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Top 5 Birth Control Methods For Women

If you want to have healthy sex life and avoid pregnancy, then using condoms is the best bet. Not only does it prevent unwanted pregnancies, it also protects you against sexually transmitted diseases.

However, men usually are reluctant to use condoms. Besides, using condoms puts the entire onus of birth control in the hands of men. There have to be birth control methods specifically for women so that they can be in charge of their body.

Contraceptive methods for women are very different from the ones used by men. Here are some of the top birth control methods used by women to avoid unwanted pregnancies.

The Monthly Pill
Progesterone pills are commonest type of birth control pills used by women these days. These low dose hormones do not allow the ovaries to release eggs every month. They regulate menstrual bleeding and prevent cramps. These contraceptive pills for women come in cycle of 28 and have to taken throughout the month.

The Diaphragm
This is a rubber sheet shaped like a dome that is placed inside the vagina near the cervix. It has to be fitted by the doctor and must always be used with spermicide pill. You should ideally use this barrier method only if you are not prone to weight fluctuations.

The Patch
You can place the hormone patch on your shoulder blade, abdomen or arm so that it keeps releasing estrogen into your system. This can give you protection up to a week. However, it makes you prone to blood clots and severe cramping.

The Loop Or 'T'

The Loop Or 'T'
The metallic device called the copper 'T' or the 'loop' in street terms is an intra uterine contraceptive device. This keeps releasing hormones and prevents the sperm from mating with the egg. IUDs have long term use for up to 5 or 10 years. This allows you stay safe for long periods of time. However, it is adviceable only to women who have had children because it makes the uterus expand causing pain in women who have never experienced pregnancy.

Female Condoms
Female condoms have to be implanted deep into the vagina to cover the cervix for protection against the sperms. They are not as safe as male condoms and thus not 100 per cent fool-proof.

Story first published: Thursday, September 11, 2014, 17:55 [IST]
Read more about: birth control pregnancy