Choosing the Right Birth Control Method for Me
Babies are cute, cuddly and sweet. In fact, they are said to be magical: a smile or a chuckle from a gurgling baby is all it takes to wipe out the tiredness at the end of the day. You would love to have a baby someday—just not now.
Having a baby takes more planning than most other domestic decisions. There are a number of factors to consider, such as finances, childcare and later on, education.
As you and your spouse put off parenthood for now in order to enjoy some intimate time together, family planning is certainly on the cards. Fortunately, there’s no need for total abstinence these days.
Birth Control 101
There are lots of birth control choices on the market and it can be overwhelming. Which do you choose? It really boils down to what you are looking for, in terms of convenience, effectiveness and possible side effects.
To help you make your decision, here’s a table of some of the more common types of birth control.| Method | What Is It | Effectiveness | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Natural Methods | Not having sexual intercourse during a woman’s fertile periods ie. during ovulation. | Not very reliable. Depends on regularity of woman’s menstrual cycles. Should be used with condom or diaphragm. | Used when other contraceptive methods are not viable. | Couple must not have sexual intercourse during fertile periods. Daily recordings/ observations needed. |
| Condom | A thin, rubber sheath worn over erect penis during sexual intercourse. | 90% effective when used with spermicide. | Only contraceptive which can prevent HIV and some STIs. No prescription needed. Easy and simple to use. | Sexual intercourse interrupted. Possible allergy to rubber but only to a very small number of people. Silicon condoms are available. |
| Diaphragm | A flexible, cup-shaped device made of rubber. | Good protection when inserted correctly. 85% effective when used with spermicide. | Safe to use and no physical side effects. | Must be left in vagina for eight hours after sexual intercourse. Possible allergy to rubber. |
| Spermicide | Chemicals that kill sperms. | 70% effective on its own. Should be used with condom or diaphragm. | Easy to use and act as lubricants. | Preparation before sexual intercourse could be messy and troublesome. Woman must not get up and move about when spermicide is inserted. |
| Oral Contraceptive Pill | Synthetic hormone pills. | 99% effective if taken as instructed. | Effective, safe and easy to use. Acceptable to most women. | Must take the pill at the same time every day. Possible side-effects include irregular bleeding or spotting, bloating, nausea, headaches and breast tenderness. |
| Contraceptive Injection | A synthetic hormone injection. | Almost 100% effective. | Highly effective, convenient and long-acting . | Possible side-effects include ir regular bleeding, weight gain and delay in getting pregnant when contraceptive is stopped. |
| Contraceptive Implant | Synthetic hormones in a small plastic rod. | Almost 100% effective. | Highly effective, convenient and long-acting. | Possible side-effects include weight gain, hair loss, irregular menstrual periods, headaches and irritation at the implant spot. |
| Intrauterine Device (IUD) | A small device inserted into the womb. | 98% effective. | Safe, effective & long-lasting | Possible side-effects include irregular bleeding or spotting and an increase in menstrual cramps or menstrual bleeding. |
| Ligation and Vasectomy | Tubes which carry the egg (in woman) and sperms (in man) are tied, clipped or tied and cut. | Very effective. | Improved sexual life as fear of unwanted pregnancies is removed. No side-effects. | Permanent method. Only to be used by couples who do not want any children after the surgical procedure. |
Thinking Ahead
Here are some possible scenarios that you should think about:
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I want to get pregnant at some point in the future.
If so, you need to be aware that for some contraceptives like the pill, you’re able to conceive only after a few menstrual cycles.
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I don’t ever want to get pregnant again.
Are you exhausted by the three toddlers you have in tow? Consider permanent birth control like a vasectomy for your hubby or a tubal ligation for yourself only when you are really sure. Surgical reversal is possible but is not guaranteed.
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I want to protect myself against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
The only safe protection against STIs is abstinence from casual sex. Stay in a mutually committed relationship where both partners are uninfected also helps. Condoms are the only effective contraception to protect against HIV/AIDS and certain STIs, but some like syphilis, genital herpes and genital warts can still transmitted through intimate bodily contact. Other forms of contraceptions are not able to provide any protection against STIs.
Many instances of failed contraception are due to wrong usage instead of ineffectiveness of birth control. So whatever method of birth control you choose, do read up about it, and seek medical advice when necessary.
