A birth control pill for men is every woman’s dream. Unfortunately, that’s not the case right now, and if you want to protect yourself and practice safe sex, you must use birth control. And don’t we wish all birth control was the same? Luckily, when it comes to what to consider when choosing a birth control, we’ve got you covered.
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Types of Contraceptives
Before we dive into what you need to consider, we’ll list the common types of birth control on the market today. It’s important to note that you must be conscious of each method because while one might have worked for your friend, it could be the worst fit for you and your body.
- Condoms
- Oral pills
- Intrauterine device (IUD)
- Arm implant
- Injections
- Ring
- Sterilization
Various Side Effects
Consuming any medication comes with risks and side effects. Condoms don’t have any serious side effects unless you’re allergic to latex. Other forms of birth control, such as the pill, shot, implant, or IUD, have side effects that may include weight gain, headaches, hair or skin changes, bleeding between periods, increased risk of blood clots, and nausea.
Cost of Preferred Method
Cost is a huge thing to consider when you want to go on birth control, as your health insurance might not cover the method you go with. Make sure you can afford the birth control from month to month, because it will no longer be effective if you miss a month or even a few days. Without insurance, the shot or pill can cost around $240 to $600 for a year’s supply. On the high end, intrauterine devices such as the IUD can cost $1,000 each, but they can last for multiple years before you need a new one.
Personal Lifestyle
Every woman’s life is different, and how she chooses to live is up to her. If you don’t want any kids for a while (or ever), you may want to choose birth control that will last a long time, such as the IUD. If you don’t want to become pregnant right away but maybe in a year or so, then go for a method that you can stop and start whenever, such as the oral birth control pill. Pick a method that you’ll remember to take and that you’re the most comfortable with getting.
Risk Factors
Some hormonal contraceptives can be detrimental to your health if you have certain illnesses or conditions. The pill can increase your risk of vascular diseases such as heart attack or strokes; the risk increases even more if you have high blood pressure or diabetes or if you’re a smoker. Furthermore, most forms of birth control won’t protect against STIs (sexually transmitted infections), so if you’re sexually active, it’s important to know when and how often you should get tested for STIs.
Speaking with your doctor is the number one step you can take in choosing a birth control. Other things to consider when you’re choosing a birth control are how effective it will be in preventing pregnancy and whether or not it contains hormones. On another important note, no birth control can guarantee you won’t get pregnant. Remember to keep your lifestyle, health, and body in mind before selecting a birth control method.
