Birth control, whether it contains hormones or not, prevents unwanted pregnancies. Some forms of birth control provide additional benefits. For example, a barrier method like a condom protects against sexually transmitted diseases, while a hormonal method like the pill can regulate a woman's period. While the different types of birth control do offer benefits, their use comes with some warnings.
Types of Nonhormonal Birth Control
Several forms of birth control do not contain synthetic hormones. For example, people can use the barrier method, in which a layer of plastic or latex comes between the two genital organs. Barrier method options include female condoms, male condoms, cervical caps, contraceptive sponges and diaphragms. Some barrier methods, such as the male condom, have spermicide on them, which helps immobilize the sperm. The American Academy of Family Physicians points out that doctors must fit women for a cervical cap or diaphragm. With natural family planning, the couple figures out when the woman is ovulating, and has intercourse during times she should not get pregnant. If a person does not want to become pregnant in the future, sterilization is an option, though this involves surgery. Other forms of nonhormonal birth control include abstinence and the withdrawal method.
Types of Hormonal Birth Control
Other types of birth control contain synthetic hormones, either a combination of estrogen and progesterone, or just progesterone. Women need a prescription to get hormonal birth control. The birth control pill, for example, requires a woman to take a pill every day. Once-a-month birth control options exist, such as the patch and ring. An intrauterine device, which can contain hormones or just copper, can stay in a woman for up to 12 years, according to Planned Parenthood. Hormonal implants and shots also last longer: The shot can last up to three months, and the implant can last up to five years. If the first form of birth control fails, a woman can take emergency contraception.
Effectiveness
The only form of birth control that is 100 percent effective is abstaining from sex. Some forms of birth control are more effective than others. For example, the Cleveland Clinic notes that an intrauterine device and the birth control pill are 99 percent effective when used correctly; for a birth control pill, this means taking the pill every day at the same time. In comparison, the male condom is 85 percent effective and the female condom is 75 percent effective, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The American Academy of Family Physicians warns that the withdrawal method is not an effective form of birth control, as the man can leave a small amount of fluid when he pulls out, which can lead to a pregnancy.
Warnings
Birth control methods do have warnings on who can use them. For example, hormonal types of birth control can increase blood pressure and worsen depression and gallbladder disease. Kristi Monson, PharmD, and Arthur Schoenstadt, MD, authors of the eMedTV article "Birth Control Pill Warnings and Precautions," point out that while controversial, birth control pills with both estrogen and progesterone can increase the risk for cervical or breast cancer. Birth control pills with both hormones can also increase a person's risk of stroke, blood clots and heart attack. Birth control pills can also affect cholesterol, increase blood sugar and the risk for noncancerous tumors. Nonbarrier methods of birth control also do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases.
Hormonal birth control options are not the only ones that carry warnings. For example, contraceptive sponges, cervical caps and diaphragms can increase the risk of urinary tract infections. The American Academy of Family Physicians notes that spermicides that contain nonoxynol-9 can increase a person's risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease since it causes genital irritation.
Allergies
Some people have allergies that prevent them from using certain forms of birth control. For example, Monson and Schoenstadt explain that some women may have an allergy to birth control pills, either the hormones or to the inactive components. An allergy to a synthetic hormone prevents the usage of another hormonal birth control method. An allergy to latex prevents people from using some barrier methods, such as the latex male condom.
