Your birth control can play an essential role in your family planning and day-to-day health. Today, there are many different options for birth control in various forms and with varying levels of hormones and other active ingredients. While exploring your options, it’s essential to consider how your birth control will impact other aspects of your life.
Hormones
Many birth control options will have hormones as the active ingredients that stop ovulation. Many, many women will experience side effects as a result of taking hormonal birth controls. Though these options are great for many women and work well, for many others, the side effects can have a more significant impact that may require them to seek out non-hormonal birth control options. Some of the side effects of specific hormonal birth controls include depression, weight gain, no periods or prolonged periods, etc. If you are struggling with the side effects of your hormonal birth control, consider a progestin-only birth control option that does not contain hormones. These options are also generally better for women suffering from blood clot disorders or who need to take blood thinners. Of course, you want to always consult your doctor before starting any new birth control.
Lifestyle
Birth control can take many different forms that will impact your daily schedule and could pose challenges in maintaining the effectiveness of the drug. Traditional birth control pills must be taken every day at the same time to remain effective. Though missing a pill by a few hours may not play a significant role, you are at an increased risk of pregnancy if you miss a whole day or more without your pill. Being able to remember to take a pill every day at the same time can be challenging for some. If you’d like a birth control method that does not require as much daily maintenance, consider a birth control implant such as a bar or UID. Birth control implants are made with high-quality healthcare silicone and are placed in your arm to regularly release the birth control medication automatically. These implants typically last about three years and can provide substantial protection from pregnancy. Companies like Avantor provide “medical-grade silicones specifically designed, manufactured, and purified to meet the strictest requirements of the healthcare industry.” When selecting your implant, be sure a trusted source reliably manufactures it, and you remember when you need to get it replaced. Implanted birth controls like IUDs can make it much easier on you to maintain your protection every day.
Family Planning
Another aspect to consider when selecting a birth control is whether or not you want to have a family soon. If you’re taking birth control for the time being but plan on starting a family in the coming year or two, you may consider a form of birth control that you can quickly stop taking at any time. Birth control pills are an excellent option for this, while implants require appointments to be removed before you begin trying for a baby. Family planning is an essential consideration for many women considering birth control options. Some couples may plan to start a family in several years; an unexpected pregnancy could derail your timeline and put undue pressure on you and your family financially and otherwise.
There are many different options for birth control, and all come with various advantages and disadvantages. Always consult your doctor before starting or ending a birth control. Explore your options today to find the best protection for your body.
