Different types of birth control include hormonal, non-hormonal, permanent, and emergency options, each with its own side effects.
Choosing birth control is personal, practical, and sometimes confusing. Pills, implants, condoms, and other options all lower the chance of pregnancy, yet each method comes with trade-offs. Side effects can be mild for one person and tough for another. This guide walks through the different types of birth control and side effects so you can talk through options with a health care professional with more confidence.
No single method works best for everyone. Health history, period pattern, comfort with devices or procedures, and how soon you may want pregnancy again all matter. Side effects and how much they bother you matter just as much as raw effectiveness numbers.
Different Types Of Birth Control And Side Effects
Medical groups sort methods into a few big buckets: long-acting reversible contraception such as IUDs and implants, short-acting hormonal methods such as the pill, patch, ring, or shot, barrier methods, fertility awareness methods, permanent procedures, and emergency contraception. The CDC contraception overview lays out these categories and gives effectiveness ranges for each group.
Within each bucket, you will see the same themes repeat. Hormonal methods can change bleeding, mood, skin, and weight. Copper IUDs and barrier options skip hormones but can bring more cramping, heavier periods, or irritation. Every method has a failure rate, and most have a short list of rare but serious risks that your doctor or nurse should review with you.
| Method | How Often Used | Common Side Effects |
|---|---|---|
| Combined Birth Control Pill | Daily tablet | Nausea, breast tenderness, irregular bleeding, headaches, slight blood pressure change |
| Progestin-Only Pill | Daily tablet, same time each day | Irregular bleeding, spotting, breast tenderness, headaches |
| Hormonal IUD | Placed once, lasts 3–8 years | Irregular bleeding at first, lighter or no periods later, cramps after placement |
| Copper IUD | Placed once, lasts up to 10 years or more | Heavier or longer periods at first, stronger cramps, spotting between periods |
| Implant (Rod In Upper Arm) | Placed once, lasts up to 3–5 years | Unpredictable bleeding, headaches, acne, breast tenderness, mood changes |
| Birth Control Shot | Injection every 3 months | Irregular bleeding, weight change, mood changes, delayed return of fertility, possible bone density drop |
| Patch Or Vaginal Ring | Changed weekly (patch) or monthly (ring) | Skin or vaginal irritation, nausea, breast tenderness, irregular bleeding |
| Male Or External Condom | Each time you have sex | Latex irritation or allergy, decreased sensation, condom breakage or slippage |
| Diaphragm Or Cervical Cap With Spermicide | Each time before sex, then left in place for several hours | Vaginal irritation, urinary tract infections, rare allergic reaction to spermicide |
| Emergency Contraception Pill | One-time use after unprotected sex | Nausea, fatigue, earlier or later period, temporary heavier bleeding |
| Tubal Ligation Or Vasectomy | One-time procedure | Surgical pain, bruising, rare infection or bleeding |
Birth Control Types And Side Effects By Method
Short-Acting Hormonal Methods: Pill, Patch, And Ring
Short-acting hormonal methods use estrogen plus progestin, or progestin alone, to stop ovulation, thicken cervical mucus, and thin the uterine lining. With perfect use, pregnancy rates are well under 1% per year; with typical use, missed doses raise that number. Side effects usually appear in the first few months and then settle down.
Common side effects include irregular bleeding or spotting, nausea, breast tenderness, headaches, and mood changes. Large reviews from groups such as the World Health Organization and national health services describe these effects as common but usually mild and often temporary.
Combined methods carry a small raised risk of blood clots, stroke, and heart attack in people who already have strong risk factors, such as smoking after age 35 or certain clotting disorders. People with migraine with aura, high blood pressure that is not controlled, or a past clot usually need a non-estrogen method instead. Your doctor or nurse can sort through these details and match you with a safer option.
Progestin-only pills avoid estrogen but still bring irregular bleeding and sometimes acne or weight change. They need strict timing, often within a three-hour window each day, so they work best for people who can stick to a steady routine or use alarms.
Long-Acting Reversible Methods: IUDs And Implants
Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) covers hormonal IUDs, the copper IUD, and the progestin implant. These options sit in the uterus or under the skin and give strong pregnancy protection for years with no daily action from you. Pregnancy rates stay under 1% per year with both hormonal and copper IUDs and with the implant.
