Starting a family is a huge commitment, emotionally and financially, and it’s more important than ever for young couples to carefully plan this part of their future. This includes using birth control to ensure accidental pregnancy does not happen.
There are many different types of contraceptives for women on the market these days, everything from pill form to devices that are implanted in your uterus. You might have to try a couple of different types before you find the one that works best for you. It is important to do your research because each has its own efficacy, but don’t worry! We have a primer to get you started.
Oral Contraceptives
With birth control pills, it’s important to note that there almost as many different kinds as there are people to take them (not really, but you get the idea), and each can vary greatly in composition. There are a variety of strengths with a wide range of the amount of estrogen and progestin in them. Some women do better with the low dose pills and others need the higher dose. There are also three different types of how the hormones are delivered. Monophasic pills are made to introduce the same amount of estrogen and progestin into your system every day. Biphasic types deliver the same amount of estrogen every day for the first 21 days of your cycle and then a higher dose during the last part of the cycle in order to allow for shedding of the lining (or menstruation). Tri-phasic pills deliver the hormones in a variety ...