Various Forms of Birth Control

Today, American woman, and yes, even men, have a larger choice of birth control options than ever before. In actuality, with the ease and prevalence and availability of birth control, from the inexpensive all the way up to the invasive and expensive options, there is truly no reason, barring medical complication or strong religious standards why a woman would become pregnant if she truly did not want to, short of irresponsibility or lack of knowledge.

With free health clinics, sliding scale birth control providers, county health departments giving away free condoms, and a wealth of information readily available, the best way to choose a birth control option is to become informed. This article will explore the various forms of birth control available today, and provide information about each option. Still, your best bet for being informed is to consult with your health care practitioner to truly discover the best option for you.

The Rhythm Method

This is one of the oldest forms of birth control, simply because it does not require any devices or medications, and uses a form of abstinence in order to prevent pregnancy. A woman's fertile cycle only lasts a surprisingly short 3-5 days maximum during each month in which time she is able to become pregnant. The other 25 or so days, she is not fertile or able to become pregnant.

The premise of the rhythm method of birth control is that a couple abstains from sexual intercourse during the time that the woman would be most likely to be fertile. This period of time is calculated by using the calendar to mark the menstrual cycle as well as taking the woman's temperature and gauging it over the monthly cycle to determine when she is actually fertile. Today, there are even ovulation kits available to purchase to determine if a woman is able to become pregnant on any given day. While these are usually used to help with fertility planning to assist a couple in becoming pregnant, they can be used for the rhythm method of birth control.

This method is a highly effective form of birth control only if you are accurately calculating the woman's fertile period. Unfortunately, this method has an average failure rate of 25 out of every 100 couples for preventing pregnancy, because this calculating method is difficult to determine.

Spermacide

Nonoxynol-9 is the most commonly known spermacide, and it comes in jelly, foam, contraceptive insert (like suppositories) and other forms, and it is generally inserted into the vagina. The purpose is to kill the sperm, prior to the sperm being able to enter the cervix. While spermacides can be effective, they probably have the lowest effective rate of all birth control methods, and it is recommended that spermacides be used in addition to other forms of birth control, especially barrier method birth control, such as condoms and diaphragms.

Spermacides do not protect against STDs.

Condoms

The condom is likely the oldest form of man-made birth control, dating back to as early as 1000 BC, and documented proof of a use of a modern-day styled condom as far back as 100 AD. There are now two general forms of condoms available: male condoms and female condoms.

Both types of condoms provide a barrier sheath, which does not allow the penis or any ejaculate fluid to come in contact with anything, and thus prevents pregnancy. The failure rate of the condom is stated around 12-15%, but this is mostly due to user error. When used properly, statistics state the condom is at least 97% effective in prevention of pregnancy, as well as aiding in preventing STDs.

The Pill

Many people don't realize that the birth control pill is a relatively new invention, having only been available to the public in America since the early 1960s. While all birth control pills work by altering hormonal balances in some way, there are many different types of birth control pills available on the market, and there are many different types of hormones or a combination of hormones, in the pill as the active ingredients.

What the birth control pill essentially does is prevent ovulation, as well as thickening the lining around the cervix, making it more difficult for sperm to enter. It is important to note that the birth control pill is not 100% effective, with a failure rate of as high as 8 accidental pregnancies out of every 100 women using the pill for birth control. The majority of these 'failures' are thought to be attributed to user error, and not a malfunction of the birth control pill itself.

The birth control pill does not offer any protection against STDs and for some women, the birth control pill is not a viable option, due to potential side effects, some of which include: weight gain, irregular bleeding, blog clotting issues, high blood pressure, and others.

Intra Uterine Device (IUD)

The IUD has a rather checkered history, and many women and even some health professionals are hesitant to use the IUD for pregnancy prevention if other methods of birth control are available and viable to the women.

The IUD is a device inserted through the cervix and into the uterus, and is usually good for anywhere from 1-10 years, depending on the type of IUD used. At one time, the IUD was made of metal material, which caused some adverse reactions in some women, including permanent sterility, and the old style IUD has been accused of being involved in some women's deaths.

The modern style IUD is no longer a metal device, but the idea of the IUD is still not a popular one. The IUD does have the potential to cause scaring, and therefore, may cause discomfort or sterility in a woman after the IUD has been removed, though admittedly, this is rare.

The IUD has an effectiveness percentage of around 99% effective in preventing pregnancy, but does not prevent STDs.

The Patch

The birth control patch is one of the newest forms of birth control on the scene, and it has come with much controversy. The safety of the patch has recently come into question, because it has become apparent that in some women, the side effects of the patch, similar to those of the pill, are more prevalent among patch wearers than with women who take the pill.

Essentially, the patch works about the same way the pill does, except the woman wears the patch on her skin, where the hormones are slow-released through the skin into the bloodstream. The positive part of the patch is that the woman doesn't have to remember to take a pill every day. The negative is the potential to forget the patch is being worn, to wear more than one, or to accidentally remove the patch and not realize this has occurred. However, the manufacturer states that the patch can be worn while showering, bathing, swimming, exercising and more.

The patch does not provide any protection against STDs, and have about the same effectiveness rating as the birth control pill.

The Sponge

One of the most popular over-the-counter birth control devices of the 1980s, the sponge was removed from the market due to a high incidence of toxic shock syndrome, due mostly to the woman's failure to remove the sponge at the recommended time. The sponge has the potential to hold bacteria and other harmful particles, and should be removed at the time recommended by the manufacture on the package instructions.

The birth control sponge was so popular in the 80s and early 90s that the sitcom Seinfeld even had an episode about it. Today, the sponge is once again available over the counter and through doctor's prescription.