Hormonal IUDs release a small dose of progestin into the uterus. Many users see lighter periods, shorter periods, or no bleeding at all after the first year. In the first months, spotting and irregular bleeding are common. Cramping after insertion usually eases within a few days, though some people feel cramps off and on for a few weeks.
The copper IUD contains no hormones. It creates a local reaction in the uterus that blocks sperm from reaching an egg. Users often report heavier periods and stronger cramps in the first three to six cycles. These changes often calm down over time. Copper IUDs appeal to those who want a method that does not change mood or skin and does not carry hormone-related clot risks.
The progestin implant is a matchstick-sized rod placed under the skin of the upper arm. It lasts up to three or five years, depending on the brand. The most frequent side effect is irregular bleeding, which can mean frequent light spotting or long gaps between periods. Other complaints include headaches, acne flares, and breast tenderness. Removal is a short office procedure if side effects feel too bothersome.
Barrier Methods: Condoms, Diaphragms, And Caps
Barrier methods place a physical shield between sperm and egg. External and internal condoms line the penis or vagina. Diaphragms and cervical caps sit over the cervix, usually with spermicide. Typical use pregnancy rates are higher than with IUDs or implants, yet condoms bring one major benefit no other method matches: they cut the risk of many sexually transmitted infections.
Side effects with condoms mostly relate to material sensitivity. Latex can irritate the skin or cause allergy, so some people switch to polyurethane or other materials. Lubricants with harsh ingredients can sting. Breakage or slippage tends to happen when condoms are the wrong size, used with oil-based lube, or not put on and taken off as directed.
Diaphragms and caps need fitting in clinic and must be used with spermicide. Some users notice vaginal irritation, unusual discharge, or more urinary tract infections. People who hate the feeling of something inside the vagina during sex often prefer another method.
Non-Hormonal Options Beyond Condoms
Non-hormonal birth control stretches beyond condoms and the copper IUD. Spermicide alone, the sponge, and fertility awareness methods also enter the mix. Fertility awareness methods involve tracking cycles, body temperature, and cervical mucus and then avoiding sex or using condoms during fertile days. These methods ask for daily attention and work best when cycles stay fairly regular and both partners commit to the plan.
Side effects from spermicide include irritation or burning in the vagina or on the penis. Some products increase the risk of HIV transmission when used often, so they may not suit people with higher infection risk. The sponge contains spermicide and can dry out the vagina, which leads to discomfort or soreness.
Fertility awareness methods themselves do not cause physical side effects, yet they do carry a higher pregnancy rate with typical use. They may suit people who strongly wish to avoid hormones or devices and who accept a higher chance of pregnancy.
Permanent Methods: Tubal Ligation And Vasectomy
Tubal ligation for women and vasectomy for men provide lasting birth control. These procedures block or cut the tubes that carry eggs or sperm. Pregnancy after either surgery is rare, though not impossible. Neither method protects against sexually transmitted infections.
Side effects appear around the time of surgery. People can expect pain, bruising, and fatigue for a few days. Complications such as infection, bleeding, or damage to nearby structures are rare but serious. Because reversal surgery does not always restore fertility, health care teams urge people to think through this choice and feel sure they do not want pregnancy later.
Emergency Contraception: Backup Protection
Emergency contraception steps in after a condom break, missed pills, or sex without birth control. Options include levonorgestrel pills, ulipristal acetate pills, and the copper IUD. Timing matters; pills work best in the first 24 hours and still help for several days. Copper IUDs can work as emergency contraception when placed within five days after unprotected sex.
Common side effects with emergency pills include nausea, fatigue, headache, and a next period that shows up earlier or later than expected. These effects fade on their own. A copper IUD used as emergency contraception brings the same cramping and heavier bleeding pattern described earlier, along with the bonus of long-term birth control.
Different Types Of Birth Control And Side Effects For Your Situation
The phrase different types of birth control and side effects sounds abstract until you match it to daily life. The same pill that makes a friend feel stable and clear may leave you queasy or moody. A method that gives one person lighter periods may give another constant spotting. The goal is not to find a perfect method on the first try but to land on an option that fits your health, plans, and tolerance for side effects.
