Choosing the Right Birth Control for You

Sex is a normal and healthy part of a relationship, but you don’t always want to become pregnant as a result. That’s why you should choose a birth control method that fits you and your lifestyle.

At Associates in Family Medicine, located in Clairmont, San Diego, California, Dr. Mahshid M. Hamidi and our staff provide women’s health services to our patients, including offering different contraceptive options. Here’s what you should consider when choosing a method of birth control.

What are the three major types of contraceptives?

There are three major types of contraceptives:

1. Barrier methods

Barrier methods put a physical blockage in the way of sperm getting into your uterus. Some examples are condoms or diaphragms. You use a barrier method every time you have sex.

2. Hormonal medication and devices

These methods use estrogen, sometimes combined with progestin, to prevent ovulation or change the conditions in your uterus and cervix, making them inhospitable to sperm.

Some, like the pill, are short-acting and require daily use. Others, like implants surgically placed under the skin, or an intrauterine device (IUD) inserted into your uterus, are long-acting.

3. Sterilization

Surgery that permanently prevents pregnancy is called sterilization. In men, it’s a vasectomy, and in women, it’s tubal ligation, or having your tubes “tied.” You should only opt for this method if you’re sure you don’t want to have children.

How do you choose the right birth control for you?

The only method that’s 100% reliable for preventing pregnancy is abstinence. Many other methods come close, but there’s always a potential risk for pregnancy.

Some of the issues you should consider when choosing birth control include:

• How well each method works
• Why you’re using contraception – some people use it for hormonal benefits (e.g., heavy periods)
• Possible side effects
• Ease of use
• Cost
• Your general health
• Interactions with medications you take
• Your lifestyle and relationships
• Your risk of getting a sexually transmissible infection (STI)
• Whether you’ll want to get pregnant in the future
• Whether you can stop the method yourself or need the doctor to do it
• The effort and time involved

Some forms of contraception require more effort than others. For example, if you opt for the pill, you need to remember to take it at the same time every day. However, if you choose an implant or IUD, once it’s been inserted, it can last for several years, and you don’t need to think about it until it needs to be replaced.

Another issue you should consider is if the method of contraception, as well as preventing an unintended pregnancy, also protects you from STIs.

The best — and pretty much the only — way to lessen the risk of STIs is to use condoms. Condoms (external or internal) can be used for vaginal, anal, and oral sex to prevent infections from spreading.

One thing you should know about condoms, though, is that they’re only about 85% effective, because they have a tendency to rip, especially if you use an oil-based lubricant. If they’re worn before intercourse begins and don’t rip, they provide good protection against both unwanted pregnancies and STIs.

To learn more about your birth control options, give us a call at 858-565-6394 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Hamidi, or send us a message online. We also accept telehealth appointments.