Men and women have many options when it comes to choosing the right form of birth control. Talk to your health care provider if you are having trouble picking a method to avoid unintended pregnancy. Any birth control method can fail, leading to pregnancy, but by taking into consideration your lifestyle, the benefits and the risks of each method, you can make an informed decision that will help you to avoid pregnancy.
Barrier Methods
Barrier methods of birth control include male and female condoms, diaphragms and cervical caps, and spermicides. Some people are allergic to latex or to spermicides, and may experience irritation, swelling, rash, or burning from these methods. Plastic condoms are available for those allergic to latex. Diaphragms can rarely cause toxic shock syndrome, vaginal infections or urinary tract infections in women.
Hormonal Methods
Women may take hormonal methods of birth control that work by preventing ovulation, thickening cervical secretions, and discouraging implantation of an egg. These methods include contraceptive pills, injections, patches and vaginal rings. Some mild side effects are common, and include bloating, headache, dizziness, nausea, and some breakthrough bleeding. These often go away as you adjust to taking the hormones.
There are also serious side effects that are possible with hormonal birth control methods. These include vision changes, heart attack, stroke, blood clots, liver problems and possibly certain cancers. It is important to keep all appointments with your doctor when on hormonal contraceptives, and to report any troubling side effects. The risk of side effects may increase if you smoke.
Intrauterine Devices
Intrauterine devices, or IUDs, are devices that are implanted in the uterus to prevent pregnancy. Some IUDs contain hormones, and carry similar side effects to other hormonal contraceptives. Other IUDs do not contain hormones.
According to Feminist Women's Health Center, IUDs can cause heavier menstrual bleeding, which may lead to anemia. Rarely, an IUD may cause a pelvic infection or perforation that can affect future fertility. A woman may have a miscarriage if she becomes pregnant while the IUD is in place.
Sterilization
Men can be sterilized with a vasectomy and women can be sterilized with a tubal ligation. According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, a vasectomy carries the risks of swelling, bruising and infection. These usually clear up quickly and leave no lasting effects. Men who have vasectomies may be more prone to painful and swollen testes in the first year after the surgery, but this also usually clears up within a week.
Tubal ligation is considered a major surgery, and carries the risks of any surgery: infection, bleeding, allergic reaction to the anesthesia, breathing problems and injury to other organs during the surgical procedure, reports the National Institutes of Health. In some women, the tubes may not fully close, leaving them susceptible to pregnancy. Women are more likely to have an ectopic pregnancy after a tubal ligation.
