*Click here for Birth Control Charts and Stats
“Birth control is the use of various devices, drugs, agents, sexual practices, or surgical procedures to prevent conception or pregnancy.”1
The Pill and condoms are among the many ways women keep from getting pregnant.
Vasectomies (for men) and tubal ligation (woman’s tubes tied) are among the surgical methods to prevent births. Also used are abstinence (not having male / female intercourse) and “pulling out” or the withdrawal method are among the device-free methods. There are also spermicides and female-inserted devices like the cervical cap and diaphragm.
Many birth control options have their pros and cons such as effectiveness and potential downsides.
The sourced articles below should provide more information on the many birth control options on the market and from a healthcare professional.
Footnote: 1. medicalnewstoday.com, 2/26/2018
- Is The Shot Or The Pill Better For Birth Control?
“According to the Office on Women’s Health, the effectiveness rates of the shot and the pill are slightly different:
-About 6 out of every 100 women who have the shot will become pregnant within the first year.
-About 9 out of every 100 women who take the pill will become pregnant within the first year.
If someone does not get the shot as regularly as every 3 months, they have a greater likelihood of becoming pregnant. Likewise, if a person misses a pill or takes it later than the ideal time, this could make the pill less effective.”Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA, Reviewed by Holly Ernst, PA-C, medicalnewstoday.com, 3/15/2019
- A Genetic Mutation Might Explain Why Birth Control Can Fail
“‘The biggest takeaway is that we’ve assumed for so long that if a woman taking birth control gets pregnant, then she must have done something wrong,’ says Aaron Lazorwitz, an ob-gyn and lead author on the study. ‘Instead, maybe we need to pay more attention as physicians to other things that might be going on, like genetics, so we can give better, more individualized treatment to women instead of just blindly adhering to the motto that if you just throw some hormones at it, that usually fixes the problem.'”
Megan Molteni, wired.com, 3/12/2019
- All About Birth Control Methods
“Birth control is how you prevent pregnancy before it begins. There are lots of different methods that work really well and are easy to use. So, ready to stop worrying about pregnancy? We’re here to help you figure it all out.”
Planned Parenthood Federation of America, plannedparenthood.org, accessed on 7/11/2018
- Female Condom
“Female condoms help protect you from STDs. Use another birth control method with your female condom for even more pregnancy preventing power.”
Planned Parenthood Federation of America, plannedparenthood.org, 7/11/2018
- Male Birth Control Pill Passes A Safety Test
“The researchers will soon launch a three-month clinical study to test sperm counts in men taking the drug. If those results are good, the pill will be tested by couples as contraception.”
Aimee Cunningham, sciencenews.org, 3/21/2018
- What Types Of Birth Control Are There?
“A range of devices and treatments are available for both men and women that can help prevent pregnancy.”
Christian Nordqvist, Reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, APRN, medicalnewstoday.com, Last updated 2/26/2018
- What Are The Best And Worst Birth Control Options?
“The most popular forms of birth control in the United States, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, are oral contraception, tubal ligation (having your tubes tied), and condoms.”
Marie Suszynski, Reviewed by Kacy Church, MD, everydayhealth.com, updated 11/7/2017
- How Effective Are Birth Control Methods?
“The best way to reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy among women who are sexually active is to use effective birth control correctly and consistently.”
Online Resource, cdc.gov, 2/9/2017; (Broken link removed 12/2024)
- Does Some Birth Control Raise Depression Risk? That’s Complicated
“The study, which was conducted in Denmark and published in JAMA Psychiatry, analyzed 14 years’ worth of health data for more than 1 million women from national healthcare systems and databases not available in most other countries.”
Tara Haelle, npr.org, 10/9/2016
- Do Condoms Impair Erotic Sensitivity?
“Condoms are no ‘shower in a raincoat,’ but a shower with a ring on one finger.”
Michael Castleman, MA, psychologytoday.com, 5/15/2015