Why do you need birth control?
The obvious reason to use birth control is to prevent pregnancy. Some forms of birth control can be used for other reasons as well. Some examples of birth control include:
Condoms — They can be used to prevent pregnancy and the transmission of most STIs.
Birth control pills — In addition to preventing pregnancy, these pills can help decrease painful periods and make your cycle more regular, reduce acne, control symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), prevent ovarian cysts, and, if advised by your doctor, lower your risk of some cancers.
Do you need a prescription for birth control?
You might wonder if you need a prescription for birth control. Not all forms of birth control require a prescription. In fact, some can be picked up free of charge. Free condoms can be found at Planned Parenthood, some school nurse’s offices, on-campus college health centers, and other clinics that provide safe sex and contraceptive counseling services.
There are forms of birth control that can be purchased without a prescription. They include the following:
- male condoms
- spermicide foam, suppositories, films, creams, and gels
- female condoms
Barrier types of contraception do not change your fertility, so they need to be used correctly in order to prevent pregnancy. These forms of birth control are good for women who are breastfeeding, have medical conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes, and who cannot tolerate hormonal birth control methods.
