Unveiling the Pros and Cons of Birth Control
Birth control is widely used to avoid unwanted pregnancies, and each of the methods has its own advantages and disadvantages.
According to the CDC, 64.9 percent of the women aged 15-49 in the USA use some type of contraceptives.
Numerous types of birth control methods are available to choose from, which serve different needs like protection from Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), reversible antifertility, and more efficiency.
Likewise, each of them has downsides where some of the birth control methods are not reversible while others may have side effects.
This article presents detailed information on the pros and cons of birth control and its types to help decide what best serves the need, offering more efficiency and minimizing risk.
Pros and cons of birth control
There are several options for birth control available as per the requirements.
Below are the birth control types pros and cons, along with briefs on their use and effectiveness.
Barrier method
Barrier methods of birth control are condoms, diaphragm, sponges, and cervical cap.
They are worn on or inserted in the genitals and work by preventing sperm from reaching and fertilizing the egg.
Pros of barrier methods are:
- The menstrual cycle of females is not affected
- No requirement for a daily care routine
- Need to be worn only during sex
- Most of them offer protection from STIs
- Condoms offer about 98 percent efficiency
- Diaphragm, along with spermicide, provides 92-96 percent efficiency
Cons of barrier methods are:
- It is only effective when used correctly
- The diaphragm and cervical cap cannot protect from STI
- Spermicide causes irritation
- Allergies can happen from latex-based contraceptives
- Need to be worn every time before sex that causes loss of sexual spontaneity
Pills
Birth control pills are either in combination with Estrogen and Progesterone or Progesterone-only oral contraceptives.
They work by stopping the release of eggs from ovaries, thickening cervical mucus, and thinning the uterus lining.
The pros of birth control pills:
- It is convenient and effective
- Does not interrupt sex spontaneity
- Reversible
- They are 99 percent effective when used right
The cons of birth control pills are:
- Side effects like nausea, headache, breast tenderness, abnormal periods, and moodiness
- It does not protect against STI
Permanent birth control
Permanent birth control is a surgical method available for males and females.
Vasectomy cuts off sperm supply to semen in males, while female fertilization blocks fallopian tubes, preventing sperm from fertilizing the egg.
Pros of permanent birth control:
- Long-term solution
- Efficient
- Does not interrupt the flow of sex
- These are more than 99 percent effective.
The cons of permanent birth control:
- Do not protect from STI
- Can cause pain or discomfort
- Irreversible
Shot
Birth control shots are injections that contain the hormone Progestin.
It is given to women every three months to prevent pregnancy by stopping the release of eggs.
The pros of shots:
- Safe, convenient, and effective
- Eases menstrual cramps and makes flow lighter
- Prevents ectopic pregnancy
The cons of shots
- Changes in periods
- Increased bleeding
- Depression, nausea, headache, and weight gain
Intrauterine Device (IUD)
Intrauterine Device is a tiny device that is planted inside the uterus to work as a prevention for pregnancy.
It is segregated into types – hormonal IUD or copper IUD.
The pros of IUD:
- These work as long-term birth control solutions
- IUDs are also reversible any time one wishes to bear a child
- IUDs can prevent endometrial cancer
- IUDs are 99 percent efficient in preventing pregnancy
The cons of IUD:
- IUDs may have some side effects like cramping, spotting, and pain
- These devices can come out on their own
- IUDs cannot prevent you from catching STDs
Fertility Awareness Method (FAM)
It is a natural birth control method that takes into account the menstrual cycle to avoid pregnancy.
Basal body temperature, cervical mucus method, and ovulation days are considered to determine fertile days.
Unprotected intercourse is avoided in the fertile window to avoid pregnancy.
The pros of FAM:
- No physical side effects
- Pocket-friendly and comfortable
- Increases closeness and trust between partners
- It is 77-98 percent effective
The cons of FAM:
- Not suitable for all
- Hard to follow
- Chances of error
- No STI protection
Patch
Birth control patches are a type of contraception that is worn by women once every week for three weeks to allow menstrual bleeding to commence during the fourth week.
