Hormonal Versus Non-Hormonal Birth Control: Pros and Cons
Selecting what kind of birth control is best for you is a big decision that can have a domino effect on your health, mental health and your whole life in general. That’s why it’s important to do your research and make sure you have a clear understanding of the different options available to you. The best way to approach a decision like this is to consult with a health professional, but here are the pros and cons of both hormonal and non-hormonal contraceptive methods to act as a kick-starter on your research.
Non-Hormonal
Non-hormonal contraception refers to methods that do not alter the natural state of a woman’s hormones but prevents pregnancy via other methods.
Cons
Some of the cons of non-hormonal birth control include the fact that there aren’t very many reliable options available. The most commonly used and most effective form of non-hormonal birth control is the copper IUD – a device that does come with its potential risks. Some complications include the potential for the device to become stuck in the uterus, the device breaking or causing an infection and perforation of the uterus. The occurrence of any of these could cause serious harm and may need to involve a Paragard IUD lawsuit.
Pros
The biggest pro of using non-hormonal birth control is of course the fact that it leaves your hormones in their natural state. This implies that many of the common side effects of hormonal birth control (like depression, weight gain and acne) are highly unlikely to be a problem in this case. Furthermore, the copper IUD can stay in place for approximately 10 years which makes it quite a non-hassle solution.
Hormonal
Hormonal birth control comes in many forms (such as the pill, a hormonal IUD, the implant and the patch) and alters your hormones to prevent pregnancy.
Cons
As we mentioned, hormonal birth control can, unfortunately, tend to mess with our hormones further than simply preventing pregnancy, which can lead to some unpleasant side effects. It may be necessary to try out a few different methods or brands before settling on what works best for you and your body.
Pros
There are many different types of hormonal birth control to try out, which makes it easy to find what will work best for your lifestyle. If you can’t be trusted to take a pill at the same time each day, you could check out an implant, patch or IUD which will take less admin and less brainpower from your side. Furthermore, hormonal contraception can be used for more than just birth control and is often prescribed to help with hormone-related issues such as acne and irregular periods.
Summary
Both of these different types of contraception have their advantages and disadvantages that you need to be aware of, and what works for one person won’t necessarily work for another. Our bodies are all so different and have different needs, so be sure to chat openly with your doctor about what works for you and what doesn’t.