The sponge has a two fold method of birth control pregnancy prevention. First, it provides a polyurethane barrier between the sperm and the cervix, and secondly, it uses the most popular spermacide, nonoxynol-9, to kill sperm before they could enter the cervix. When used properly, the sponge has up to a 91% effectiveness rate, but when adding in user failure, the sponge's effectiveness rate is reduced to about 87%.

The sponge does not provide any protection against STDs.

NuvaRing

In a society that seems to be focused on convenience, we find all sorts of new inventions to make life a bit less complicated. Taking a pill every morning is too much for many to remember, so the next birth control method that comes on the scene is the NuvaRing. The NuvaRing is a once monthly, vaginally inserted flexible ring the provides a low dose of the same hormone that is found in the birth control pill.

The side effects of the NuvaRing are nearly identical to those of the birth control pill, but the makers of the NuvaRing state that the hormonal highs and lows that are problematic with daily or weekly birth control are not present with this type of birth control.

Once inserted, the vaginal walls and muscles will hold the NuvaRing in place for 21 days out of the month, and then the woman removes the ring for 7 days before inserting a new ring. The NuvaRing boasts an impressive 99% effectiveness against pregnancy, with a low incidence of user failure, and the most common failure is simply forgetting to remove the ring or forgetting to reinsert the ring or a new ring after it has been removed.

The NuvaRing provides no protection against STDs.

Tubal Ligation

This is a bit more invasive form of birth control, and while sometimes it is reversible, a woman should truly consider if she is completely comfortable with the idea of not being able to become pregnant. The tubal ligation can indeed be permanent in some women, and this should be taking into consideration before the procedure is performed.

Now, this type of birth control method is nearly 100% effective (99.5%), assuming the physician performed the procedure properly. You may have heard someone say, "She got her tubes tied…" and this is essentially what is known as the tubal ligation.

With a tubal ligation, a small incision is made in the abdomen and the fallopian tubes are then 'burned' or clipped, in order to prevent the egg from traveling down the fallopian tube and being sterilized. Sometimes the fallopian tube is actually cut and then cauterized on each end.

Tubal ligation is relatively safe, but because it is a surgical procedure, there are risks involved. The tubal ligation does not prevent STDs.

Elective Hysterectomy

This is a major surgical procedure, and therefore, all risks of surgery must be strongly considered prior to choosing an elective hysterectomy. Many doctors will not perform an elective hysterectomy, unless there is strong evidence of cervical or uterine cancer in the patient's family.

One of the reasons some women might choose to have an elective hysterectomy as a birth control option is because a hysterectomy prevents a woman from menstruating. For some women, this is a very good thing.

A partial hysterectomy may remove some, but not all, of the reproductive organs. These include: fallopian tubes, ovaries, uterus, cervix, etc. Now, to prevent pregnancy, any one of these organs can be removed, however, doctors usually try to leave the ovaries in tact if there is no damage, since these are responsible for regulating and releasing hormones.

When used for elective birth control purposes, which is rare, the hysterectomy most commonly performed is the removal of the uterus. This is permanent and cannot be reversed. A patient who has had a hysterectomy has 100% pregnancy prevention protection.

Elective hysterectomies do not prevent against STDs.

Diaphragm and Cervical Cap

These two are slightly different, but work in essentially the same manner. They provide a barrier between sperm and the cervical opening, preventing sperm from entering through the cervix and thus preventing fertilization of the egg. These both work best when used with a spermacide, and are relatively effective in preventing pregnancy.

The downside is that these must be fitted and sized properly and prescribed by a physician, and if a woman is prone to gaining and losing weight rapidly, these devices may have to be refitted to continue to be effective.

Depo-provera Shot

This is a progestin shot given intra-muscularly to a women, once every three months, to prevent ovulation. Women who are obese will find a higher incidence of failure with this method, and many women, especially very small or thin women, have reported negative side effects such as weight gain, facial hair, and emotional issues with 'The Shot.' Additionally, many women report that The Shot is extremely painful.

The shot does not prevent or protect against STDs.

Norplant

Using the same active ingredient in The Shot, progestin, the Norplant method of birth control has six rods, about the size of a match, implanted beneath the skin, which release a low dose of hormone. Depending on the type of Norplant used, this method can last anywhere from 2-5 years, and again, weight plays a factor in the length of prevention.

Norplant does not protect against STDs.

Vasectomy

We would be remiss if we did not at least mention the male sterilization method - a vasectomy. A vasectomy is the male equivalent of a tubal ligation, but is a bit less invasive, unless you are asking a man his opinion. This relatively safe, although same say positively painful procedure, is usually 100% effective, provided the procedure is performed properly and the man follows up with the physician for a sperm count after the procedure.

A vasectomy is sometimes reversible, but not always, so a man should be sure that he is truly wanting to be sterilized if he makes this choice.

A vasectomy does not prevent ejaculation, as some believe. What it does do it cut, tie off, or cauterize the tube through which sperm travels during ejaculation, preventing the sperm from mixing with the other ejaculatory fluid, and those preventing impregnation.

A vasectomy does not prevent against STDs, and besides condoms, it is the only other form of male birth control readily available today. Researchers are currently working on male alternatives to birth control.

Alternatives

Abstinence is, of course, the only failsafe method of birth control, as well as being certain to prevent the spread of STDs.

Know your options, and share them with your partner. Making an informed decision about birth control allows you to make the most of your relationship, and only to become a parent when you are financially and emotionally ready to do so.

Remember, this is not an exhaustive list of birth control methods and devices available today, but they are the most effective, reliable and widely accepted methods. For the best method for you, you should consult your physician.