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If you would like to prevent pregnancy, there are many different types of birth control options available to you. Depending on your health and needs, you can find a method that will work for you. There are three main types of reversible birth control. Talk to your health care provider to determine which method is best for you.
Jade Elliott sat down with Nickee Palacios, Health Promotion Coordinator, Maternal and Infant Health Program, to discuss the different options for contraception.
Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARCs)
- Intrauterine Device (IUD): a T-shaped piece of plastic that is put into the uterus and prevents sperm from fertilizing an egg. IUDs are over 99% effective and can last between 3 and 12 years, depending on which type you get. You can get either a hormonal IUD or a non-hormonal IUD, which is made of plastic and a small amount of natural, safe copper.
- The implant (Nexplanon) is a small rod that is inserted under the skin of your upper arm and releases hormones. It is over 99% effective and prevents pregnancy for up to 4 years.
Hormonal Methods
- Birth control pills, patch, ring, and shot
- All four of these methods work by releasing hormones that keep your ovaries from releasing eggs and makes it harder for sperm to reach an egg. These methods, with typical use, are 91% effective.
Barrier Methods
- Condoms and Diaphragm
- These two methods work by creating a barrier so sperm and and egg cannot meet. Neither of these methods contains hormones and are about 82% effective for the typical user.
- Condoms also prevent the spread of Sexually Transmitted Disease.
A new Utah law allows pharmacies to dispense 3 types of birth control; the pill, patch or ring, through a standing order signed by Dr. Miner, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Health. Women, eighteen years and older, can get their pills, patch, or contraceptive ring directly from the pharmacist any participating pharmacy, such as an Associated Food Store, a Costco, or a Smith’s.
Women can come directly to a participating pharmacy to ask about contraceptives or birth control. A pharmacist will do a health screening of her medical and health history. The health screening is nothing to worry about, It is just a list of questions to help the pharmacist understand her health history. She will be asked questions like “Do you have diabetes?” and “Do you smoke?”
To find a list of participating pharmacies, click here, or call 801-273-2871.
The Baby Your Baby program provides many resources for all pregnant women and new moms in Utah. There is also expert advice from the Utah Department of Health and Intermountain Healthcare that air each week on KUTV 2News.