Different Types Of Birth Control Pills | HealthInfi

Modern women have the possibility to use different types of birth control, each of them has advantages and disadvantages. Comparison of different contraception types helps to choose the birth control method, which will be optimal for both sexual partners. There are three main types of contraception: hormonal, non-hormonal, and surgical.

Each of these birth control methods is divided into numerous subtypes. Therefore, a woman is difficult to understand what contraception method is more effective namely in her case.

For non-hormonal pregnancy prevention, it can be used:

• Spermicides
• Coitus interruptus
• Sexual abstinence
• Male and female condoms
• Cervical caps
• Vaginal diaphragms
• Copper-containing IUDs

If you want to compare different types of non-hormonal birth control, you can do it by yourself. Almost all non-hormonal contraceptives are available for sale without a prescription and complex medical procedures are not required for their use.

An exception is the intrauterine device (IUD), which cannot be installed and removed by yourself. Therefore, besides the purchase of non-hormonal intrauterine device, it is necessary to pay the procedure – its installation and removal.

It should be noted that two types of IUDs are available for sale.

• The first type of IUDs contains only copper. In the USA, copper-containing intrauterine contraceptives are sold under the trademark ParaGard T 380A.

• The second type of IUDs contains only hormone – Levonorgestrel. In the USA, Levonorgestrel-containing IUDs are available for sale under the trademarks Mirena and Skyla.

You can compare two different types of intrauterine birth control by various indicators, including effectiveness and duration of contraceptive effect.

• Copper-containing intrauterine device – ParaGard is set once in 10 years. When ParaGard is properly installed, the effectiveness of this non-hormonal contraception method is 99.4%.

• Hormone-containing intrauterine device – Mirena should be replaced every 5 years. When Mirena is properly installed, the effectiveness of this hormonal birth control method is 99.9%.

It is noteworthy that effectiveness of different types of hormonal birth control is almost identical. Even when hormonal contraceptives are taken orally, their efficiency no less than 99%. When hormonal contraception irregularly or improperly is used, the probability of unwanted pregnancy increases.

For the scheduled or emergency contraception, different types of birth control pills can be used. Oral contraceptive may contain one or two active ingredients. Effectiveness of birth control pills depends both on the number of active ingredients and on the individual features of female body.

By choosing one of the plurality of types of birth control pills, pay attention to their indications for use. Combined birth control pills are used for regular (scheduled) contraception. Birth control pills containing only one hormone are used for emergency contraception after unprotected sexual intercourse.Read More