What birth control method is right for me?

Ideally, asking “which birth control method is right for me?” would have one simple answer. However, in practice there are usually several choices and the best option for you may change at different points in your life. Each individual who desires birth control will need to discuss with their provider which options are safe for them to use and line up with the individual's needs.

What else can I use birth control for besides pregnancy prevention?

The term “birth control” is a bit antiquated, since many people use it for reasons other than pregnancy prevention. You should always discuss with your provider what your goals are for taking birth control. Some common uses are:

• Acne: combined hormonal methods which contain both estrogen and progestin can improve acne. These methods are combined pills, vaginal rings, and patches. It should be noted that it can take several months to see full results. 

• Reduce PMS or PMDD: birth control methods may help decrease mood swings, cramping, breast tenderness, and other symptoms experienced prior to, or at the beginning of the menstrual cycle.

• Regulate menses: for those who have unpredictable, very long, or very short menstrual cycles, certain birth control methods can help create a consistent and predictable cycle.

• Lighten periods: birth control can decrease the thickening of the uterine lining, thereby making periods lighter.

• Skip periods: If you would prefer to not have a period at all or only have one every few months, hormonal birth control methods can achieve this. 

• Decrease polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) symptoms: if you have increased acne, facial hair, or irregular periods, these can be improved with birth control. You should always discuss with your provider if you are having these symptoms and suspect you may have PCOS. 

• Decrease endometriosis symptoms: by keeping hormones at a more constant state, birth control can alleviate the mid-cycle cramping, period cramping, and gastrointestinal symptoms that can occur with endometriosis. 

• Prevent ovarian cysts: if you have experienced an ovarian cyst, you may know how painful they can be. Birth control can help prevent existing cysts from growing and prevent more cysts from forming.

While birth control has many uses, you should always discuss your specific goals with your provider so you can choose the best option for you as not all birth control methods address the above problems.

Which ones can I start and stop on my own?

There are methods available without prescription for pregnancy prevention such as external and internal condoms (sometimes called “female condoms”) and spermicide. In addition to these, withdrawal (also called the “pull out method”) and cycle tracking can be utilized to prevent pregnancy. There are many free and paid apps available that track your menstrual cycle and help you avoid sex that can lead to pregnancy on your fertile days. Keep in mind, these cycle tracking apps only work if your cycle is regular, and can only be considered accurate after a few months of consistent tracking.

Fairly new to the market, there is also a prescription vaginal contraceptive gel called Phexxi which is utilized with each instance of sex. That means you are in control of when you use it and it can be started and stopped when you want.

There are also hormonal prescription birth control methods that you can start and stop on your own. Pills, vaginal rings, and patches all can be used when you want to, but bear in mind that they are not immediately effective. That means to restart them and have them considered as an effective contraceptive method, you will need to use them consistently for a week prior to any unprotected sex. The depo shot is a method that can also be restarted on your own if you do your own injections. Again, it will take a week for it to be effective again after restarting. For this reason, it may be advisable to stay on your birth control method to decrease the chances of being caught unprotected. 

Lastly, new legislation in Massachusetts has now made it possible to obtain both levonorgestrel emergency contraception (such as Plan B) as well as Ella at the pharmacy without a prescription. Ella is considered more effective at preventing pregnancy than levonorgestrel pills. Either can be taken within 120 hours after unprotected sex. You should always take a pregnancy test 3 to 4 weeks after taking emergency contraception to ensure it has worked. To get emergency contraception you should ask your pharmacist or you can make an appointment with your provider to further discuss your options.