Birth Control

Source: https://www.waverlyhealthcenter.org/incontrol/

In the age of technology, birth control has become safe, efficient, effective, sustainable, and affordable. This is because there are many different types of birth control that are available to the consumer.

Roughly, here is a short list of birth control types (source).

  • Not Having Sex
    • 100% effective
  • Withdraw (Pull-Out) Method
    • Up to 78% effective
    • Use every time
  • Natural Family Planning
    • 76-97% effective
    • Use daily
  • Condom – fits over erect penis and catches sperm when the man “comes”
    • 82-98% effective
    • Use every time
  • Female Condom – a soft, plastic pouch put inside the vagina catches the sperm
    • Up to 79% effective
    • Use every time
  • Birth Control Sponge – the sponge blocks sperm from the uterus
    • Up to 76% effective
    • Use every time
  • Spermicide – a chemical put in the vagina right before sex to stop sperm from entering the uterus
    • Up to 71% effective
    • Use every time
  • Pill – birth control pills have hormones that prevent ovulation and makes cervical mucus thicker
    • 91-99% effective
    • Take daily
  • Ring – the birth control ring has hormones that prevent ovulation and makes cervical mucus thicker
    • 91-99% effective
    • Replace monthly
  • Cervical Cap – the cervical cap stops sperm from entering the uterus
    • Up to 71% effective
    • Use every time
  • Diaphragm – small rubber cup fits inside vagina, over cervix (opening to the womb)
    • 88-94% effective
    • Use every time
  • Patch – the birth control patch has hormones that prevent ovulation and makes cervical mucus thicker
    • 91-99% effective
    • Replace weekly
  • Shot – the shot has artificial hormones, which prevents ovulation and makes cervical mucus thicker
    • 94-99% effective
    • Get every 3 months
  • Intrauterine Device, also known as IUD – a small piece of flexible plastic, shaped like a T, that is inserted in the uterus. IUDs don’t allow sperm to get to an egg.
    • More than 99% effective
    • Lasts 3-10 years
  • Implant – a tiny thin rod placed under the skin of your upper arm that releases the hormone progestin, which prevents ovulation and makes cervical mucus thicker
    • More than 99% effective
    • Lasts 3 years
  • Tubal Ligation – a surgical procedure for women that cuts or blocks the fallopian tubes
    • More than 99% effective
    • Permanent
  • Vasectomy – an in-office procedure for men that cuts and seals the tubes that carry sperm into the semen
    • More than 99% effective
    • Permanent

Since over-the-counter options tend to be well-known and popular, I shan’t discuss them any further.

On top of this list that was discussed by Waverly Health Centre, I am also adding abortion to the list of birth control options. While abortion remains a hotly contested moral issue, information on the possibilities of terminating a pregnancy is always helpful to have.