Birth control patches prevent the woman from ovulating by releasing hormones in the bloodstream.
The pros of birth control patches are:
- Birth control patches are very convenient and easy to use
- Patches are found to make the periods less painful and improve the menstrual cycle
- Patches may also protect against acne, anemia by iron deficiency, and even ovarian cancer
- With correct use, it is more than 99 percent effective.
The cons of birth control patches are:
- Birth control patches cannot protect one from STIs
- A minor carelessness with the regularity of the patches can have adverse effects, including reversal of the birth control
- Ineffective for women weighing over 89 kilograms
- Some side effects may even include bleeding between periods, breast tenderness, nausea and vomiting
Vaginal Ring
A vaginal ring is a soft plastic ring placed inside the vaginal cavity to prevent pregnancy during sex.
The vaginal ring prevents pregnancy by continuously releasing Estrogen and Progesterone into the bloodstream of the woman.
The pros of the vaginal ring are:
- Improves acne
- Reduces the severity of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in women
- Vaginal rings also make the bleeding easier and painless.
The cons of the vaginal ring are:
- Using a vaginal ring may be very uncomfortable
- Spotting and bleeding is another common side effect of this contraception
- Vaginal discharge, nausea, headaches, mood swings, and breast tenderness may occur as temporary side effects as well
- Vaginal rings cannot protect one from STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections)
- This birth control can also hinder the fertility of a woman
Emergency Contraceptives
Emergency contraception is another tested effective birth control method.
Emergency contraceptives can either be copper-bearing IUDs or pills.
The pros of emergency contraception:
- Prevent pregnancy that can happen after unprotected intercourse or failure of birth control
- It has a success rate of 95% if consumed within five days of intercourse
- Available at local pharmacies
- Does not affect fertility when use is stopped
The cons of emergency contraception:
Pull out method
The withdrawal method is a common method of contraception where the male pulls out the penis from the vagina before ejaculation to prevent pregnancy.
The pros of the pull-out method:
- Does not require any prescriptions and is free
- It has no side effects
- Can be performed anytime and does not require preparation
The cons of the pull-out method:
- A non-reliant method, as it requires patience and practice and comes with a high risk of failure
- Pre-ejaculation that a man has no control over can cause pregnancy as it contains sperm sometimes
Conclusion
There are numerous contraceptive methods to pick from depending on the need.
From mechanical barriers to implants, different methods have a different efficiency rate and time.
Permanent methods like sterilization offer long-term pregnancy prevention, but they are not reversible and do not offer protection from STIs.
On the other hand, short-term methods do not offer long-term protection, hormonal ones have side effects.
Condoms are not as efficient as other methods despite offering protection from STIs.
One can choose from all the available options after analyzing the needs, associated risks, and efficiency to ensure a safe, pleasurable encounter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the advantages and disadvantages of birth control?
The advantages and disadvantages of birth control depend upon the contraceptive chosen. Long-term hormonal contraceptives avoid pregnancy for a long time, and condoms protect from STIs. On the other hand, sterilization cannot be reversed, condoms are comparatively less effective, and hormonal methods have side effects like weight gain and depression.
What are the different types of birth control?
The different available birth control methods are the long-term hormonal method, short-term hormonal method, barrier method, fertility awareness method, spermicide or gel, and sterilization. Some of these methods are permanent, while others act as reversible or short-term options of contraception.
How do different birth control work?
Short-period hormonal birth control methods are ring, patch, pill, and shot. They work by stopping the release of eggs by ovaries. Condoms act as a barrier, preventing the sperm from fertilizing the egg. Sterilization is permanent methods that either block fallopian tubes (females) or cut sperm supply from semen (males).
Which type of birth control is best?
Different types of birth control serve different needs. Implants like IUD, IUS, and female and male sterilization are more than 99 percent effective. Implants stay effective for a long time, while sterilization is permanent. If protection from STIs along with contraceptives and affordability are considered, condoms are the best.
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