Awesome question, thank you for asking. First and foremost, starting any form of hormonal contraception should be a personal decision. This includes but not limited to; birth control pills, patches, rings, shots, implants, or intrauterine devices (IUDs). Now it’s important to mention that just because it’s a personal decision doesn’t mean you can’t ask questions. Talking with the people around you who have had experiences with different types of contraception methods can be helpful and informative, but ultimately the decision to use contraception and the type of contraception you use is yours. Remember, you know you and your body best!
Now, your mom might be concerned about how important it is to have a regimented schedule when taking the birth control pill. The pill is a big responsibility because it’s not a “get it and forget it” type of contraception as compared to an IUD. When taking the pill, it’s super important that it’s taken every single day at the same exact time, in order for it to work properly. However, if you feel that you can create a routine that will ensure you are able to take the pill on time every single day, great! If that doesn’t sound like something you can do, you should consider another method of contraception.
There are a lot of other options aside from the pill or an IUD such as a shot (every three months), an implant, a patch, etc. However, the IUD does provide the longest period of protection against pregnancy. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Mirena IUD (which is a popular IUD brand here in the U.S.) provides protection against pregnancy for a maximum of 8 years, wowzers!
All and all it’s important that you make an informed decision when choosing a method of contraception. Talk with your health care provider and visit our quiz on contraception to help you gather more information!