Understanding Your Contraception Options
More than 3 million unintended pregnancies occur
in the United States every year. Almost half
of these pregnancies are a result of not using
contraception. The majority of unintended pregnancies
result from the incorrect or inconsistent use
of a contraception method.
Steven
Sondheimer, MD, director of Family Planning
at the Helen O. Dickens Center for Women's
Health and a professor of obstetrics and gynecology
at the University of Pennsylvania Health System
advises, “Birth control is only as successful
as you make it. Before using a form of contraception
you need to know about the method and the alternatives
available. Most importantly, you need to consider
whether the method may fail because you may
forget to use it or you may not be willing
to use it consistently.”
Avoiding an unintended pregnancy involves weighing
the advantages and disadvantages of contraception
methods and selecting one that is best for you
and your partner. Even a very effective contraceptive
will fail when not used in the correct manner.
Most contraception methods have a theoretical
success rate, or “perfect use” rate,
ranging from 91 to 99 percent. However, the actual
success rates can drop dramatically, depending
on the form of contraception and human error.
For example, male condoms have a theoretical “perfect
use” rate of 97 percent but an “actual
use” rate of 88 percent.
“When selecting a form of birth control,
patients need to consider their motivation to
use a method correctly and consistently,” states
Pat Callahan MSN, CRNP at the Helen
O. Dickens Center for Women's Health at the Hospital
of the University of Pennsylvania. “Other
factors to consider are lifestyle, risk for sexually
transmitted disease, cost, comfort, effectiveness
and health history.”
Callahan continues, “Women are extremely
fortunate in this day and age. There are many
forms of highly effective and reversible contraception
options that did not exist forty years ago let
alone five years ago.”
Common forms of contraception options are:
- Daily Oral Contraception (28 – day
cycle or 84 – day cycle)
- Condoms
- Medicated Patch
- Intrauterine Device (IUD)
- Sterilization
Read a complete list of current contraception
options.
The cost of contraception
On average, contraception costs the general consumer between $20 and $40 dollars
per month. Prices vary depending upon the contraceptive option and your health
care coverage. If you cannot afford contraception, ask your physician about
family planning centers in your area where you may receive birth control
free of charge.
Protect your body
Callahan urges, “Your primary concern is to protect yourself from an
unwanted pregnancy. Your body is your responsibility. Your partner may be willing
to share the responsibility by using a condom or by being supportive of your
contraception method(s) but ultimately the decision to protect yourself is
up to you.”
Dr. Sondheimer recommends that you talk to your
clinician about the various forms of contraception
available. He states, “The form of birth
control your physician advises you to use may
depend upon your health history. Some forms of
contraception should not be used or may be risky.”
He concludes, “Selecting contraception
is as important as any other healthcare option
in life. Take it seriously. Take advantage of
the safe and effective contraception options
available today.”
Emergency Contraception
The Emergency Contraception Pill (ECP) is a post-coital method of contraception,
often referred to as “the morning after pill.” ECPs are intended
to prevent pregnancy by temporarily blocking eggs from being produced, stopping
fertilization or keeping a fertilized egg from becoming implanted in the
uterus. The medication should be taken as soon as possible within three days
(72 hours) of unprotected intercourse.
This form of contraception is meant for emergency
situations and is not intended to be the sole
form of birth control. All barrier, and hormonal
methods are more effective for regular contraception
than relying on a method after unprotected intercourse.
Talk to your physician about obtaining emergency
contraception so that you have it available if
your method of contraception fails.
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