Birth Control Options: Things to Consider

If you're considering using birth control (contraception), you have a variety of options. To help pick the right method of birth control for you and your partner, consider the following questions.

What birth control options are available?

Among your birth control options are:

  • Barrier methods. Examples include male and female condoms, as well as the diaphragm, cervical cap, and contraceptive sponge.
  • Hormonal methods. Examples include birth control pills, as well as the vaginal ring (NuvaRing), contraceptive implant (Nexplanon), contraceptive injection (Depo-Provera), and contraceptive patch (Ortho Evra).
  • Sterilization. Examples include tubal ligation or the Essure system for women, and vasectomy for men.
  • Natural family planning. Examples include the rhythm, basal body temperature, and cervical mucus methods.

It's also important to be aware of emergency contraception—such as the morning-after pill (Plan B One-Step, Next Choice One Dose, ella)—which can be used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex.

How do the different birth control options work?


  • Prevent sperm from reaching the egg
  • Inactivate or damage sperm
  • Prevent an egg from being released each month
  • Alter the lining of the uterus so that a fertilized egg doesn't attach to it
  • Thicken cervical mucus so that sperm can't easily pass through it

What is the method's effectiveness?


Is it reversible?


Is it compatible with your religious beliefs or cultural practices?


Is it convenient and affordable?

For some people, convenience suggests ease of use, no bothersome side effects, or no disruption of the sexual experience. For others, convenience means no prescription is required. When choosing a method of contraception, consider how willing you are to plan ahead or, if necessary, adhere to a rigid schedule. It's important to choose a type of birth control that suits your lifestyle.


What are the side effects?

Consider your tolerance for the possible side effects associated with a particular birth control method. Some methods such as those that contain estrogen or progesterone pose more side effects—some potentially serious—than do others, such as barrier methods and natural family planning methods. Talk to your health care provider about your medical history and how it might affect your choice of birth control.

Does it protect against sexually transmitted infections?


Does it offer other benefits?

In addition to preventing pregnancy, some contraceptives provide benefits such as more predictable, lighter menstrual cycles, a decreased risk of sexually transmitted infections, or a reduction in the risk of some cancers. If these benefits are important to you, they may influence your choice of birth control option.

Is it acceptable to your sexual partner?


What's the bottom line?

When you choose a birth control method, many factors come into play, including your age, health, emotional maturity, marital status, sexual relationships, and religious convictions. Knowing your options is part of the decision process—but an honest assessment of yourself and your relationships is just as important when deciding which type of birth control is right for you.

Updated: 2015-02-17

Publication Date: 2010-01-27

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Self – Health

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