Although no form of birth control has a 100% success rate most are fairly reliable. Birth control options can range from pills to uterine implants. Different methods may work better for some women than for others, particularly if a woman cannot take an oral contraceptive for medical reasons.
Oral Contraceptives
Oral contraceptives are generically referred to as birth control pills. Birth control pills contain hormones that affect the reproductive cycle of a woman and prevent pregnancy. According to Planned Parenthood there are two types of oral contraceptives: combination pills which contain both estrogen and progestin and the mini-pill which only contains progestin.
Birth control pills need to be taken daily and should be taken around the same time every day. When taken as prescribed they are about 99% effective in preventing pregnancy.
While most women have no problems with the hormones in oral contraceptives some can rarely experience serious side effects such as blood clots, stroke or heart attack. Woman at higher risk for these events will be identified by their physician and may be advised to avoid this birth control method.
Patches and Rings
Birth control patches that can be placed on the body and rings that can be inserted vaginally contain the same hormones as combination pills. Some women prefer these over oral contraceptives because they do not have to remember to take them daily. The ring only needs to be changed once a month and the patch only needs to be switched once a week.
Failure rates and side effects risks are the same for patches and rings as they are for oral contraceptives.
Depo-Provera Shot
The Depo shot is an effective form of birth control that only needs to be given every three months. Because it only contains progestin it is better tolerated by some women whose bodies respond adversely to estrogen.
There is a 99% success rate with the Depo shot. The only drawback is a woman has to go to her doctor's office to get it.
Cervical Caps and Diaphragms
Cervical caps and diaphragms are forms of birth control in which a woman does not have to take hormones into her body. A cervical cap is a silicone cup specifically prescribed and measured for each woman and that fits over the cervix. A cervical cap has about an 86% success rate and works best when used with a condom.
A diaphragm is a latex cup that fits over the cervix and has about a 94% success rate when used properly. Like the cervical cap a woman has to be fitted for a diaphragm.
Implants
Implanon implants are small rods that are inserted under the skin in the upper arm. They contain the hormone progestin and can prevent pregnancy for up to three years. Implants are 99% effective and women do not have to remember to take them or worry about user failure.
IUDs
IUDs are t-shaped and are inserted into the uterus by a doctor. There are two kinds; one made of copper that lasts twelve years and one that contains progestin and lasts five years. They can be easily removed if a woman decides she wants to become pregnant and are 99% effective in preventing pregnancy.
Condoms
Both male and female condoms act as barriers that prevent the sperm from entering the cervix. They are relatively inexpensive and can be purchased without a prescription. Female condoms are 95% effective and male condoms are 98% effective.
Women need to be aware that not all forms of birth control protect them against STDs. The only real protection against disease is a condom and if there is a concern a condom should definitely be used,
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