Effective & Reversible – The Newest Birth Control Options
Birth control has changed a lot in just the past few years. For the better. This is great news for women in every part of the world. Because no matter where you live, you need effective, simple and safe birth control. And you need it now.
New Choices For Long Acting, Reversible Contraception
Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) is getting more and more popular for several reasons:
- It’s simple. You don’t have to remember to take it, you don’t have to mess with it in any way—and neither does your partner.
- It’s incredibly effective. Less than 1% of women using LARC get pregnant. There’s absolutely nothing more effective in preventing pregnancy—except abstinence. And sometimes, your plans to be abstinent just don’t work out that way. That’s why you should always be prepared. Ahead of time.
- It’s completely reversible. You remove it, you can get pregnant pretty quickly if that’s what you want. But right now, you’ve made a choice not to get pregnant and LARC will ensure you don’t. There’s no need to let an unplanned pregnancy interfere with your personal hopes and dreams.
Other methods can fail. Condoms. Birth control pills. Vaginal rings. Patches. Injections. These methods fail more often than LARCs for a variety of reasons – most of which have to do with improper use or irregular use. It’s understandable. Life doesn’t send you a reminder to take your pills. You and your partner might both forget to buy condoms before you need them. With LARCs, there’s no remembering and no worry if you forget. You’re protected from getting pregnant. Right away. All the time.
Intrauterine Device (IUD)
Effective. Simple. Safe. This is not the IUDs of old—by any stretch of the imagination. There are two types. Review options with your gynecologist to ensure that your uterus is in good health and that you’re not suffering from any Sexually Transmitted Diseases that often go completely unnoticed. After that quick exam is over, the small, flexible, plastic IUD can be inserted. You won’t feel the IUD after it’s in place. It cannot be felt by your partner either. The IUD will then work in two ways; it will prevent sperm from fertilizing your eggs and it will prevent any fertilized egg (in the unlikely event that even happens) from implanting in your uterus. You are not protected from STDs, but you’re 99% protected from having an unplanned pregnancy. Best of all, you’ll quickly return to your previous state of fertility when it’s removed. If you were very fertile before using the IUD, you’ll be very fertile when it’s removed. If you weren’t all that fertile before, the IUD isn’t going to change things either way. But, you didn’t get pregnant when you didn’t want to get pregnant.
Contraceptive Implant
Effective and simple. The new contraceptive implants have come a long, long way as well. Instead of the multiple little “matchsticks” along your arm that we used to use, there’s now just one.
It’s not noticeable at all. To you – or to your partner. As soon as it’s inserted, you’re protected from getting pregnant. You are not protected from STDs but you’re 99% protected from having an unplanned pregnancy.
No pelvic (gynecologic) exam is usually necessary. That’s a big relief to a lot of women—young and old. If you’re healthy, if you’re having regular periods, your doctor can usually prescribe and insert the long-acting contraceptive implant right away.
Like the IUD, once you remove the tiny implant, you’ll return to your previous state of fertility—usually after just a few menstrual cycles. Another benefit of the contraceptive implant is you’ll probably have less cramping every month. You might have a little spotting until your body adjusts to the tiny dose of etonogestrel that the hormonal contraceptive implant releases—but your periods will be lighter, you won’t be bloated, and you won’t be pregnant!
Discuss Your Options With at a Doctor Today
Now that you’ve read about these two very effective, very safe contraceptive choices, we urge you to talk to your doctor or health care provider about which is best for you. Soon. Because if you’re sexually active there’s just no reason you should risk getting pregnant.
LARCs do not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases. They protect you from getting pregnant. Condoms protect you from STDs. Use both!