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The New Birth Control Options
It was the early 1960s and tent dresses, white go-go boots, and Vidal Sassoon haircuts were all the rage.
But what captured the attention of most women was the "pill" -- a new method of pregnancypregnancy protection that promised to revolutionize a woman's sex life. And it did.
Today there are more than 40 different configurations of the pill available -- along with more than a half dozen other methods to easily prevent pregnancy.
"It is safe to say that we can offer women a lot more options than in the past, including not only the ability to control when and how often she wants to get pregnant, but also many aspects of the reproductive cycle, including bleeding patterns, menstrual pain, and even PMS," says Randy A. Fink, MD, a gynecologist in Miami who has advised the FDA on many of the latest contraceptioncontraception entries.
Indeed, in recent months, we've seen a number of advances in pregnancy protection take center stage. Here's a look at some of the newest options -- and how they can work for you.
Method: Plan B
If you need birth controlbirth control and you need it fast -- after unprotected sex has occurred -- then you need Plan B, a method of contraception recently approved by the FDA for over-the-counter use in women age 18 and older. As the name implies, its main purpose is for emergency contraception: after the condom breaks, you forget to take the pill, or sex happens unexpectedly.
How It Works: Plan B primarily prevents pregnancy by stopping the release of an egg from an ovary, and may also prevent the fertilization of an egg by sperm. According to Rachel Masch, MD, it works by "thickening cervical mucous to block sperm from meeting the egg, plus it thins the uterine lining so implantation can't occur."
Masch, director of family planning at Bellevue/NYU Medical Center, says Plan B "does not cause an abortion -- it prevents pregnancy."
What You Should Know: Available without a prescription, Plan B is safe to take as directed, even if you are currently using other hormonal methods of birth control or hormone replacement therapy. That said, doctors warn women not to use Plan B as their regular form of birth control. "It's called Plan B for a reason -- there should be a 'plan A' in place if you are having sex," says Masch.
Side Effects: Nausea, abdominal pain, tiredness, headache, menstrual changes, dizzinessdizziness, breast tenderness, and vomiting.
Effectiveness: Used within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse, it will lower the chance of pregnancy by 89%. If you are already pregnant, Plan B will not work.
Method: Implanon
Already approved by the FDA and ready to launch this month is Implanon, an implanted form of progestin-only birth control.
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