In a recent survey, the campaign found that 42 percent of unmarried 18- to 29-year-olds said they knew little about birth control pills and two-thirds knew little about long-lasting contraceptives, which are considered even more effective. A third said they believe there is a good contraceptive for their personal needs but they don’t know which to choose.
To help, Brown’s center just opened a website - www.bedsider.org - to offer frank answers for all those questions women might be embarrassed to ask. Among them: What the once-every-three-months contraceptive shot costs, how to use the female condom, and can the rhythm method work.
The site also discusses which methods work best and what the side effects might be.
Half of girls are sexually active by age 17, and menopause hits around age 50. To avoid an unplanned pregnancy, the average American woman will have to use contraception for several decades. The right choice when she is 20 might not still be when she is 40.
And starting in 2013, different types of birth control may be easier to afford as the new health care law will require insurance to cover contraception with no copayments.
Today, sterilization - vasectomy for men and tube-tying for women - is the nation’s leading form of birth control.
When it comes to reversible contraception, the pill is number one, highly effective if taken correctly, although missing doses raises the risk of pregnancy. The pill can bring other benefits as well. Long-term use lowers the risk of ovarian cancer; some types cut menstrual cramps or help clear acne.
