Birth Control Bingo: An Implant, the Shot or an IUD?

Part of Scarleteen's Birth Control Bingo. Need to go back a question? Or start over?

On the previous page, you said that you ARE okay with or prefer:

• the possible suppression of your periods
• irregular and/or unpredictable bleeding or spotting
• needles and/or a minor surgical procedure
• an injection of a method into your body, or a physical device staying in your body
• having to remember a method anywhere from every three months to every few years

You also may have said in previous screens that you cannot or do not want to use estrogens, but would prefer a hormonal method of some kind over a non-hormonal method.

Ruling out⁠ (out: Short for ‘out of the closet’. When someone’s LGBTQ+ identity is known to other people.) all other methods previous to this screen, that means that three possible methods remain which are hormonal, but do not contain estrogens: a contraceptive implant, the Depo-Provera Shot or an IUD⁠ (IUD: Intra-uterine device. A long-term birth control method inserted into the uterus by a healthcare provider. Also called an IUS (Intrauterine system) or IUC (Intrauterine contraceptive).) .

Just remember that any of these next methods will often change periods and vaginal bleeding considerably. If you need periods to feel secure about not being pregnant, or can't live with potentially constant and unpredictable spotting, you may want to go back a question to consider a different hormonal method where those effects are not as likely.

If you're okay with that, let's narrow things down further to find out which of these three options may be best for you.

First, would you prefer or do you need no hormones⁠ (hormones: Chemicals – via our endocrine system – that send messages across our bodies and brains. They both naturally exist and can also be made in a lab.) at all, but want a highly effective and goofproof method? If so, click here and look at the information for the Copper-T IUD. If that doesn't look like the thing for you, then you may want to start over, either by looking at other non-hormonal methods, or by starting back at the top⁠ (top: In sexuality, this is someone who wants to take the/a lead during sex with a partner or partners, or to consensually take the role of being in charge of sexual actions.) .

If you're okay with hormones -- knowing we're not talking about estrogens -- or you don't have a preference or sensitivity⁠ (sensitivity: A responsiveness to internal or external stimulus.) , keep reading.

Which of the following sounds most like you:

I can deal with likely weight gain, potentially even a substantial gain AND I would prefer an injection to a device being inside my body OR I am not in a long-term committed relationship⁠ (relationship: An ongoing interaction or association with another person, place or thing.) , or am not able to be consistent with and assertive⁠ (assertive: To be self-assured, self-confident. To stand up for oneself in a positive, nonviolent way.) about my partners practicing safer sex⁠ (safer sex: Practices which aim to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections, such as use of latex/nonlatex barriers, regular testing for infections and limiting the number of sexual partners.) to the letter AND I can live with negative side effects which may possibly continue months or maybe even (though far less often) years after I have discontinued a method AND I want or can live with a method which only lasts for three months at a time AND I can take a calcium supplement every day to protect myself against bone loss from a method AND I suspect or know that I am not able to get an IUD or an Implant, and know I cannot use estrogen⁠ (estrogen: A steroid hormone found in the bodies of all people, produced in the ovaries and the adrenal glands.It is involved in puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, mood, bone health, and other things across the body and lifespan .) , but want a hormonal contraceptive

If this sounds most like you, click here to find out about Depo-Provera.

OR

I feel okay with leaving a device in my body to provide longer-term contraception⁠ (contraception: Devices, medications or behaviors used to intentionally aim to prevent pregnancy, including the condom, the cervical barrier, the implant, the patch, the pill, the rhythm method, the ring, the shot, the IUD, spermicide and withdrawal.) AND I suffer from depression, or have concerns about weight gain AND I want or can live with a method which can last anywhere from three years to twelve years OR I want an easily reversible method where side effects will not likely continue after I discontinue use

If this sounds most like you, keep reading.

We're down to two more methods, so it's time to make a couple final choices. Which of the following two groups sounds the most like you?

I am NOT in a long-term committed relationship where my STI⁠ (STI: Sexually transmitted infections: illness, infection and/or disease which is often or can be transmitted through sexual or other intimate contact, like HIV, Chlamydia or Herpes. Some people call STIs STDs.) risks are minimal or I am NOT easily able to be assertive and consistent about safer sex practices with partners AND I am comfortable having a device in my body, but would prefer it in my arm rather than in my uterus⁠ (uterus: An internal, muscular reproductive organ in the pelvis. During pregnancy, this is where a fetus will develop. The lining of a person’s uterus is also the thing that sheds every menstrual cycle in what we call a period.) AND I cannot easily get health care on the fly or cannot commit to yearly sexual⁠ (sexual: About or relating in some way to sex or sexuality.) health exams AND I have not been pregnant before, or am a young teen AND I can deal with unexplained bleeding or spotting, even if it's something I may have to deal with every day, the whole time I'm using the method AND I prefer a method which will be effective with one insertion for up to three years AND It's okay with me if someone might be able to see some trace of a device on my body

If this sounds most like you, click here to find out about the Contraceptive Implant.

OR

I am in a long-term committed relationship where my STI risks are minimal or I am easily able to be assertive and consistent about safer sex practices with partners AND I am comfortable having a device in my body, but would prefer it in my uterus rather than in my arm AND I can easily get health care on the fly or can commit to yearly sexual health exams AND I prefer a method which will be effective with one insertion for up to twelve years AND I can deal with unexplained bleeding or spotting for a couple of months, and then every now and then

If this sounds most like you, click here to check out an IUD.

If any or all of those things DO NOT work for you, AND if none of the options for methods before that last question worked either, then you may want to consider a different hormonal method, or a non-hormonal method. Or, you may want to start over from the top of this page to see if you can't strike a compromise somewhere, such as by being willing to deal with some weight gain or spotting, or to commit yourself to safer sex practices completely.