It’s no doubt that almost every woman around the world uses at least one of the birth control methods at some point during their lifetime. Birth control is the best and easiest way to prevent unplanned pregnancies.
Although there are several birth control methods, what may be suitable for other women may not be suitable for you. Some of these methods may even be harmful to your body, and you might end up experiencing some side effects. To avoid that, you need to choose a method that best suits your body and lifestyle.
This article walks you through some signs that will help you determine when you need to change your birth control method. But before that, you need to understand the major types of birth control methods available. Continue reading this post to learn more.
Major Birth Control Methods
There are five major types of contraceptive methods, and each one works differently. For instance, some methods prevent a woman’s body from releasing the ovum, while other methods work by preventing sperm from reaching the ovum.
Although every method works differently, they all have one primary objective of preventing unwanted pregnancies. So, you need to choose the method that best suits you. However, if you find it challenging to choose the best method for you, you can consider seeking professional advice from an obgyn such as Leavitt Women’s Healthcare.
Here are the major types of birth control methods:
- Short Term-Hormonal Contraception
Short-term hormonal contraception is a birth control method that involves adjusting the level of birth hormones such as progestin and estrogen in the body. Lowering the level of these hormones can help lower the chances of conception. Some of the common short-term hormonal contraception methods include taking birth control pills and using a vaginal ring.
While these methods can prevent pregnancy, they can have some side effects, especially on first-time users.
- Long-Term Contraception
This is another effective birth control method suitable for anyone who wants a long-lasting birth control solution. Unlike the short-term hormonal contraception method that requires you to visit your doctor regularly for replacement, the long-term contraception method doesn’t require much maintenance. This makes it the best choice for most people.
Some of the methods classified under this category include insertion of an implant into the arm or insertion of an intrauterine device into the uterus. Opting for these methods can help prevent pregnancy for a period of between three to ten years.
Long-term contraception methods work by adjusting the level of the progestin hormone in the body or by preventing sperm from fertilizing the woman’s eggs.
As earlier noted, one big advantage of using long-term contraceptives is that they don’t require much maintenance. Once the doctor has implanted the device into your body, you won’t have anything to do on your part.
Another benefit of long-term contraception methods is that you can remove the implanted device from your body if you decide to get pregnant later on. However, although there are many benefits in using these methods to prevent pregnancy, some people may still experience some side effects such as headaches and abnormal weight gain.
- Permanent Contraception
Permanent contraception is a control birth method involving the performance of surgical procedures to either a man or a woman to make pregnancy permanently impossible. While this method can provide a permanent solution, you need to be very sure that you won’t need to have a baby in the future. This is because, although it can be reversed, it can affect your fertility if not performed well.
- Emergency Contraception
You can consider using the emergency contraception method after engaging in sex without using any birth control method. It can also be a perfect method to try when you’ve used birth control, but you can sense that your birth control has failed.
Emergency contraception involves taking some pills to prevent pregnancy. There are different types of pills, and you can get them from the nearest pharmacy. However, each type of pill can react differently to different people. Also, for pills to be effective, you must take them immediately after having sex.
- One-Time Barrier Contraception
One-time barrier contraception involves the use of sponges, cervical caps, diaphragms, and condoms to prevent pregnancy. Using them helps prevent the sperm from reaching the ovum. This is the easiest birth control method because it doesn’t require a doctor’s prescription. However, to prevent pregnancy, you must use them whenever you’re having sex.
Signs You Need To Change Your Birth Control Method
As you’ve read above, there are many different birth control methods, and all of them aim to prevent pregnancy. However, bodies can react differently to a particular method. This means that what may perfectly work for your friend, may fail to work for you or cause some side effects.
But the good news is that in life, there’s no problem without a perfect solution. This means that if one birth control method isn’t working for you, you can always switch to other methods until you find the one that best suits your body.
That said, here are signs you’re using the wrong contraceptive method and that you need to switch to another one:
- If You Fall Sick
When you’re under a contraceptive and fall sick, then the method you’re using might not be the best for you—and you might want to change it. One common side effect of birth control methods is nausea.
Though nausea is a common side effect to most people, it’s important to differentiate normal nausea from severe nausea. Nausea caused by the birth control method can be so intense that sometimes you might even fail to get sleep. If that happens, be sure to visit your doctor for more advice on other best birth control alternatives.
- If You Are Forgetful
Forgetting is a common problem, especially for people who decide to control pregnancy by taking pills. While the best solution for this is marking your calendar to remind yourself when to take pills, this is not an assurance that you’ll remember to do so consistently. If that’s the case, then you probably need to switch to another method.
