Birth Control 101

Women use birth control for many different reasons. Some are looking to reduce period pain, others to help with acne, and many are seeking a reliable way to prevent pregnancy. In today’s blog, we’ll be giving you a crash course on types of birth control, so you can have a better idea of what might work for you before you schedule your next visit with the gynecologist.

Here at Control, we’re proud to provide women with a treatment for period pain that can be safely used alongside birth control. Simply rub our topical pain relief cream wherever you feel pain and get fast period pain relief. Order yours today and continue reading to learn more about your options for birth control!

Birth Control Pill

The pill was women’s first option for birth control, and many still use it to this day. It’s relatively inexpensive (under $50) and are a kind of hormonal birth control. They come in a pack and you take one pill per day, ideally at the same time each day. It works by stopping ovulation, which means that there is no egg for a sperm to fertilize. The main downsides of this birth control option is that you can’t miss a pill and, for it to be most effective, you’ll need to take your pill at the same time every day. Many women set an alarm or put their pack next to their toothbrush to remind them to take it.

The pill is 91% effective and a prescription is required. It does not protect you from STDs. Beyond preventing pregnancy, the pill has many other health benefits, including regulating periods, relieving cramps, treating acne, lowering risk of anemia, and even lowering the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer. They’re a safe, simple, and popular birth control option. Many women also use the pill as a treatment for period pain, and it has proven highly effective at reducing period pain.

IUD

IUDs are a low-maintenance form of birth control and are 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. They are a tiny, T-shaped device that’s inserted into the uterus. It’s long-term form of birth control, and depending on the type you choose, can last anywhere between three and 12 years. Hormonal IUDs use progestin to prevent pregnancy and once you have one inserted by a nurse or doctor you can forget about it until it’s time to replace or remove it. If you decide you want to get pregnant, you can have the IUD removed and you’ll be able to get pregnant immediately after. 

Many women are nervous about choosing this form of birth control because it can be painful to have put in. However, the pain is relatively short and most women are fine using ibuprofen to manage it. Sometimes the IUD can cause cramping, but again, it usually does not last long. Plus, many women have lighter periods, or no period at all, when using an IUD. And, like many forms of hormonal birth control, it’s a great treatment for period pain.   

Non Hormonal IUD

If you’re looking for a birth control option that does not use hormones, you can try a copper IUD. Sperm cells are not a fan of copper, and the copper IUD makes it nearly impossible for sperm to fertilize an egg. One downside of the copper IUD is that it can make your periods heavier and increase period pain. However, many women prefer to use a long-term birth control option that does not use hormones to prevent pregnancy. The copper IUD also works as an emergency contraception. And if it’s put in within five days after unprotected sex, it’s more than 99.9% effective! In fact, it’s the most effective way to prevent pregnancy after sex, even more so than the morning after pill. Cramps can decrease after time, and while you’re waiting it out you can use Control as a treatment for period pain.  

Birth Control Implant

This type of hormonal birth control releases hormones into your body through a small rod about the size of a matchstick. A nurse or doctor inserts the implant into your arm and it’s effective for up to 5 years. It’s a great choice for women who aren’t looking to get pregnant any time soon, but if you do change your mind, the implant is reversible. You can have it removed at any time and it won’t affect your fertility or make it more difficult to get pregnant in the future. 

The birth control implant works in the same way as other hormonal birth control, stopping eggs from leaving the ovaries and thickening the mucus in your cervix, which blocks sperm from swimming up to meet the egg. The implant is 99% effective. A downside is that it can cost up to $1,300, but it can also be free, if you have the right insurance or are getting the implant at certain clinics. If you’re interested, you should chat with your doctor about the cost and they can help you find the best price for you.

Vaginal Ring

The birth control ring is safe and convenient, and is 91% effective, similar to the pill.  It is a hormonal birth control option that you insert and remove once a month. You wear the small, flexible ring inside your vagina and it releases hormones. One of the benefits of using this form of birth control is that the hormones are absorbed through the walls of your vagina close to your uterus, rather than needing to go through your digestive system like the pill. It’s a great option if you don’t want to take a pill every day but aren’t ready for the commitment of the IUD or implant. Depending on your insurance, it can be more pricey than the pill, but some women can get it for free.

The Patch

The patch is an interesting option that is not as popular as the pill or the ring, but is just as effective. It works by releasing hormones transdermally, or through your skin. You wear the patch on your body, usually on your abdomen or somewhere that will be covered by your clothes. It is about 91% effective. You need to replace the patch once a week and leave it off during the week of your period. You must change your patch on time every week for it to be effective. It rarely falls off, but if it does, you won’t get enough of the hormones you need to prevent pregnancy.

Condom

Condoms are 85% effective at preventing pregnancy, but they are the only form of birth control on this list that prevent against STDs! In fact, they are the only type of birth control that also helps protect against STDs, and if you are sexually active you should use condoms along with another form of birth control to protect both against pregnancy and infection. You can also help prevent the spreading of STDs by using a dental dam every time you have oral sex.

Control: Treatment for Period Pain

We’ve created our blog to help educate our community about issues surrounding women’s health, and that includes education on birth control! One of the great things about Control is that it’s a treatment for period pain that you can use alongside hormonal birth control. Many women use birth control to help alleviate cramps, and Control gives you yet another option for reducing period pain. 

Control pain relief cream is inspired by women and made for women and is specifically designed as a treatment for period pain. We pride ourselves on providing women of all ages with a safe alternative to medication for period pain relief. Our period pain relief cream is FDA approved and it is safe, effective, and easy to use. We are confident that you will love our product and share it with all of the women in your life. Order yours from Control today and start experiencing relief from painful menstrual cramps!

 

This blog has been prepared for information purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice from KR Technologies or its affiliates. You should consult your own physician with any medical questions.