One in four women will switch their birth control this year, a study shows. Here, reasons to consider a different method, according to Elizabeth McGee, M.D., assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive science at the University of Pittsburgh.
You're concerned about side effects. Most recently, the FDA warned that Patch users get more estrogen than those on the Pill, which may increase the risk of blood clots. (The Patch is still safe for nonsmokers, says Dr. McGee.) And just swapping brands of the Pill can often help with problems like bloating or moodiness.
You want more spontaneous sex. With kids in the house, you have to be ready to seize the moment. You may want to opt for the Pill, the NuvaRing, or an IUD instead of, say, a diaphragm.
You're breastfeeding. Any birth control with estrogen in it can reduce your milk production, so opt for a progestin-only pill or an IUD.
Your "mommy brain" means you forget to take a pill. The NuvaRing and the IUD allow you to think about birth control only once a month and once every five to seven years, respectively.
Your family's complete. If you're positive you're done having kids, you can opt for surgical sterilization (tubal ligation, or vasectomy for him) or the newer Essure, in which a metal coil is inserted into the opening of each of your fallopian tubes.
