Relationships June 20, 2017
You may think you have all the answers...
Photo by studiostoks via ShutterstockWhen deciding to be sexually active with someone, having the right playlist is important. It sets the mood, and can be a great way to impress your partner. But nothing could be sexier than having an open conversation about birth control. Because if you don’t take the time to understand how birth control works…
As funny as this is, getting pregnant is no joke. For those of you wondering if you can get pregnant on birth control, ENTITY reviewed some of the options.
With so many different methods for birth control today, the answer to our question is not so simple. And another factor to consider when thinking about birth control options is that not all forms of birth control listed here are equally accessible to everyone.
Today the majority of birth control methods are geared toward women, and it can be expensive. The point of birth control is to prevent a pregnancy from starting.
Some forms include being abstinent (not having sex), pills, Intrauterine Device (IUD), a male partner could get a vasectomy, hormone shots, spermicide-soaked sponges or you could even download an app that monitors your cycle. (There’s literally an app for everything.)
However, not all forms of birth control work best for everyone, so it’s best to consult a physician.
Yes. You can.
Unless you’re abstinent or have outercourse – all other sexual activities that don’t involve vaginal sex – there’s always a slight chance you may get pregnant. No matter how careful you are.
According to Planned Parenthood, the next best options after abstinence and outercourse are 99 percent effective and include vasectomy, IUD, sterilization and birth control implants.
After that, the efficiency of other forms of birth control range from 98 percent down to about 70 percent and include the pill, the vaginal ring, the sponge, male and female condoms, among others.
Depending on the individual, different forms of contraceptives can cause depression, anxiety, weight gain and even acne. Many people can’t use the depo shot (sometimes called Depo-Provera, the Depo shot or DMPA) which contains the hormone progestin. Some have reported hair loss and nausea, while others may have no problems at all. Take time to figure out what form of birth control is best for you.
Here’s a handy list of birth control options provided by Planned Parenthood.
Natural Cycles and Spot On are just two of the options available for women that want to track their periods. The difference is that with Spot On, the app tracks your period’s cycle and your preferred method of birth control along with it. Spot On works with the pill, patch, ring, implant, shot and IUD. With Natural Cycles, the app has the ability to track your cycle and tell you which days you’re not fertile.
Think birth control works the same for preventing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)? Unfortunately, they don’t.
Condoms, abstinence and outercourse are the most efficient ways for avoiding contracting and spreading STDs. Unless you and your partner have been safely tested, sex educators/physicians and your mom (or dad, or friends, or whoever loves you) will tell you to use a condom.
People have been trying out forms of birth control since the beginning of time. It’s important to understand that not everyone has had equal access and equal say in their preferred choices.
Forced mass sterilizations, for example, have been recorded all over the world, many people aren’t informed of their options, and others don’t have the resources to pay for them.
So although we’re still working on getting more and better options, keep in mind that people – mostly people of color – have fought for and been killed over their right to make the best decisions for their bodies.
Here’s a history of methods provided by Planned Parenthood (this is just one place to start).
Whew. Serious stuff.
And, to end on a lighter note.
You know you were expecting this.
