Statistics, on birth control Options

[coconutter]

Alright, I know there's a million questions/topics on this, but I need reassurance. I'm a little freaked out by the statistics I read on planned parenthood about birth control. I want to try as hard as possible not to become one of those statistics. That's part of the reason why I want my mother in on this, although I can tell she's not comfortable, she hasn't even agreed yet, but I feel I can negotiate my way into it. I've even talked to my boyfriend about it, I love how we can be so open.

So, anyway what I'm trying to say is what's the most effective form of birth control, and which one's do you feel most comfortable with I read a lot of the methods, and I didn't know which was more comfortable/effective

Any help?

[MissHygienic]

Just so you know, there is no 100 percent effective way to prevent pregnancy other than abstinence, so each method of birth control has its side-effects and whatnot.

Having said that, I've been on birth control pills and nothing has gone wrong with me, but if you're the forgetful type, well, you'll have to be unforgetful in order to take advantage of pills. It can stabilize your period, at least.

I've been on the shot, which is effective for up to three months. Due to a few circumstances, I wasn't even able to test out the effectiveness, so I can't tell you. However, I don't feel half-bad about the shot, so I will probably stick to this method in the future.

[karmakiller]

You can get shots that last a really, really long time. In my opinion, you need to find something that fits your lifestyle, but also has enough background information that it's safe. I still think your best bet would be to talk to your doctor. The thing that sucks about BC pills is that it's a lot of trial and error to find one that doesn't mess with your body.

[MissFits]

I have tried just about every birth control pill out and they make me sick and crazy. My pharmacist/boss said that he had never seen someone react so negatively to birth control. I can't function when I am on it. I puke, I cry every 5 minutes, in between crying sessions I am irrationally angry, my skin starts to peel off. It's lame, but it has never made me gain wait because I am too sick to eat.
I also tried the patch, but it always slid around in the shower. I could get back to where it was, but I was always scared of getting pregnant while I was on it.
I will not try the depo shot because you can only be on it for a year before you have to start getting calcium shots as well.
IUDs are more for women that have had children, and I don't think you fall into that catagory.
They also have an implant that goes into your arm. It's the same hormones that are in the depo shot but at a lower dose. It is effective for 3 or 5 years. I can't really recall. It a little plastic looking stick and you can sort of feel it if you rub your arm, and I knew that would drive me crazy.
There is also an implant you put in your underarm.
I work at a pharmacy and a lot of girls LOVE their nuva-rings.
I think I am going to try that next.

Out of all of those the depo shot along with the implants are the most effective. I would recommend always using condoms to increase efficiency. Kudos to you for educating yourself

[adnilamila_fe]

Well, I just recently had a nurse midwife come into my class for Health Care Tech and here is what she had to say about birth control...

Birth control pills, depo, and I believe IUD are one of the safest forms of birth control out there aside from abstaining from sex altogether.

And for a condom..
When you're JUST using a condom, it is only 60% effective protecting against pregnancy.
However, if you use a condom with a spermicide it is about 95-99% effective.

And if you have any unprotected sex, get the emergency contraception pill (not to be confused with the abortion pill as they are two different things) because it will decrease getting pregnant by 85% when taken within 5 days.

Just my two cents :]

[sunstreeks]

From experiance I can tell you DO NOT ever count on the Morning After Pill, do not even consider it as your only BC method. Do not go into the evening thinking, well I don't have a condom, so I'll just go pick up the morning after pill later. The morning after pill is meant for when the condom breaks.

I took it and if h had taken it sooner maybe my results would have been different but I am a statistic, so is my 3 year old daughter. I took the Morning After Pill excatly as it was prescribed, within 48 hours of having sex and guess what, didn't work.. Oops. Sorry.

I'm also pretty sure that it is 3 days, 72 hours limit to take the pill and the effectiveness decreases so the level of effectiveness an hour after is much higher then the level of effectiveness 1 day later.

Basically, it's a race and you have to stop the clock before his swimmers get there. Soon as the pill starts working it tells the sperm to go away, sorry, no vacancy. But if they make it to the egg before you put up no trespassing signs, well I have a million mommy tips if your interested.