Can every birth control method be considered to be equally effective?
What side effects are associated with hormonal contraception?
Is hormonal contraception suitable for everyone?
Is sterilisation a definitive way of contraception?
Can every birth control method be considered to be equally effective?
No. Birth control methods have different levels of effectiveness to protect you from becoming pregnant. The following chart compares different methods by stating the percentage of women who (under 40) become pregnant within the year when using a particular method:
| Without contraception |
80-90% |
unreliable |
| Coitus interruptus (withdrawal) |
12-38% |
unreliable |
| Periodic abstinence |
5-15% |
unreliable |
| Condom (male or female) |
1-3% |
only sufficiently reliable in combination with spermicides |
| IUD |
0,5-3% |
quite reliable |
| Contraceptive injection |
0,40% |
very reliable |
| Male sterilisation |
0,15% |
very reliable |
| Combined pill |
< 0,1% |
very reliable |
| Patch |
< 0,1% |
very reliable |
|
What side effects are associated with hormonal contraception?
The pills of the ‘early days’ used to combine very high doses of oestrogen and progesterone. Nowadays, contraceptive pills are substantially lower in hormone doses and new derivatives are far better tolerated.
There are side effects that can be attributed to hormonal contraception, such as:
- headaches
- nausea
- swollen, sometimes painful breasts
- breakthrough bleeding
- changes in vaginal discharge
- higher risk for urinary tract infection
Most side effects occur during the first months of use. However, if you still experience headaches, nausea, painful breasts or breakthrough bleeding after three months of use, you should consult your doctor. He or she might suggest changing to another form of hormonal contraception, for instance, using a patch instead of taking hormones orally.
Some side effects of hormonal contraception may be rather beneficial and may improve some disorders such as:
- skin problems, like acne
- heavy menstrual bleeding
- abdominal cramps prior to and during menstruation (dysmenorrhea)
For this reason, hormonal contraception is sometimes prescribed for its benefits rather than to act as birth control method.
Is hormonal contraception suitable for everyone?
No, hormonal contraception is not appropriate for every woman. Contraindications include:
- history of deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism
- pre-existing cardiovascular disease
- heavy body weight
- smoking
- high cholesterol levels
- some types of cancer
Your doctor is best placed to evaluate whether hormonal contraception is suitable for you.
Is sterilisation a definitive way of contraception?
Sterilisation is generally chosen by people who seek permanent contraception. It is after all a surgical procedure, with rare but possible risks for the patient. People who think about undergoing sterilisation consider it as irreversible.
There is the possibility that you may change your mind about having been sterilised. For instance, you have divorced or your partner dies, you meet a new partner with whom you wish to have children. Consequently, a request to restore fertility may emerge.
Depending on the technique used and the amount of time that has passed, some sterilisation procedures are reversible and fertility can be restored. Unfortunately, in many people it is impossible to regain complete fertility. Even if the restoring procedure is successful, in vitro fertilisation may be needed to induce pregnancy but this has a limited success ratio.
