 intercourse
Can’t remember to take the pill or need something longer term?
1. Intrauterine Device (IUD)
The intrauterine device, also know as “IUD”, is the most popular form of reversible birth control in the world with more than 85 million women users. An IUD is a soft flexible “T-shaped” plastic device that is inserted into the uterus to be used for contraception. The device is inserted and removed at separate office visits. The IUD is one of the safest, most effective and private methods of birth control.
Effectiveness: IUDs offer a very effective, safe, and hassle free contraception option and they last for a very long time.
Pregnancy: The ability to become pregnant returns quickly when IUD use is stopped.
There are two IUDs currently on the market in the USA:
a) The Mirena® IUD
Offers 99.9% effective birth control for up to 5 years. This device has a small amount of progestin hormone on it that usually makes your period lighter, and in some cases stops your period. Women tend to like these lighter periods on this IUD. Some women may experience irregular and/or heavier periods for the first 3 to 6 months after insertion but this usually resolves with ongoing use.
b) The ParaGard® IUD
Offers 97%-99% effective birth control for up to 10 years. The device is non-hormonal and has a small amount of copper on it. Occasionally women may have heavier periods on this IUD.
NuvaRing® is a once a month contraception. It is a comfortable, flexible contraceptive ring that prevents pregnancy by releasing a low dose of hormones. The ring need only be replaced once every four weeks – it is left in place for three weeks and taken out for the remaining week each month. Many women who use the vaginal ring have more regular, lighter, and shorter periods.
Effectiveness: Less than 1% of women will get pregnant each year if they always use NuvaRing® as directed and less than 8% will get pregnant each year if they don’t always use NuvaRing® as directed.
Pregnancy: If you decide you want to become pregnant, stop using NuvaRing®.
Depo-Provera® is a birth control shot that is administered in the arm and lasts three months so you only have to think about it four times a year (every 12 weeks). The birth control shot does not contain estrogen, another type of hormone that is in many types of birth control, including the pill, patch, and ring. This means the shot can be a good choice for women who cannot take estrogen and for women who are breastfeeding. For most women, periods become fewer and lighter. After one year, half of the women who use the birth control shot will stop having periods completely. Some women have longer, heavier periods. Some women have increased spotting and light bleeding between periods.
Effectiveness: Less than 1% of women will get pregnant each year if they always use the birth control shot as directed and less than 3% of women will get pregnant each year if they don’t always use the birth control shot as directed.
Pregnancy: Because the birth control shot is long lasting, it can take a long time to get pregnant after getting your last shot – anywhere from nine months to more than a year. So, Depo-Provera® is not a good birth control method for you if you are thinking of getting pregnant soon.