When I was younger and first learning about sex and birth control, it was always the pill, the pill, the pill.
Now there is the pill, the patch, the ring, the implant, and so on, but all we ever hear about are hormonal birth control methods. What about non-hormonal birth control? This annoys me because there are a lot of different types of birth control that don’t get mentioned in the media.
There are a number of ways to prevent pregnancy that don’t involve taking hormones, such as the Rhythm Method, where you use the calendar and a thermometer to track the days you are most fertile, and Barrier Methods, which involve the use of a cervical cap, diaphragm, or sponge to physically block sperm from entering the uterus (male and female condoms do this too). There is also the IUD, intrauterine device, which is inserted into the uterus to block sperm from reaching the egg.
I will admit that these methods might be a little more complicated than taking a pill or inserting a ring, but I think that girls need to be aware of ALL of the different types of birth control that are available, regardless of the method.
I bring this issue up because the pill is advertised a lot on TV and is recommended by a lot of doctors but it’s not always for everyone, and I think that it is important for people to know that there are alternatives. When used correctly and consistently, non-hormonal methods can work well.
I mean, don’t get me wrong, the ring, the pill and the implant work great for a lot of girls! Anything someone does to practice safe sex is awesome in my book, but sometimes those methods don’t work for everyone, just like non-hormonal methods don’t work for everyone.
Hormones or no hormones, I believe that there is a birth control method out there for everyone; it is just a matter of finding out what type is most appropriate for you--do your own research and talk about it with your doctor. And once you do find the right fit, it is important, no matter what type of birth control you choose, hormonal or non-hormonal, to use it consistently and correctly.
To help figure out which type of birth control might be good for you, take a look at Planned Parenthood’s chart comparing the effectiveness of all of the different types of birth control: PP Comparison Chart
Planned Parenthood also has a good web page with a lot of information about each type of birth control: Birth Control Info