Birth Control Options for Women - Introduction

Highlights	Injected Contraception	Emergency Contraception
Introduction	Intrauterine Devices (IUDs)	Female Sterilization
Oral Contraception	Spermicidal and Barrier Contraception	Resources
Implant Contraception	Natural Family Planning Methods	References

Introduction

Contraceptives are devices or methods for preventing pregnancy, either by preventing the fertilization of the female egg by the male sperm or by preventing implantation of the fertilized egg. Contraceptives are not modern inventions. The first prescription for a contraceptive device described a tampon barrier device and was written on papyrus in 1550 BC.

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Contraceptive Options

Choosing the appropriate contraceptive varies from individual to individual. Contraceptive options for American women include:

Hormonal contraceptives (oral contraceptives, implants, and injections).
The intrauterine device (IUD).
Barrier devices with or without spermicides (diaphragm, cervical cap, female condom).
Natural family planning methods.
Female sterilization (tubal ligation).

A 1995 survey of several thousand US women found that the most popular contraceptives (female or male) were female surgical sterilization (28% usage) and oral contraceptives (27%). None of the other female contraceptives had secured the allegiance of more than 3% of users. These included the long-acting and reversible IUDs, implants, or injectable contraceptives. Worldwide, however, the IUD is the most popular reversible contraceptive. When American women were asked why they did not use long-acting contraceptives, they responded with three main reasons:

Lack of knowledge about them.
Fear of side effects or health hazards.
Satisfaction with current methods.

Experts believe that with additional information, more women would be open to other contraceptive options.

Hormonal Contraceptives

Hormonal contraceptives use either a combination of estrogen (usually in the form of the compound estradiol) and progestin, or progestin alone. They are used in many forms:

Pill form.
Progestin-releasing IUDs.
Injections (e.g., Depo-Provera, a progestin injection; or Lunelle, a combination of progestin and estrogen).
Implants (e.g., Norplant system).
Skin patches (e.g., Ortho Evra).
Vaginal rings (NuvaRing).

The pill works in several ways to prevent pregnancy. The pill suppresses ovulation so that an egg is not released from the ovaries, and changes the cervical mucus, causing it to become thicker and making it more difficult for sperm to swim into the womb. The pill also does not allow the lining of the womb to develop enough to receive and nurture a fertilized egg. This method of birth control offers no protection against sexually-transmitted diseases.