Also, when taking your daily pills, it’s advisable to take them around the same time every day. If you constantly fail to keep track of time, this method might not be effective for you. At this point, you’ll need to try alternatives.
- If It Hurts
Although some birth control methods like the implantation of devices in the arm and the uterus can have some side effects, they shouldn’t cause pain. Thus, you should be worried if you start feeling pain after undergoing these procedures.
Sometimes you might feel pain when the vaginal ring or the hormonal implant wasn’t inserted properly. So, you should visit your doctor to check whether these devices are in the right places. If they aren’t well-inserted, you need to ask your doctor to fix them to avoid other medical-related complications.
However, if you find that the implant is well-inserted and you’re still experiencing pain, then it means that the method isn’t for you. And this should be enough reason to switch to other methods.
- If You Experience Heavy And Uncontrollable Bleeding
If you experience heavy, uncontrollable bleeding after using a particular birth control method, it means that the method you’re using isn’t suitable for you. So, to be on the safe side, it would be helpful to try other methods.
Some of the methods that have been reported to cause heavy bleeding include Depo-Provera injection and the use of Nexplanon rods. Using these methods can cause your uterus to become thin and unstable, which causes it to bleed. Though bleeding is normal, sometimes it can be alarming and annoying, especially when you have to change your pads now and then. If that’s the case, you can try other birth control methods.
- If You Are Suffering From Hypertension
If you’ve recently suffered from hypertension, then you must be careful about the birth control method you’re using. This is because some methods involve controlling some hormones like progestin and estrogen in the body.
Using methods that involve these hormones can increase the chances of heart attacks, stroke, blood clots, liver tumors, and other complications, especially for people suffering from hypertension. So, if you’ve recently been treated for hypertension and other related conditions, you need to switch to other non-hormonal birth control methods.
- If You Notice A Fall In Libido
Depending on how your body reacts to a particular method, sometimes your libido might be affected. For instance, some people have reported having a reduced sex desire after taking some types of pills. One reason behind this is that, while these pills are aimed at suppressing ovulation, sometimes they can hinder ovaries from producing testosterone, a hormone responsible for sexual desire.
While that might not always translate to a fall in libido, it can affect several women in some instances. So, if you experience a fall in libido after taking some pills, it would be helpful to talk to your doctor who should advise you on the best birth control alternative.
- If Your Relationship Requires
The type of relationship you’re in can also help determine the best birth control method you can use. For instance, if you enter into a serious relationship, then the use of pills and condoms might not be best for you. You may want to switch to other methods like the use of a vaginal ring and other implant methods. Such methods can last for years, and you won’t be worried about getting unplanned pregnancies.
However, if you’re engaging in sexual intercourse with different people, you should use a contraceptive method that can help protect you and your partners from getting sexually transmitted infections. Condoms are essential for this kind of sexual relationship.
- If You Experience Swollen Legs And Chest Pains
As gleaned from the enumeration, taking birth control pills can cause a lot of side effects. One major side effect of pills is that they can form a deep vein thrombosis. Thrombosis is a condition that occurs when blood clots form in veins, especially in the legs. This can cause you to have swollen, painful legs.
Sometimes the clot can be so severe to the extent that it can even affect your lungs. This can cause you to experience some chest pains and breathing difficulties. So, if you take any pills and find yourself experiencing such symptoms, then it is high time to consider shifting to other methods as advised by your doctor.
- If You Have Limited Access
The location you live in can also affect the type of birth control method you can use. For instance, if you live in an urban location, you’re lucky because you can access all the available contraceptive methods.
However, if you relocate to a rural area, you will be limited only to the methods you can access. For instance, in rural areas, it can be difficult to look for pills. If this is the case, then you’ll need to switch to methods other than contraceptive pills.
- If You Have Acne
Most birth control methods can help prevent the development of acne because they block the release of testosterone and inhibit ovulation. This can help smoothen one’s skin. However, some people still develop acne after using a certain type of birth control method. Thus, if your skin’s condition worsens after taking a pill, you have to seek your doctor’s advice about other methods that can help you deal with acne.
- If You Experience Horrible Migraines
The most commonly used birth control method is taking contraceptive pills. However, most people end up having migraines with vision changes after taking them. This increases the risk of developing stroke, blood clots, and other health complications. So, if you suffer from severe migraines after taking your daily pills, consider having a dialogue with your doctor about the best non-hormonal methods.
Takeaway
Apart from pregnancy control, people use birth control methods for several reasons. So, whatever your reasons may be, ensure that your preferred birth control method can help meet your needs. For instance, if you aim to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections or control acne, and your current method isn’t providing the best solutions—you can consult your doctor who can help you choose the best method for your needs, health, and overall well-being.