08/05/2021
Choosing and using a birth control method that is acceptable to both spouses can be difficult. When you reach an impasse, try to get some objectivity into your decision-making process.
We can offer some suggestions. Separately, each of person could make a chart evaluating the various birth control methods according to safety, effectiveness, convenience, and personal preference. Some research on each method may be necessary to present an accurate picture. Various interactive tools are available on-line to help with this process. The American Academy of Family Physicians’ website – www.familydoctor.org – offers helpful information on birth control options (When you open the website, type “Birth Control Options” in the search bar).
The Barrier Methods are condoms, contraceptive sponges, the diaphragm, and the cervical cap. These are typically used with a vaginal spermicidal.
There are various types of hormonal contraceptive methods. It is important to understand that the hormones are combined differently in different methods/pills. A great resource for determining which type of hormonal birth control is likely to fit best with each woman’s hormonal balance is MANAGING CONTRACEPTIVE PILL PATIENTS, 17th Edition, by Richard P. Dickey, MD, PhD, available at www.emispub.com or at 1.800.225.0694. A nonoral hormonal method, like a hormonal IUD, provides the best balance for many women.
Permanent methods are surgical procedures for the man or for the woman that would only be an option for couples who are certain they never intend to have more children.
Natural family planning involves the woman learning about her fertility cycle and avoiding in*******se during the time of the month when she is likely to get pregnant. There are a number of resources available; our favorite is Taking Charge of Your Fertility, 20th Anniversary Edition: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health by Toni Weschler, July 7, 2015
Once you have each done your homework, compare your findings. Take turns listening to each other and clarifying what the other thinks and feels, so that you each feel heard. Often this process will lead you to some mutually acceptable options. Two of our resources – the second chapter in our book S*x Facts for the Family and the ninth chapter in Getting Your S*x Life Off to a Great Start – are designed to walk couples through the process of choosing a birth control method. After you go through your decision-making process and have gathered current data from the website recommended above, consult your health care provider to finalize your decision based on your medical history.
For Further Exploration: S*x Facts for the Family
and for Newlyweds: Getting Your S*x Life Off To a Great Start
The news in the 17th edition is decreased estrogen. In 1977 the first edition of Managing Contraceptive Pill Patients listed 29 pills, 20 of which contained 50 mcg of estrogen – nearly 70%. The book was 100 pages in length, and offered 35 references. More than four decades later there are 15...
