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Birth Control, a.k.a Contraception
What is Contraception?
Birth control, also known as contraception, is the use of medicine, devices, or surgery to prevent you from getting pregnant. Some of these methods also help to prevent the spread of STIs.
The only 100% foolproof form of contraception is abstinence, which means not engaging in sexual activity, but if you do, it is important to be safe and protected and know your options.
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Male Condoms
Male condoms are thin pouches that prevent sperm from getting into the vagina, and therefore uterus, when engaging in sexual activity. They are worn over the penis and can be used only once.
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Condoms are the only method of contraception that also prevent the spread of STIs.
Female Condoms
Female condoms, like male condoms, are thin pouches that prevent sperm from getting into the vagina, and therefore uterus, when engaging in sexual activity. The difference is that instead of being worn over the penis, they are inserted into the vagina before intercourse. See the difference in size and shape in the picture. The male condom is thinner and has a pointed end to allow space for semen to gather. The female condom is wider and has a flat end to cover the cervix.
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Condoms are the only method of contraception that also prevent the spread of STIs.
The Pill
A daily pill that releases hormones (natural chemical substances) into the body that target the uterus and ovaries to prevent pregnancy. The specific hormones used are estrogen and progestin, which prevent pregnancy in three ways:
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Stopping an egg from fully developing, or stopping an egg from being released altogether
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Preventing sperm from entering the uterus by thickening the mucus at the opening of the cervix.
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Thinning the lining of the uterus to make implantation difficult, in the unlikely scenario that a fully formed egg is released and sperm makes it into the uterus.
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Most pills also have the effect of making periods lighter and more predictable. Patients take a pill once per day for 21 days, then have a 7 day break (often taking dummy pills) during which time they get a period.
The Patch
The birth control patch is a thin patch covered in microneedles that poke slightly into the skin. Through these microneedles, hormones that target the uterus and ovaries are released into the body. The patch uses the same hormones as the pill; estrogen and progestin, and they act in the same three ways.
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Similarly to the pill, patients use one patch per week for three weeks, then take a week-long break, during which they have a period. The patch can be placed on the buttock, upper outer arm, lower abdomen, or upper body. Don't put it on your breasts or in a place where it will be rubbed, such as under a bra strap.
Intrauterine Device
IUD stands for “intrauterine device.” It is a small T-shaped object that is placed–by a doctor–inside of your uterus, to prevent you from getting pregnant. There are two types of IUD; one which releases hormones just like patches and pills, and one that is wrapped in copper, which also prevents pregnancy. Sperm doesn't like copper, so doesn’t attempt to swim to the egg. It is important to note that people usually feel cramping or pain when getting an IUD, and that, although long-lasting, an IUD is not a permanent option. The hormonal IUD can last 3-6 years, while copper IUDs can last up to 10 years.
The Injection
The injection is a birth control shot given every three months. As long as you are always on time, this is a very effective birth control method. The shot contains the hormone progestin, which prevents ovulation (the release of an egg). If there is no release of an egg, then there can be no pregnancy. Like other hormonal birth control methods, it also makes the cervical mucus thicker, preventing sperm from entering. It is important to remember that this method is usually administered by a nurse or doctor, and therefore you will have to book an appointment every 12 weeks, or 4 times a year.
The Ring
The birth control ring is a small flexible ring which is placed inside your vagina, around your cervix. When worn correctly, it is highly effective. The ring secretes the oestrogen and progestogen; hormones are very similar to those secreted by the pill and patch. The ring can be inserted at home, and, like other hormonal methods, worn for three weeks at a time, followed by a one week break.
Data & Statistics
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Over 95% of unintended pregnancies are driven by the 32% of women who use contraceptives inconsistently or not at all
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1.2 million women in the U.S. live in counties without a single health center that offers the full range of contraceptive methods.
Hormonal contraceptive use is associated with differences in women’s inflammatory and psychological reactivity to an acute social stressor
Summer Mengelkoch a b, Jeffrey Gassen a, George M. Slavich a, Sarah E. Hill b
Brain, Behavior, and Immunity Volume 115, January 2024, Pages 747-757
This 2023 paper published by UCLA health investigates how contraceptive pills may affect women's responses to stress, as well as different inflammation related diseases. Previous research has linked taking the hormonal contraceptive pill to illnesses such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmune diseases along with other mental effects, but still there is gray area in research. This study researched areas that remain understudied, and concluded the contraceptive pill leads to a more negative emotional response as well as determining which hormones cause the inflammatory illnesses.
Case studies
Why Some Women Still Can't Get Birth Control
Even though birth control is now supposed to be free and easy to access, that’s not always the case for poor women, thanks to gaps in insurance coverage, states’ failure to expand Medicaid, and a lack of funding to a federal program that serves as a last-resort option for poor women’s family planning needs. Women’s attainment of the most effective methods—IUDs and implants— is further obstructed by a tangle of regulatory barriers and misconceptions among providers.