Which birth control method is most effective?

As a former sexuality health educator, many young people would ask me, "what method of birth control is most effective?" I had some nice, colorful handouts that listed each birth control method and the percentage of effectiveness. I would supplement the handout by telling the person the pros and cons of each method and I'd say something like, "when used correctly 1 (or however many) out 100 women using __________ method will become pregnant each year."

It is true: some contraceptive methods are more effective than others. However, in my opinion, the most effective birth control option is the one that a couple uses correctly and consistently. So how do young people decide which method is right for them?

The best way for someone to figure out what type of birth control to choose is by doing research and learning about the different methods. If a woman is considering a hormonal method, she should talk to a nurse or clinician about the methods that interest her to find out about the side effects and how it works. I'd also recommend that young women gather pamphlets, go to Planned Parenthood's website, and talk to friends about their experience.  

I recently found Bedsider, a website that shows videos of real women talking about their birth control. I think it is a great resource and can help women learn more about a particular method. Keep in mind though that most of the women in these videos are not talking about the cons of their method and everybody's body may react differently to a hormonal method of birth control.

Many young people also choose condoms, which may be easier for them to access. They lower one's risk of giving or receiving STIs. In addition, using a male or female condom with a hormonal method adds extra protection to preventing pregnancy.

It's also important to educate young people about Emergency Contraception (EC), what it is, how it works, and where they can get it. The answer to all of these questions can be found here. I recently read this blog post from Pregnant Pause about college students' knowledge about EC. As you can see, the majority of college students are having sex. About half of them reported that at one time they or their partner thought they were pregnant, but there were also a significant number of students that reported knowing "little or nothing" about Emergency Contraception.

Teens and young adults who are (or may become) sexually active and trying to avoid pregnancy should choose a birth control method that fits into their lifestyle, consider also using condoms, and be knowledgeable about Emergency Contraception and where to access it. 

 

How important is pregnancy prevention to young people?

Adults are usually the ones who talk about the importance of preventing teen pregnancy. But ultimately, sexually active young people in heterosexual relationships are the ones making decisions about whether or not to use a contraceptive method.

For the ones who had a comprehensive sex ed. program, they know about the methods of birth control and how to access them. So why are some of those same students still having unplanned pregnancies? When I started my career as a sexuality health educator teaching in an under served community with a high rate of teen pregnancies, I asked myself this question often. I learned that sexually active youth decide where they stand on this issue mostly through their actions.

Is the couple consistently using condoms? Does the young woman do whatever it takes to get to a family planning health center to obtain a different or additional method? Do they take time to learn how to use the method? If the answer is "yes", than obviously pregnancy prevention is important to that young couple. But for other teens who are not consistently practicing safe sex, perhaps they do not view the possibility of an unplanned pregnancy as a bad thing.

Something else to take into consideration is the culture of the community and whether teens having babies is accepted or not. Where I grew up, teen pregnancy was not condoned and I could count on one hand the number of pregnant teens who had babies as high school students. However, in communities where a lot of young people are having kids, being a young parent is not necessarily viewed as being negative.

Ultimately, it's up to teens to decide how important it is for them to prevent pregnancy. As adults, the best thing we can do is have open and honest conversations with them about the risk of having unprotected sex and be there to support them if an unplanned pregnancy occurs.

 

Relationship Resolution

It's the start to a new year and I'm sure many of you have begun working on your resolutions. In addition to the ones you're already working on, you might also want to consider creating a relationship resolution.

You can design one by choosing any type of relationship you are in whether it be with a friend, family member, romantic partner, or someone else in your life that is important to you. Decide what is important to you. Some basic qualities that are in most healthy relationships include good communication, respect, trust, honesty, equality, and fairness. Take a moment to think about other important qualities that you are looking for in your relationships.

Now that you know what qualities to look for, find out if these qualities are also important to the other person. It's important for both of you to be on the same page. If you find that your relationship is lacking something important, you can decide to work on it or choose to end the relationship.

Planned Parenthood's website has a great list of ways to develop healthy relationships. Both partners need to be invested in the changes and it takes time and energy to make improvements. Also, remember that relationships have their ups and downs and things won't be perfect all of the time.

If you find things are not working out consider calling it quits. You can check out PP's link for ending a relationship for some helpful tips. Keep in mind that some relationships are more complicated than others. Can you completely end the relationship when there is something else keeping the two of you connected? Do you have any obligations to this person? A relationship like this is complicated, but don't let that make you feel as if you have no control. It is important for you to make changes, otherwise you'll be unhappy. Brainstorm some ideas and try to figure out how to make it work best for you, the other person, and anyone else who may be involved. Doing this and implementing the changes will certainly make things easier when you have to interact with the other person in the future.

So have you thought about which relationship you are going to work on? In my opinion, this is one of the most difficult things to do, so be sure to take your time and don't be to hard on yourself or your partner. Relationships take time. If you have any other tips you'd like to share, be sure to post them.

Good luck and happy new year!