Birth control (contraceptives) can help prevent pregnancy when you don’t want to have a baby, but it can also help regulate the symptoms that come along with your monthly period. There are many types of birth control options with different levels of effectiveness and hormones, and the choices can get pretty confusing.
The accredited team at Moreland OB-GYN has put together a comprehensive guide to give you a better understanding of the types of birth control available to our patients. Before making a decision, schedule an appointment with your doctor to discuss the best option for you.
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At the very basic level, there are two types of birth control—hormonal and nonhormonal. Hormonal contraceptives can prevent pregnancy by stopping the release of an egg from your ovaries into the uterus, making the mucus around the cervix thicker so the sperm cannot enter the uterus, or making the lining of the uterus thinner to prevent a fertilized egg from attaching. The pill is the most widely-known version of hormonal contraceptives, but many other options are available.
Nonhormonal birth control prevents pregnancy by creating a barrier, or interfering with the sperm movement, to the egg. With no hormones present in the contraceptive, there is no interference with your reproductive cycle. Common nonhormonal types of birth control include condoms and IUDs.
Birth control options range in their effectiveness when preventing pregnancy. The only way to 100% prevent pregnancy is abstinence, however, many birth control options have proven to be highly effective. Some options can be paired together to provide a greater barrier against pregnancy.
In addition to pregnancy prevention, birth control can be used to control hormone-related issues and can also offer other health benefits.
Birth control can help:
