How do I choose a birth control method?

Bottom lineChoose a birth control method with a clinician by weighing how effective you need it to be (long-acting IUDs and implants are most effective), whether you want something daily or low-maintenance, hormonal or non-hormonal, STI protection (only condoms offer this), any health conditions that rule methods out, and your future pregnancy plans; the first choice can be changed if it doesn't suit you.

There's no single best contraceptive - the right one depends on your health, lifestyle, and priorities. A clinician can help you weigh the options and find a good fit.

Questions to help you decide

• How effective do you need it to be? Long-acting methods (IUD, implant) are the most effective because they don't rely on you remembering
• Do you want something you don't have to think about, or are you happy taking a daily pill?
• Hormonal or non-hormonal? Some prefer to avoid hormones (copper IUD, condoms, fertility awareness)
• Do you also want protection from STIs? Only condoms do that
• Any health conditions (like migraine with aura, clot history, or high blood pressure) that make some methods unsuitable?
• Future pregnancy plans - how quickly you'd want fertility to return

The main options

• Long-acting: hormonal or copper IUD, implant
• Short-acting hormonal: combined pill, mini-pill, patch, ring, injection
• Barrier: condoms (also protect against STIs), diaphragm
• Fertility awareness and permanent methods (sterilization)

How to decide

Talk it through with a clinician, who can match methods to your health and preferences, explain effectiveness and side effects, and help you switch if the first choice doesn't suit you.

Femora helps you track how a method affects your cycle and symptoms so you can tell whether it's working for you.