I Never Want to Get Pregnant: What’s the Most Effective Contraception Option?

According to a recent Pew Research Survey, the number of adults who say they’re unlikely to have children has grown from 37% to 47% over the last five years. The reasons range from concern over the environment to not wanting children. 

Choosing to remain child-free because of not wanting children is more common among women, 64%, than men, 50%. If you are one of the women who wish to remain child-free, there are a variety of birth control options for you to choose from so that you can enjoy an active sex life without worrying about getting pregnant. 

At Mira Women’s Health & Midwifery, located in Boca Raton, Florida, board-certified OB/GYNs Kenneth Konsker, MD, and Emily Woodbury, MD, and our experienced and compassionate women’s health team can help you choose the most effective contraception option that’s compatible with your lifestyle.

Contraception and lifestyle factors to consider

Whether you don’t want children right now or you never want children, there are a variety of birth control options to consider. Here are a few lifestyle and personality factors that can help you choose the most effective and best method.

Do you have a long-term partner?

If you are having sex with multiple partners, you’ll want to choose a birth control option that also protects against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Or, you’ll want to choose a long-term or permanent contraception method in addition to a technique that protects you against STIs. Male and female condoms are the only methods that protect against STIs.

How often do you want to think about birth control?

Long-term contraception, such as an IUD or permanent birth control (tubal ligation), is the most popular choice for those who don’t want to think about birth control. 

For example, while the birth control pill, which you need to take daily, is 99% effective against unwanted pregnancies, it’s less effective if you forget to take it for a day or two or take it at different times every day. Other options, such as a vaginal ring, skin patch, or contraceptive injection, require regular maintenance. 

Good and harmful side effects

While hormonal birth control methods such as the pill can be less effective at preventing pregnancies than long-term methods, they also have benefits unrelated to preventing pregnancy. These benefits include:

• Lighter periods
• Clearing up acne
• Reduced cramping
• Lower risk of uterine and ovarian cancer

On the other hand, with the pill, there is an increased risk of blood clots for people who smoke and are over 35. With the IUD, you won’t have to think about birth control at all for three to 10 years, depending on which device you use, because they are 100% effective. However, some women experience heavier bleeding with the 10-year copper IUD.

How sure are you that you never want to get pregnant?

You may think that you never want children, but could you change your mind? According to a recent study, 13% of women who had tubal ligations before the age of 30 regretted their decision, as did 7% of women who were over 30 when they had the procedure. 

If there is a chance you may change your mind, long-lasting contraceptives such as an IUD that releases a small amount of hormones and lasts three to five years or a copper IUD that lasts 10 years may be a more suitable option.

When is permanent birth control the best option?

Tubal ligation, also called sterilization or “getting your tubes tied,”  is a surgical procedure where we cut your fallopian tubes and tie or seal them to prevent an egg from traveling to your ovaries. This procedure is a safe and effective method for women who are sure they don’t want to have children or more children, and it may lower your risk of ovarian cancer. 

While tubal ligation is a common form of birth control, with about 18% of women of child-bearing age choosing it as their contraception choice, it’s not right for everyone. It’s important to discuss the pros and cons and risks and benefits of this procedure with your provider. 

To learn more about permanent birth control and other contraceptive options, call Mira Women’s Health & Midwifery to make an appointment or request one online. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.