Guide to Different Types of Birth Control

Babies are a bundle of joy and blessing to everyone who has one. However, if you are not in the right place in your life, having a baby can be a bad decision. Depending on you stage of life, it will dictate what method of birth control you use.

If you are going to want to have a child in the foreseeable future, you may want to consider a temporary form of birth control that is immediately reversible.

Temporary/Reversible

-Condoms are a latex sheath that is placed over the male's penis to prevent semen from entering the vagina during sex.

-Diaphragms are a cup that is placed inside the vagina to prevent semen from entering the cervix.

-Natural Family Planning is monitoring your basal body temperature, cervical mucus and position to pinpoint your fertile period. Abstaining from sex at this time is supposed to prevent pregnancy. If you are going to utilize this method as birth control, get instruction from a professional.

-Abstinence is refraining from having sex.

If you are not looking to conceive in the near future, you may look for a more convenient method of birth control. These generally work by altering the hormones within your body.

Hormones

-The Birth Control Pill acts by putting your body in a chemically pregnant state. By altering your hormone levels, it prevents ovulation from taking place.

-Depo-provera is a shot given to you by your doctor which works to prevent ovulation. It is important to note that it can take a significant period of time to become pregnant after the shot so if you are wanting to conceive in the near future, depo is not for you.

- IUD (or variations such as ring) are implanted in the uterus or at the base at the cervix and emit hormones acting similar to birth control. They are easily inserted and removed by your primary care physician.

If you already have children, you may want a permanent form of birth control to prevent any unplanned pregnancies. These are surgical procedures and are generally irreversible.

Permanent

-Hysterectomies are the removal of the female reproductive tract.

-Tubal ligation is when they severe the fallopian tubes in order to prevent fertilization

-A vasectomy is when you sterilize a male.

There may be a situation where you are dealing with an unexpected pregnancy and are not in a position to have a child.

After the fact*

-Plan B is a pill that you take after intercourse to prevent conception from taking place.

-Abortion is a medical procedure to force a miscarriage.

-Adoption is legally giving up your child and parental rights to another individual.

*I'm not going to argue the morals or religious implications. This article is about medical procedures and avenues you can take when dealing with your reproductive health.