Intro
Going on birth control is a big deal when it comes to your health. Between the potential side effects and benefits it can have both inside your body and in your life, you’ll want to consider a few important things before going on birth control. Luckily, we’ve broken down a few things to get you started right here!
1. Consider Your Options
There is no single birth control option out there. Sure, there are more popular types, but there is definitely no one size fits all. Options include:
- The pill
- A Path
- Shot
- Vaginal rings
- Condoms
- Diaphragms
- And even gels
Each of these birth control options offers a different efficacy rate, but none is 100% effective.
This is why many professionals recommend using more than one birth control type to overlap the effectiveness and minimize the chance of pregnancy – if that is your purpose for taking birth control (more on that below).
Choosing a birth control method is a very personal matter. What works for your friends and family may not work for you, and vice versa.
Your reasoning for taking birth control, the expected outcomes, your risk factors, and lifestyle choices all impact which option is right for you.
These answers can also help you determine when the right time to be on birth control is.
For example, if you are at high risk due to your weight, you might consider working with your doctor to reduce that risk factor, or choose an alternative method in the meantime. Because there are so many options out there – there is room to be flexible.
2. Understanding the Different Purposes for Birth Control
Just as there is no singular birth control type, there is no one reason that someone might choose to take birth control.
While one of the most common reasons is to prevent pregnancy, there are a host of other reasons for taking birth control. Examples, according to WebMD, include:
- Regulating period cycles
- Mitigating period symptoms – such as reducing cramps, lightening flow
- Helping to improve reproductive health
These benefits are largely a result of hormonal birth control, and using non-hormonal alternatives may not yield the same results.
It’s important to speak with your doctor to understand which birth control types will help or work against your needs.
3. Potential Side Effects
Few medications come side effect free, and the same goes for birth control. Again, the side effects will range depending on the type of birth control being used.
For hormonal birth control, people with hormonal imbalances may have their health ailments worsened rather than improved with new hormones added to the body.
Because of this, a doctor may recommend a non-hormonal alternative instead, like a Copper IUD, compared to a hormonal one. This can mitigate the chances of a negative effect due to birth control use.
Other potential side effects of birth control, namely the pill or other hormonal options, include:
- Weight gain
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Mood swings or changes
- Variations in sex drives
- Disruption of the menstruation cycle and more
By working with a qualified health professional, you can be sure that you choose a method that is poised to be the least harmful to your health.
Making sure that you’re doing what you can to minimize the chance of adverse effects is important.
When taking birth control, there are certain behaviors that can increase the risk of use, especially as it pertains to stroke risk factors.
Ditching tobacco, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and switching to a non-hormonal option when older are all great ways to keep side effects and serious health complications at bay. Be sure to speak with your doctor about your options.
Also, research how other lifestyle choices can affect your birth control use in the meantime.
While you may not be a tobacco smoker, consider how marijunana use might impact your birth control instead. For more information, visit Veriheal.
Conclusion
When you’re using birth control, there are plenty of things you’ll need to consider. From what type you want to use to the benefits and risk factors of each, it’s important to stay informed.
By doing your own research and speaking with a qualified healthcare provider who can guide your decisions, you ensure that you’re in the best position for success.