First of all, let me just say this: I think we can all agree that the one week or less of sexual health education we received in middle school was insufficient in answering all of our questions about birth control. No matter how great your health teacher was, or how in depth your class may have talked about it, there is just no way that every single question about contraception was answered back when you were fourteen years old. So let’s talk about it.
Question: Does missing one pill really matter?
Answer: YES. In fact, I am a product of imperfect use of the pill. Of course, however, everyone’s body is different. Your chances of pregnancy change depending on when you missed the pill during your cycle, how many days you missed and if you had unprotected sex in the days surrounding the missed day. It is incredibly important to take your pill every single day, at the same time. But hey, we all have those days. If you miss a dose of your pill, it is a good idea to use a backup method (i.e. condoms) for seven days after missing the dose to reduce your risk of pregnancy.
Question: How expensive is a normal birth control prescription?
Answer: In an ideal world, birth control would be free. Gynecologists would hand it out like candy and people everywhere would be safe every time they did the deed. But alas, this is not an ideal world. There are many types of birth control and different insurance companies cover different percentages of the cost. Here I will cover the most commonly used types.
If you are on the pill or the patch, the average prescription costs between $0 and $50 per month. The Depo shot comes at a cost of about $50 per shot, plus the fee of the doctor’s visit every three months. Condoms are a popular and relatively inexpensive method, mainly because they prevent STIs as well as pregnancy. Condoms are available for free at many health clinics, and twelve packs of condoms are around $15 in drugstores. “Fertility awareness,” also known as the calendar method, is free. But please, I’m begging you, do not use this as your only method of birth control. If you use this method, use a backup. IUDs, which are placed inside the uterus by a healthcare provider, are the coolest type of birth control (in my opinion). I mean, it’s a little T-shaped device that lasts up to 12 years and is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. You don’t have to worry about it every day. However, astronomical coolness comes at an astronomical upfront price of up to $1,000.
And now, dear readers, my personal absolute favorite method: the ring. I love it. I really do. It looks like a jelly bracelet, it’s extremely flexible, conforms to the curves of your body, and once it’s in, you’d never know. It will run you about the same as the pill or patch method. Personally, my insurance gets me a three month supply for $10. Every insurance company is different, so these prices will vary widely.
Question: Is birth control dangerous?
Answer: The answer is, well, we don’t really know. Some research has drawn possible links from taking birth control in the long term to increased risks of some cancers, such as cervical or liver cancer. The problem is, the results are all over the place. The vast majority of data shows no consistent link. There is also research that connects birth control pills to lower risks of ovarian and endometrial cancers. Some forms of birth control can alter your cholesterol levels and slightly raise your blood pressure. Both of these things, however, can be easily monitored by your general healthcare provider. Overall, birth control carries little to no risk.
Question: Can you be allergic to birth control?
Answer: Yes, but it is incredibly rare. Only about 1 out of every 1,000 women experience reactions to their birth control methods. Side effects are much more common. If you experience side effects or allergic reactions to your birth control, contact your doctor right away.
Question: How effective are female condoms?
Answer: If you use the female condom every time you have sex, and follow the instructions carefully, the pregnancy prevention rate is a solid 95%. Just like on math exams and Lego sets, make sure you read the directions before you get busy.
Question: How many methods of birth control are there? How do they work?
Answer: Most birth control methods can be sorted into two categories: hormonal birth control and non-hormonal birth control. Non-hormonal birth control includes copper IUDs, contraceptive sponges, Lea contraceptive, cervical caps, diaphragms, spermicide (used alone or with other methods), condoms, and sterilization. These methods work by either creating a barrier between the sperm and the cervix, preventing the egg from meeting the sperm by blocking its path (vasectomies and tubal ligations), or creating a vaginal habitat that sperm cells cannot survive in (spermicide, IUDs).
Hormonal birth control includes methods such as the pill, patch, shot, implant, NuvaRing, and IUS, which is similar to the IUD. These methods work in several ways by preventing the ovary from releasing an egg, thickening the cervical mucus to prevent sperm from entering it, and changing the lining of the uterus to make implantation very difficult. If you have questions about what method is the best for you, talk to your gynecologist to come up with a plan tailored to your needs.
Question: Is there a difference between contraception and birth control?
Answer: Yes! It lies in the usage and methodology of the specific product. Typically, “birth control” tends to mean more permanent methods such as vasectomies and tubal ligations, since they reduce the number of children born by reducing the frequency of conception. Most other methods are classified as “contraceptives,” which are a type of birth control but with more specific methods. To us common folk, there really isn’t an important difference. Birth control, contraception, protection; whatever you call it, just make sure you use it!
Question: How effective is birth control, really?
Answer: First of all, let me say that there is almost no one on the planet who has used birth control perfectly every single time they’ve had sex. So, when you see statistics saying that perfect use will result in a 99.9% rate of pregnancy prevention, you might as well throw that number out the window. It means nothing. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, I will list the failure rates of each type of birth control, in order of effectiveness, according to the CDC.
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Implant: 0.05%
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IUD: 0.2-0.8%
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Vasectomy: 0.15%
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Tubal Ligation: 0.5%
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Shot: 6%
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Pill: 9%
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Patch: 9%
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Ring: 9%
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Diaphragm: 12%
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Condoms: 18-21%
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Withdrawal Method: 22%
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Sponge: 12-24%
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Calendar Method: 24%
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Spermicide: 28%
So there you have it. Some basic and nonbasic questions answered, some facts distributed and some sex jokes made. Now please, go out into the world with this newfound knowledge and have fun. Safe fun!