There are a number of varied birth control options for women; but which one to pick should be decided upon after considering several factors – is birth control being used because a woman doesn’t want a child yet (she may be too young or have a career to think of), because she wants to space her children appropriately, or because she is done bearing children or because she doesn’t want any children at all.

There are further considerations to consider when picking the birth control methods for women – should the birth control method also prevent sexually transmitted diseases (if not in a steady and exclusive relationship)? Is it something that a woman and her partner are comfortable with, in terms of practicality and convenience of use?

Birth Control Options for WomenIf sexual spontaneity and discretion are important factors they should also be considered.

Are there any medical conditions or religious beliefs that could preclude the use of certain types of contraceptives? Also what does a particular method of birth control cost?

Based on these considerations, the appropriate one from among temporary or permanent birth control options can be picked.

Non Permanent birth control options for the women are –

Barrier Devices

Devices such as the female condom or the diaphragm provide protection from an unwanted pregnancy by preventing the male sperm from reaching the female egg.

Pills and other Hormonal options

The combination hormonal birth control pill (estrogen and progesterone) is the most widely used of the hormonal birth control options for women. The Depo Shot or Depo Provera is an injectible form of hormonal birth control that prevents pregnancy for 11 to 14 weeks; or 4 in a year.

Implanon is a product that consists of a thin plastic rod to be inserted into the upper arm just under the skin to provide a slow dose of hormones to prevent pregnancy for up to 3 years.

Intrauterine devices

These are usually longer term birth control options which, once inserted, offer very effective protection against unwanted pregnancies for a longer duration of 5 years to 10 years. Known as IUDs, they are a T shaped contraceptive device that is inserted into the uterus to release low doses of hormones.

Some types of IUDs can also be used as emergency contraceptives to offer protection against pregnancy even if inserted a couple of days after unprotected sex.

Permanent birth control options for women –

Tubal ligation

Though technically this is a procedure that can be reversed, this may be difficult or impossible in many cases, and having one’s tubes tied is considered to be a permanent solution for birth control. So having this procedure is not recommended for women who have any intentions of having babies in the future.

This is a surgical procedure that is now able to be performed laparoscopicaly and is minimally invasive.

Female sterilization

This again is one of the permanent birth control options for women who have completed their families. Since it involves removal of some or all of a woman’s reproductive organs this is not a surgery that is recommended as a form of birth control since it is too extreme in nature.