When it comes to family planning and reproductive health, contraception plays an important role. It helps individuals and couples to have more control over when and if they want to have children. Impressively, in the U.S., around 65% of women reported using at least one method of contraception in the past year. 

The control that comes from using contraception leads to healthier pregnancies, reduced mortality rates for both mother and child and overall well-being. However, according to a study, while there’s a suboptimal level of awareness about contraceptive methods, there’s a gap between understanding and practice. 

In this article, we will try to narrow this gap by reviewing everything you need to know about contraceptive methods.

Contraceptive Effectiveness

Contraceptive effectiveness refers to how well a method prevents pregnancy. It is essential to choose a technique with an effectiveness rate that aligns with your desired level of protection. The Pearl Index gauges the effectiveness rate, which expresses the effectiveness in two ways: typical and perfect use.

Typical use reflects how effective a contraceptive method is in real-world scenarios, considering factors like improper condom use or missed pills. On the other hand, perfect use refers to correct and consistent use according to the instructions. If pregnancy prevention is your priority, methods with higher effectiveness rates under typical use are preferable. 

Contraceptive methods like tubal ligation, vasectomy, IUDs, hormonal pills, patches, rings, and others are over 90% effective in both typical and perfect use. However, remember that the effectiveness rate is just one factor. There are other things to keep in mind, like side effects, personal preference, and convenience. 

Health Considerations

Your doctor can suggest the most suitable option based on your health history, ongoing medications, and lifestyle factors. Health conditions like a history of blood clots or migraines with aura and lifestyle choices like smoking can affect which contraceptive method is proper for you.

It’s a must for every individual to understand the potential side effects of contraceptive methods to safeguard overall well-being.  Hormonal methods like pills and patches can cause issues like nausea, breast tenderness, mood changes, etc. On the other hand, non-hormonal methods like copper IUDs might cause longer and heavier menstrual cycles. 

There have been defective products like the Paragard IUD. Women who had Paragard IUD experienced health issues like internal bleeding, organ damage, and infections while they had the IUD in or upon removal. There’s an active Paragard IUD lawsuit against the manufacturer filed by victims or their loved ones. 

According to TorHoerman Law, the lawsuit alleges that the Paragard IUD can fracture during use or upon removal, causing the above-mentioned issues. Besides the risks of defective products, side effects can vary significantly from person to person. Therefore, it’s a must to consult a healthcare professional to choose a safe and ideal contraceptive for your body and lifestyle.

Reversibility

Reversibility in contraception refers to the ability to conceive after discontinuing the contraceptive. This is a crucial factor to consider if you are not sure about your family planning goals in the future. There are methods with immediate, gradual, and permanent impacts on fertility.

Common barrier methods like condoms, diaphragms, and cervical cups offer immediate reversibility. It means you can conceive in the next cycle after you stop using them. There is a reason why male condoms are the most popular contraceptive method in the U.S., with around 32% of women using it in 2022. 

On the other hand, pills, patches, injections, implants, and IUDs can take several weeks for ovulation and regular cycles to resume. Lastly, there are permanent solutions like sterilization (tubal ligation for females and vasectomy for men). These are irreversible and should only be considered if you are sure you don’t want any children.

To summarize, choosing a contraceptive method is a personal decision that has significant implications for your health and overall well-being. Careful consideration of the factors discussed in this article, including effectiveness, health considerations, and reversibility, is crucial to making an informed choice.

Apart from these factors, open communication with your partner and doctor is paramount. Communication with your partner will help you establish clear family planning goals, whereas your doctor can provide personalized guidance based on various factors, including individual needs, medical history, and personal preferences.

Remember that the best contraceptive method is the one that syncs with your goals, health, and lifestyle. Exploring your options and discussing them with your doctor will help you find the best-suited method that empowers you to take control of your reproductive health.