4 Types of Birth Control to Help You Plan Your Future

Deciding when or if to start a family can be very empowering. Thanks to the many different types of birth control now available, you can delay a family for a few months to many years, or even permanently.

However, given all the choices available today, it can feel overwhelming when choosing the right method. Working with a women’s health specialist, such as an OBGYN or gynecologist, is the best place to start.

“Different types of birth control have different benefits and side effects,” says Peyton Erb, a certified physician assistant at Beaufort Memorial Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialists. “We can help you weigh the pros and cons so you can make an informed decision. The good news is that with so many different types available, there’s one that will meet your needs and fits your lifestyle.”

Download Our Guide: Understanding Birth Control

The Different Types of Birth Control

Birth control (also called contraception) is generally categorized into four different types — barrier methods, hormonal contraception, intrauterine devices (IUDs) and permanent contraception.

1. Barrier methods work by creating a literal barrier against pregnancy. You’re probably familiar with male condoms, which are worn over the penis to keep sperm out of a woman’s body. Female condoms, placed in the vagina, work similarly. Condoms are the only barrier method of birth control that also help prevent sexually transmitted infections. Other barrier methods include the contraceptive sponge, which fits into the vagina and blocks the cervix, and the diaphragm and cervical cap, which also block the cervix. Another barrier method, spermicide can be used alone or along with a diaphragm or cervical cap.
2. Hormonal contraception contains hormones — either estrogen and progestin or progestin only — that prevent pregnancy by stopping ovulation. Oral contraceptives, often called “the pill,” are the most common and must be taken daily. Other forms include the vaginal ring, skin patches and implants inserted in the upper arm, all of which release hormones into the body. The ring and skin patch must be replaced monthly, and implants last for up to four years, depending on the product. Hormone injections, received every three months, are another option. Hormonal birth control has a very low failure rate but may come with side effects.
3. IUDs are sometimes called long-acting, reversible contraceptives because your OBGYN or gynecologist places one inside the uterus and removes it when you want to get pregnant. IUDs contain hormones (typically progestin) or copper, which produces an inflammatory response that makes the uterus inhospitable to sperm and eggs. Both forms are highly effective at preventing pregnancy. Depending on the brand you get, hormonal IUDs may last between five and eight years and copper IUDs up to 10.
4. Permanent contraception may be the right choice if you choose not to have children or have finished growing your family. Tubal ligation, commonly referred to as having your tubes tied, involves closing off the fallopian tubes to prevent sperm from reaching the egg. Men can undergo a vasectomy, a procedure that blocks the tubes that carry sperm to the semen.

Other types of birth control don’t rely on devices or medications to prevent pregnancy. With the withdrawal method, the male partner removes his penis from the vagina prior to ejaculation. Using the rhythm method, women avoid intercourse when they are ovulating, when conception is most likely. Both methods have a much higher failure rate than other forms of birth control.

Read More: 6 Women’s Health Issues You Can Address Today

Which Type of Birth Control Works Best?

There is no simple answer. The most effective form of birth control is sterilization, which is more than 99% effective. Both copper IUDs and hormonal IUDs, along with the hormonal implant, are also up to 99% effective when replaced as directed.

“The best form of birth control is individualized,” Erb says. “It is different for every woman and every situation. Ultimately, what works best is the type of birth control someone will use consistently and exactly as directed.”

When you’re considering birth control options, it’s important to think through your own specific needs.

Are you interested in having children in the next few years, further out or not at all? Do you want a hormonal option, or would you prefer something that doesn’t involve hormones? Are you OK with a form of birth control you’ll need to take or insert regularly, or would you rather “set it and forget it” for a while?

The answers to these questions can help you make an informed decision about which type of birth control is best for your specific needs.

Read More: Does Birth Control Affect Fertility Long-Term?

Buying Birth Control Over the Counter

Male and female condoms, spermicide and the sponge are all available without a prescription or the need to schedule an appointment with your provider.

Birth control pills, available by prescription only, may soon be available without one. In early 2023, the Food and Drug Administration is expected to rule on an application from a Paris pharmaceutical company that would make a progestin-only birth control pill available without a prescription. While this type of birth control pill isn’t appropriate for all women, it could help women who report having difficulty obtaining birth control.

Access to birth control is an important consideration when it comes to women’s health care. Many medical organizations, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, support making over-the-counter birth control pills an option for women.

Request an appointment with a Beaufort Memorial OBGYN or gynecologist who can help you make the best birth control decisions for you and your partner.