Your Contraception Options: 4 Popular Types

Choosing a contraceptive can be tricky. How do you know which will work best for your health and your lifestyle? 

Because 99% of women use birth control at some point in their lives, we think it’s extremely important to encourage open conversations about all of the contraceptives that are available to you.

Narrowing down your choice of birth control can feel overwhelming. Carrie Cogley, APRN, and the rest of our team at Primrose Women’s Health in Dayton, Ohio, want to give you some information on the four most popular contraceptives to make your decision a little easier.

1. Tubal ligation (female sterilization)

Nearly 20% of women use tubal ligation as their choice of contraception, making it the most popular form of birth control, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Tubal ligation — or female sterilization — is a permanent form of birth control that’s 99% effective. During the sterilization process, your fallopian tubes are cut, tied, or blocked so sperm can’t travel up the tubes and reach the egg. 

This type of birth control is typically irreversible because trying to reverse the process can take major surgery and isn’t always very effective. 

2. Oral contraceptives

Also known as “the pill,” oral contraceptives are medication taken by mouth to prevent pregnancy, and this birth control method makes up 12% of contraceptive usage.

Birth control pills use hormones to stop or reduce ovulation, thicken cervical mucus to create a barrier between sperm and an egg, and thin your uterine lining to keep a fertilized egg from attaching.

As long as you consistently take the pill as prescribed, this birth control method is also 99% effective.

3. Intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants

IUDs and implants are two forms of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC). They’re the most effective form of reversible birth control, and 10% of women use them.

IUDs are small, plastic devices that are inserted into your uterus, and implants are rods that are placed in your arm. Both of these birth control methods can last 3-10 years and require no ongoing maintenance on your part after they’ve been placed.

4. Condoms

Male condoms are the fourth-most popular birth control method, with almost 9% of women relying on them as their contraceptive. 

These condoms are thin, fitted tubes that are placed over the penis during sex. They create a barrier that keeps semen out of your vagina, rectum, or mouth. They’re a great birth control method since they’re cheap, easy to use, and easy to get. They also don’t require any previous preparation.

When used properly, they’re 98% effective at preventing pregnancy. 

If you’d like to switch your birth control method or learn more about other contraception options, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with Carrie and our team. Give us a call at 937-345-0009 or use our online booking tool today.