If you are into birth control, you’re probably happy with its convenience and reliability.
Still, you may have questions about the pros and cons of birth control. Many individuals consider having children to be a significant life milestone.
Marriage aims to find the ideal partner, have a kid, and raise that child to be secure in later life.
Having a baby is a huge duty beyond simply bringing a person into the world and introducing them to it.
The costs that will result from the child’s existence are in addition to the costs related to healthcare appointments. Overall, it is a tremendous duty.
There are numerous ways to achieve this without completely forgoing sex for those who do not wish to have children now or in the future.
Birth control is nothing new and has been utilized by people for thousands of years.
Despite the pros and cons of birth control, the goal is essential to prevent a woman from getting pregnant while having intercourse.
Birth control can mean any of these, from a single-use condom to sterilization this is possible.
It was developed to give women more options for avoiding pregnancy while shielding them from social rejection for having a sex life.
Every form of birth control has special instructions that must be adhered to. Here are the pros and cons of birth control:
Pros of Birth Control
The freedom of being able to control when you become pregnant is enormous for people who support birth control.
Women now have the freedom to make their own decisions and are not forced to pick between the possibility of becoming pregnant or having sex altogether.
Birth control can offer several health advantages to the women who use it, lowering teenage pregnancy rates and improving sex.
There are several pros and cons of birth control; below are the pros:
1. The Best Alternative to Abortion
One of the most significant pros of birth control is that it can be an alternative to abortion.
With access to effective birth control, individuals can prevent unintended pregnancies, reducing the need for abortions.
Religion, in general, usually frowns on birth control to some extent. However, what religions usually frown more on is abortions.
When considering birth control compared to abortion, many people see birth control as the lesser of two evils.
Birth control prevents this from happening and, as a result, is much more religiously permitted than abortion.
2. It is a Very Convenient and Safe Method of Contraception
Birth control is a highly convenient and safe method of contraception for women.
It is readily available, easy to use, and highly effective in preventing unwanted pregnancies.
Moreover, birth control has few side effects and can be used over an extended period without harming the user’s health.
This makes it ideal for individuals wanting sex without worrying about getting pregnant.
3. Helps Prevent Teenage Pregnancy
Teenage pregnancy rates across the country have significantly decreased as a result of providing free birth control.
Every pregnancy avoided results in significant financial savings for the mother, family, and state and federal governments.
Birth control, which has been scientifically shown to be more effective than education on abstinence, considers that teenagers will follow their natural desires to have sex and attempts to prepare them for this.
Birth control is more effective when there is proper sex education on the subject, but abstinence-only education falls short of instructing what occurs when you have sex.
4. Can Reduce The Frequency of Periods
You might be able to anticipate less frequent periods depending on the type of birth control you use.
Although controlling when they have periods is not the most enjoyable thing, many women feel powerful by this ability.
They may occasionally use birth control for no other reason than to have this independence.
In this sense, birth control is about regaining control over one’s body and has nothing to do with engaging in sexual activity.
5. Uninterrupted Sex
Each person has a unique sex experience. Even though they might be less expensive, condoms might ruin the mood or make the encounter less enjoyable.
With birth control, there is minimal to no possibility of pregnancy and no break in sexual activity.
Being interrupted enables individuals who truly love the experience to fully absorb the emotional and physical intensity of the moment.
6. The Use of Combination Pills
While some types of birth control can reduce the frequency of periods, others, such as combination pills, can be taken to change the timing and frequency of periods or even skip them altogether.
This can benefit women who experience painful or heavy periods or want to avoid having their period during a special event.
However, it is important to note that skipping periods using birth control may not be appropriate for everyone and should be discussed with a healthcare provider.
Combination birth control pills that include estrogen and progestin can also provide other health benefits.
They may offer some protection against the following:
- Osteoporosis
- Iron deficiency anemia (which can result from having heavy periods)
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (which, if left untreated, can cause infertility)
- Ovarian Cancer/cysts
- Acne
- Vaginal dryness and painful intercourse
- Noncancerous breast growths
- Excess body hair
- Menstrual migraines
- Symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
Cons of Birth Control
Most of those opposed to birth control belong to conservative or religious groups that view using birth control as a sin against the teachings of their respective religions.
Birth control is not only unsuitable from a theological perspective but also does not offer any protection from STDs or HIV, and depending on your physiology, it might have a variety of negative effects.
There are several pros and cons of birth control; below are the cons:
1. Religously Unaccepted
Depending on the specific religion, there may be a provision for married couples who choose not to have more children.
This, however, occasionally runs counter to the religious commandment to reproduce.
However, some religions believe that sex is not intended to be enjoyed. Instead, it is thought to be only intended for the conception of infants.
In that sense, birth control is bad because it emphasizes the pleasure of sex over its capacity to produce children.
2. Mood Swings
You can alter your hormones depending on the type of birth control you’re on.
You might be unprepared for the emotional side effects, such as melancholy and mood swings, resulting from this.
Although this could be a problem, it’s vital to remember that every individual will react to birth control differently, so you should use caution when using it.
Keeping note of your moods in a journal can occasionally be helpful.
Record when they happen and use the details you learn to confirm that birth control is to blame.
3. It Does Not Protect Against STDs or HIV
Contrary to condoms, birth control does not offer HIV or STD protection.
Birth control allows anything that can be transmitted through sex to be transmitted through sex, despite its many benefits for the women who use it.
This requires both sexes to be more selective about their bed partners and may even necessitate using condoms or other types of dividers that can prevent the spread of disease.
4. Physical Side Effects
In addition to mood swings, birth control can have physical side effects such as nausea, headaches, weight gain, breast tenderness, and changes in libido.
Some women may experience more serious side effects, such as blood clots or strokes, although these are rare.
Going over any possible concerns with a healthcare provider before starting any birth control is crucial.
5. Cost
Birth control can sometimes be expensive, especially if not covered by insurance. This can create a financial burden for women who need it but cannot afford it.
Additionally, certain types of birth control, such as long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), may require insertion or removal procedures that can also add to the cost.
Overall, birth control has both good and bad, and individuals need to weigh the pros and cons of birth control carefully before making a decision.
It is important to discuss all of these factors with a healthcare provider before choosing a method of birth control that is right for you.
Ultimately, it is up to each person to decide what works best for their situation and make an educated choice regarding their birth control options.