The WHO contraception fact sheet describes how some methods stand out for long-term effectiveness, while others win on flexibility or ease of stopping. Side effects sit in that same trade-off space. A copper IUD may raise cramps yet remove worries about hormones. A progestin implant may make bleeding unpredictable yet cut period pain for people with endometriosis.
Hormonal Side Effects To Watch For
Most hormonal methods share a common set of possible side effects: irregular bleeding, spotting between periods, headaches, nausea, breast tenderness, mild fluid retention, mood changes, and acne that can improve or worsen at first. Large bodies of research report that many of these problems settle down after three to six months of use.
Some users report weight change while on the pill, shot, or implant. Research links meaningful weight gain most strongly with the injectable method, though changes in appetite and eating patterns also play a part for many people. Checking in with a clinician about any rapid or distressing change in weight is wise.
Rare but serious risks include blood clots in the legs or lungs, stroke, heart attack, and gallbladder disease. People who smoke after age 35, carry certain genetic clotting traits, or have strong migraine patterns often face higher risk. Shared decision-making with a clinician who knows your medical history helps place that risk in context and may push the plan toward progestin-only or non-hormonal methods.
Non-Hormonal Side Effects And Considerations
Non-hormonal methods dodge hormone-related side effects but bring their own quirks. Copper IUD users often list heavier flow and stronger cramps in the early months. People who already have heavy periods may find this tough to live with, while those with light cycles may view the trade as acceptable.
Barrier methods such as condoms, diaphragms, and caps depend on correct use every time. Irritation from latex, spermicide, or friction can make sex feel less comfortable. Switching to different materials or adding water-based lubricant often helps. Regular screening for sexually transmitted infections remains wise, especially when condoms are not used with every partner.
Permanent methods bring surgical risks and the emotional weight of a lasting decision. Regret can occur, especially when people choose sterilization during a stressful time or before they feel settled about having children. Good counseling and time to reflect lower that risk.
Matching Birth Control To Your Priorities
When you sit down with a health care professional, clear priorities make that visit smoother. Some people want the smallest chance of pregnancy and do not mind a device in the uterus or arm. Others care most about lighter periods, hormone-free options, or the ability to stop on their own without a procedure. Side effects weave through all those goals.
| Goal Or Concern | Methods To Ask About | Side Effect Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Strongest pregnancy protection with little daily effort | Hormonal IUD, copper IUD, implant | Irregular bleeding common at first; IUDs bring cramping around insertion |
| Lighter or no periods | Hormonal IUD, combined pill, ring, patch | Spotting at first, then shorter or lighter bleeding for many users |
| Avoiding hormones | Copper IUD, condoms, diaphragm, fertility awareness | More cramping with copper IUD; higher pregnancy rates with barrier and tracking methods |
| Protecting against sexually transmitted infections | External condom, internal condom | Only condoms reduce many STIs; check for latex allergy and use correct lubricant |
| Planning pregnancy within a year | Pill, ring, patch, condoms, fertility awareness | Fertility returns quickly after stopping; shot can delay return for several months |
| Heavy or painful periods | Hormonal IUD, combined pill, implant | Many people see lighter bleeding and less cramping over time |
| Done with childbearing and sure about it | Tubal ligation, vasectomy | One-time procedure; regret hard to fix, so solid counseling ahead of time matters |
Questions To Bring To A Health Care Visit
Birth control visits work best when you arrive with questions. A short list on your phone can keep the talk on track and make space for side effects that worry you most.
Questions About Your Health And Risks
- Do any of my current medicines change how hormonal birth control works?
- How do my migraine history, blood pressure, or clotting risks shape my options?
- Which warning signs should make me call the office or seek urgent care right away?
Questions About Bleeding And Daily Life
- How will this method likely change my periods in the first few months and later on?
- What can I do if spotting or cramps feel hard to live with?
- How soon can I switch to something else if the side effects feel too strong?
Questions About Use And Follow-Up
- What happens if I miss a pill, patch change, ring change, or shot appointment?
- How often do I need check-ins or tests while I use this method?
- How quickly does fertility return after stopping this method?
Information on different types of birth control and side effects changes over time as new research appears and new products reach the market. This article gives general background only. For choices about your own body, talk with a licensed clinician who can look at your health history, answer detailed questions, and help you revisit your plan when your life or health needs change.