While refraining from intercourse and abstinence continue to be the only ways to prevent pregnancies with 100 percent certainty, several birth control methods – hormonal and non-hormonal – can decrease the likelihood of getting pregnant by a considerable margin.
If you are a sexually active woman there is a chance that you might get pregnant. Fortunately, if a baby is not what you want to have right now, there are ways to prevent an unplanned pregnancy – birth control.
Here we described two types of birth control methods that definitely may help to make a woman's life easier and more enjoyable.
These birth control options act by creating a physical barrier between the egg and sperm, except the copper UID, which works by changing the uterine environment without creating a physical barrier. Some of the other popular birth control methods include –
Condoms
Birth Control Sponge
Spermicide
Vasectomy
Vaginal Gel
Pull-Out Method
Cervical Cap
Diaphragm
Contrary to the non-hormonal birth control techniques, hormonal birth options work by preventing ovulation (or the egg’s release), making it difficult for the sperm to penetrate the uterus, or preventing a fertilized egg from getting implanted in the uterus. Some of the common examples of hormonal pregnancy control include –
Birth Control Pills
Birth Control Shot (Depo-Provera)
Intrauterine Devices (IUDs)
Birth Control Implant
Vaginal Ring (Annovera or NuvaRing)
The Patch (Twirla or Xulane)
While there are tons of ways non-hormonal methods could make your life easier, hormonal birth control comes with a wide range of benefits for women when taken under proper precautions and birth control care – and they go way beyond preventing pregnancy. Want to find out? Keep reading!
If you suffer from heavy or irregular bleeding, switching to hormonal birth control pills can help in balancing the fluctuations that happen to your hormones throughout the cycle. Even in the case of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), it can help reduce some of the unwanted symptoms, such as excess hair and acne.
Though all birth control methods don’t necessarily work the same way, they can help gradually make periods more consistent and lighter than before.
You’d be surprised to know that around 31 percent of women mentioned continuing with birth control tablets for their ability to reduce menstrual pain. Because hormonal birth control works by preventing ovulation, the uterus doesn’t have to deal with the painful contractions that often cause the painful cramps you experience.
If you’re a woman who finds herself complaining about period cramps every month, using hormonal birth control options may be the rescue to need.
Do you suffer from acne outbursts a lot? Do you think it could be a result of hormonal fluctuations? If yes, hormonal birth control may be your way to tame the horrible acne you see on your face or body. Because birth control pills contain both progesterone and estrogen, known as effective acne fighters, they can significantly manage your symptoms for the better.
There are some long-term benefits of using hormonal birth control as well. Women taking combination birth control medication are less likely to develop uterine cancer by 50 percent. The effects can even last after decades of continuing the pills. Similar positive results were found with ovarian cancer as well.
Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs in the ovaries that develop during ovulation. Though they aren’t dangerous, they can be painful. Women who suffer from PCOS develop small cysts in their ovaries, which can be very uncomfortable. However, hormonal birth control allows you to prevent the formation of these cysts by preventing ovulation.
When it comes to premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), birth control can be helpful. The psychological and emotional symptoms could, at times, be quite severe and difficult to treat. However, a combination birth control pill containing ethynyl estradiol and drospirenonecan help in treating the condition.
Though not as severe as PMDD, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common menstrual issue many women suffer due to fluctuations in hormones during the days or weeks leading up to the period. It is possible to manage the emotional symptoms caused by PMS with birth control.
Some of you may experience heavy bleeding at the time of your periods, which could increase your risk of developing anemia. People suffering from anemia do not have enough red blood cells (RBCs) that help in carrying oxygen throughout the body, which causes fatigue and weakness. In such instances, hormonal contraceptives can help you manage your flow or even skip your period, which helps in preventing period-related anemia.
What could be better than having the liberty to bleed as per your terms? For menstruating women, bleeding has become a fact of life, but it doesn’t always have to be that way.
If you’re planning a big vacation or have an important event coming up, there’s a way you can control when you bleed. Most packs of birth control meds have placebo pills that don’t have hormones. Their job is to reinforce the habit of taking your medication every day. You usually take them when you’re getting your period. However, you can skip this part and start with a new pack if you want to avoid your period. If you want this method to work out the best way, taking monophasic birth control pills would be best.
Other birth control options, such as patches, rings, and IUDs, can be useful in skipping periods altogether. Truly, birth control can offer you the ultimate way to control the one thing that controlled you and your plans.
It’s true that hormonal pregnancy control makes life easier for women, but it isn’t right for everyone. "If you’re over 35 years and tend to smoke habitually, it can cause high blood pressure or increase the risk of developing blood clots."
Because of this reason, it is extremely important to discuss your birth control methods with a qualified doctor to understand the pros and cons of all methods and choose the one that suits your health and lifestyle the best.