Birth Control/Contraception

How well does it fit with your lifestyle?

• Do you have an established daily routine, making it easier to remember to take a pill at the same time each day?
• How many sexual partners do you have? Are you in a mutually monogamous relationship?
• Does your sex partner want to be involved with contraception?

How convenient will it be?

• How often do you have sex? Some methods require action each time you have sex (e.g. diaphragm), while other methods are continuous (e.g. oral contraceptives).
• How comfortable do you feel with touching your genitals? Some methods require this (e.g. hormonal ring, diaphragm).

How effective will it be?
Birth control effectiveness ranges from 71% to 99.9% effective, depending on the method and whether you use it correctly.

How safe will it be?
All methods can have side effects, and some can be inappropriate for people with a certain medical history. Newer methods may have less data on long-term side effects.

How affordable will it be?
Consider how often it will be used, and how long it lasts. For instance, condoms are cheap but you have to use one every time, while an IUD is expensive but lasts for years. Also consider whether insurance covers part of the cost (i.e. for prescription methods).

How reversible will it be?
Most college students want a reversible form of birth control, but this is a spectrum. For instance, the Depo-Provera shot lasts for 3 months.

Will it protect against sexually transmitted infections?
Only condoms (male and female/insertive) can protect against STIs.