By Liz Belilovskaya

There are currently 62 million American women in their childbearing years. Birth control is a wonderful invention for sexually active women that do not want to become pregnant. Various types of contraceptives are available to choose from. Planet Ill and yours truly have decided to create a contraception study guide to better inform women of the many options out there. If these methods are properly used, less than 1 in 100 women will become pregnant.

For more permanent solutions, Male sterilization (vasectomy) and female sterilization are the two most reliable. These are in-office medical procedures that physically sever the passageways of a male’s sperm (vas deferens) or a woman’s ova (fallopian tubes).  Aside from STD risk, this pretty much guarantees ungloved love with no seeds.

The IUD (intrauterine device) and birth control implant are long lasting options for women. An IUD is a little plastic T-shaped device that is inserted into the uterus to prevent fertilization by blocking the uterine entrance. There are two brands of IUD- The ParaGard and Mirrena. The ParaGard does not affect women’s hormonal levels and lasts up to 12 years. Mirrena lasts for 5 years and releases a small amount of progestin, a hormone commonly found in birth control that ceases ovulation and thickens the cervical mucus preventing sperm from passing and fertilizing the egg.

The implant, or Implanon, is a match-size flexible plastic rod that is inserted into the upper arm and protects against pregnancy for 3 years. The problem with IUD’s and implants is that they can detach while in use. If this occurs, a simple office visit should rectify the problem. Surgical means are rarely used.

Hormonal contraceptives are effective but are not as long lasting. They include the Ortho Evra patch, Nuva-Ring, Depo- Provera shot and oral contraceptives. Generally, they all contain a small amount of synthetic estrogen and progestin. Together the hormones work to prevent ovulation and thicken the cervical mucus. The thin, plastic patch is placed on the skin of the buttocks, stomach or torso once a week for three weeks and is then removed for one week. It is less effective on women weighing over 198 pounds. The NuvaRing is a rubber ring placed in the vagina once a month for three weeks and then removed for one week. The antibiotic Rifamin, certain yeast infection medicines, HIV medicines, anti-seizure medications and St. John’s Wort reduce the effectiveness of the ring and patch.

The Depo-Prevera option is an injection in the arm every three months (12 weeks). The shot only contains progestin and is a viable option for women who cannot take estrogen. Some serious side effects of Depo-Prevera include major depression, hair loss, headache, temporary bone thinning and nausea therefore is not appropriate for everyone. Once the medication is discontinued it may take longer than 9 months to conceive. This method is very discreet because there are no pills to take or patches to apply. If your body is shaky with its chemistry or you don’t want to be altered by hormones, in addition to not wanting to have to wait almost a year when you do want children, hormonal contraception is probably not the way to go.

The most common forms of birth control are daily oral contraceptives. Combination pills contain estrogen and progestin. Progestin-only pills have less severe side effects than combination pills but are not recommended for women with a history of blood clots. Yasmin and Yaz pills contain a special type of progestin that increase potassium levels and may cause very serious heart problems. Smoking is strongly discouraged among women taking hormonal types of birth control because of the increased risk of health problems.

Male and female condoms, diaphragms and cervical caps are non-hormonal and easily accessible birth control options as well. Although, condoms are the only contraceptives that protect against sexually transmitted diseases. Most contraception options are generally safe. Certain forms of birth control may cause serious side- effects. Therefore it is crucial to get a medical consultation by a healthcare provider when considering this or any birth control option. Rubbers and patches and pills, oh my! Life is short and love is calling, use the guide, stay safe and enjoy.

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