5 Popular Family Planning Options

Birth control is a critical part of family planning, or deciding when and if you want to get pregnant. While all birth control shares a common goal of preventing unwanted or unexpected pregnancy, not all methods work in the same way. The type you choose depends on:

Your personal preferences
Whether or not you want to get pregnant in the future
Other conditions you want to treat with birth control, like acne or menstrual pain
Any potential side effects
Cost and maintenance

Family medicine practitioners Clifton Etienne, MD, Michael Cavanagh, MD, and Flora Brewington, MD, at Westmed Family Healthcare in Westminster, Colorado, are here to help you choose a family planning strategy. Our team is knowledgeable about today’s newest and most effective forms of birth control.

In this article, we review five of the most popular family planning options you can choose from:

The pill

The pill, or oral birth control, uses hormones to stop you from ovulating. Ovulation happens when your ovaries release an egg, which is ready for fertilization by sperm.

Birth control pills contain the hormones estrogen and progestin to regulate your cycle. Beyond preventing pregnancy, these hormones can:

Help reduce acne
Reduce premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms like irritability, cramps, and migraines
Lighten your periods
Treat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Lower some cancer risks

As long as you’re diligent about taking the pill every day as prescribed, oral contraceptives are around 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.

Intrauterine device (IUD)

Perhaps you don’t want to take a pill every day or simply wouldn’t remember to do so. An IUD is another excellent birth control option that’s lower maintenance than the pill.

IUDs are tiny T-shaped devices your provider places in your uterus during a brief in-office procedure. Depending on the type you get, an IUD sits in your uterus for 3-10 years to prevent pregnancy.

There are two main types of IUDs:

Hormonal IUDs

Like the pill, a hormonal IUD uses hormones to stop ovulation. The device gradually releases progestin for years and has comparable benefits to oral contraceptives.

Copper IUDs

Copper IUDs don’t release any hormones. Instead, the copper inflames your uterine lining so it can’t host a fertilized egg (embryo).

IUDs are around 99% effective for pregnancy prevention.

The patch

You can wear a birth control patch on your skin to prevent pregnancy. The patch is similar to a sticker or bandage but releases estrogen and progestin into your bloodstream through your skin. You wear a birth control patch for three weeks and then take one week off.

Just like other hormonal family planning options, the hormones from the patch prevent ovulation. With perfect use according to its instructions, the patch is about 99% effective in preventing pregnancy.

Many women find the patch discreet and easy to use. You can stop using it at any time if you want to get pregnant.

The vaginal ring

NuvaRing® is a flexible circular device you place in your vaginal canal. It releases the hormones estrogen and progestin to keep you from ovulating. You wear the ring for three weeks and take it out for one week. Then, you replace the ring with a new one.

NuvaRing is generally comfortable and easy to use. Plus, you can remove it at any time if you decide you want to get pregnant.

With perfect use, NuvaRing is 91-99% effective at preventing pregnancy.

The implant

Nexplanon®, a birth control implant, is placed under the skin on your arm during a brief in-office procedure. Lasting up to three years, it releases progestin into your bloodstream to prevent ovulation and, therefore, pregnancy.

The tiny rod-shaped device feels comfortable beneath your skin once in place, but you’ll need to have it surgically removed in our office if you decide you want to get pregnant. It’s one of the most effective birth control options available — over 99%.