your birth control. One important factor is how effective each option is
and many people will choose the most effective option like the iud or implant. Another factor to
consider is whether you want an option that you have to remember every day, every week, or every
month or if you would rather not have to think about your birth control. If you are confident in
your ability to take something consistently the pill, patch, or ring may be good options.
If you would rather not have to do something consistently long acting options like the iud
or implant might be a good choice. There are other important things to consider like changes that
could occur with your period or other possible side effects. Your overall health can also impact
which methods are right for you. Choosing your birth control is a very personal decision. There
is no one size fits all so be sure to talk with your healthcare provider about what matters to you.