The National Family Planning and Health Institute reports that, in the United States, more than half of the six million pregnancies a year are unintended. Half of those accidental pregnancies end in abortion. Choosing a birth control method is about having as much information as possible to allow for an informed decision.
Natural
FamilyDoctor.org states that there are two methods of natural family planning. The first method uses a woman's cervical mucus as an indicator of ovulation. When a woman is ovulating, her cervical mucus becomes stretchy, clear and thick, like an uncooked egg white. The second method involves a woman taking her temperature every day with a basal body temperature thermometer. When a woman is ovulating she will often see a slight increase in her temperature. This method will allow her to know which days are safest for sexual intercourse without the likelihood of conception. Planned Parenthood warns that 12 to 25 out of every 100 couples practicing the natural method of birth control will conceive if body cues are misread.
Rhythm Method
This method can also fall under the category of natural family planning methods, but instead of relying on the body's cues, it relies on a woman accurately keeping track of her days of fertility. By accurately tracking her cycle length and days of her period, a woman can begin to realize which days she is most fertile and choose to abstain on those days. This method can be risky because it does not allow for natural changes in a woman's cycle that can occur over time and carries the same risks of conceiving as other natural methods, about 12 to 25%.
The Birth Control Pill
The pill works by preventing ovulation. This method has been shown to be 97% effective when used correctly. The pill can have serious side effects. According to Contracept.org, side effects can include loss of sex drive, headaches, weight gain, acne, vaginal infections and depression. The pill is not recommended for smokers and women over age 35.
Barrier Methods
The barrier method pertains to any birth control device used to block entrance into the woman's cervix such as a diaphragm, cervical cap or contraceptive sponge. Contracept.org explains it can be a great choice for women who are unable to use hormonal contraceptives for one reason or another. The drawbacks to this method are that it becomes a less reliable method if couples have sex frequently (more than three times a week) and it can cause women to be more prone to urinary tract infections, vaginal infections and in some cases toxic shock syndrome.
Condoms
Condoms are by far the safest and most easily accessible form of birth control. Planned Parenthood reports that if used correctly condoms are 98% effective in preventing pregnancy. Condoms also help prevent the spread of many sexually transmitted diseases. A deterrent for the use of condoms may be a lack of sensation during sexual intercourse.
Vasectomy/Tubal Ligation
Planned Parenthood states that both a vasectomy and a tubal ligation are considered safe and effective methods of birth control for patients who no longer wish to have children. However, if a patient wants to change plans later there is very little that can be done. A vasectomy may be reversed but there is no guarantee that it will be effective.
