51 Common Contraception and Birth Control Quiz And Answers

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Couples and individuals, especially women, often ask various birth control quiz questions to determine the best contraceptives that suit their lifestyle and needs.

In ancient times, women had limited birth control methods to prevent pregnancies.

Moreover, the birth control methods used in those days, like Queen Anne’s lace, lead and mercury, were not reliable and safe.     

Fortunately, modern-day women now have a plethora of accurate, reliable and safe birth control pills and contraceptive devices. 

Even after being exposed to contraceptive methods and pills, women are overwhelmed and confused about the best option.

Many women result to friends and social media groups and forums like Facebook, Quora, and Reddit to ask birth control quiz, read reviews, and other users’ experiences.

But you are likely to get several horrible experiences and misconceptions about certain contraceptives and pills.

Some of these negative reviews are that birth control pills cause massive weight gain, infertility, mess with your hormones, or even increased cancer risks.

However, the effectiveness of any of these contraceptives varies from woman to woman.

With correct information from a credible source, choosing an option that suits your health, body, and lifestyle shouldn’t be difficult.

We partnered with some health experts to answer numerous questions on conception and birth control, including the available options.

Let’s go through the 51 Common Birth Control Quiz and Answers.

What Is Birth Control?

Birth control is also called fertility control, anti-conception or contraception. It is any medicine, sexual practices, device or surgical procedures used to prevent pregnancy or conception. Birth control or contraception is intentional as it allows sexual intercourse without the fear of unwanted pregnancy. It also helps provide control of when to have kids.

Women can choose from various birth control types available. Some are more effective than others in preventing pregnancy. Your choice of birth control depends on money, your need to prevent STIs (Sexually Transferred Infections), your health, and your desire to have a child in the present or future.

The various birth control methods available include pills, IUDs, condoms, the patch, tubal ligation, vasectomy, etc.

Types of Birth Control

Birth control has behavioural, temporary and permanent types. It can prevent a man’s sperm from fertilizing a woman’s egg or prevent implantation of the fertilized egg in the womb (uterus). 

• Behavioural Birth Control

This type includes natural family planning, abstinence and withdrawal. Behavioural birth control often involves a mutual agreement and understanding between a man and woman to be effective.

• Temporary Birth Control

Also known as reversible birth control, this type involves:

• The barrier methods like condoms, diaphragms or cervical caps. They prevent the sperm from meeting the egg.
• Mechanical methods like Intrauterine Device (IUD) and copper-T IUD prevent a fertilized egg from implanting itself in the uterus.
• Hormonal methods like pills and implants alter the menstrual cycle to prevent egg release (ovulation).
• Others are spermicides and emergency contraceptives.

• Permanent Birth Control

Permanent birth control is also called an irreversible type of contraception. Once you initiate this type of birth control, you cannot reverse it anymore.

This type of birth control involves several surgical procedures such as tubal ligation and vasectomy that are 99 percent effective. Permanent birth control prevents a woman who ovulates from becoming pregnant or the man who produces sperm to cause a pregnancy. 

While some men may pick vasectomy, women could opt for a tubal block or bilateral tubal ligation.    

Methods of Birth Control

• Natural family planning

With this method, a woman has to monitor her menstrual cycle and determine her ovulation period. During her most fertile time, she’ll avoid any sexual activity. One can detect ovulation using the basal body temperature, ovulation test kits, and cervical mucus consistency.

• Sexual abstinence

Total abstinence means celibacy or staying away from sexual intercourse.

• Withdrawal

Withdrawal is also called coitus interruptus and prevents the sperm from depositing into the vagina. The withdrawal mechanism happens when a man removes his penis from a woman’s vagina to ejaculate outside it.

• Tubal ligation

Tubal ligation is a permanent type of birth control that sterilizes the female sexual organ. A surgeon cuts, blocks or burns the fallopian tubes or combines any of these methods to avoid future fertilization. 

• Tubal implant

As another female sterilization, a tubal implant involves placing a coil in the woman’s fallopian tube. Within three months, tissue develops around the coil and blocks the tube, thereby preventing future fertilization.

• Vasectomy

Vasectomy is a birth control sterilization method for men. In this permanent contraception, the tubes which transport the sperm during ejaculation are blocked or cut. 

• Spermicide

Spermicides are available in various chemical forms like jellies, creams, or foams and specialize in killing and keeping sperms from fertilizing an egg. You insert these chemicals deep into the vagina before sexual intercourse.

Spermicides work by obstructing the cervix and preventing sperms from swimming into the uterus. You can combine spermicide with other contraceptives for more effectiveness.

• Male Condoms

Generally, condoms provide an exciting and safe sex life. Condom is a barrier contraception method that prevents contact between eggs and sperms. Male condoms come from silicone, polyurethane, natural animal membrane, latex, and other synthetic products. They work by trapping the semen and preventing it from accessing the vagina.

• Female Condom

The female condom is an alternative to the male condoms. The barrier method works by inserting the plastic or rubber device into the vagina or anus before sexual intercourse. While protecting a woman, the flexible rings at the ends stimulate the clits during vaginal sex.

• Diaphragm

The diaphragm is one of the least popular birth control methods that prevent conception. This rubber dome is inserted into the vagina and positioned over the cervix before sex, blocking the uterus opening and preventing the sperm from meeting with the egg.  

• Cervical Cap

Like a diaphragm, the cervical cap is usually used with spermicide to prevent the sperm from joining the egg in the uterus. The cervical cap comes in a smaller shape. 

• Birth Control Pills

The pill is the most typical hormonal contraception method and requires a daily intake. Modern-day pills are a combination of progestin and estrogen hormones.

• Birth Control Patch

Like the birth control pills, the patch is another hormonal contraceptive method. The hormonal patch is a flat, thin, and beige-coloured object containing progestin and estrogen that prevent pregnancy.

• Vaginal Ring

The vaginal ring is a small and flexible ring containing progestin and estrogen, like the pill and patch. This ring, fixed in the vagina, thickens the cervix’s muscles and stops the eggs from pulling out of the ovaries, thus preventing pregnancy. A famous vaginal ring brand is the NuvaRing.

• Birth Control Implant

The doctor numbs an area in the upper arm to insert a tiny, matchstick-sized device called a birth control implant. The progestin-hormone implant helps prevent the release of eggs from the ovaries, thus preventing a pregnancy occurrence. Nexplanon and Implanon are well-known birth control implants that can last for up to four years.

• Birth Control Shot (Depo-Provera)

This shot is a short-term birth contraceptive. Depo-Provera is a hormonal injection that prevents pregnancy for three months.

• IUD (Intrauterine Device)

The Intrauterine Device or IUD is a small, T-shaped device that the doctor inserts into the uterus to prevent a pregnancy occurrence for years. They come in different types and brands and are either hormonal or non-hormonal. ParaGard is a non-hormonal copper IUD brand that can stay up to ten years after insertion. The hormonal IUDs like Mirena can remain for up to five years, while Liletta and Skyla are effective for up to three years.

• Emergency Contraception

Emergency contraception prevents pregnancy occurrence after having unprotected sex. This short-term contraceptive can be non-hormonal or hormonal and is effective with 72 hours.

How effective are birth control pills?

Birth control pills are about 90 to 99 percent effective at avoiding a pregnancy case, provided you faithfully follow the prescription. These pills are most reliable when taken consistently and as at the prescribed interval, and this also prevents the fluctuation of the hormone levels.

Now you know the common terms and methods associated with contraception, let’s dive straight into our birth control quiz and answers. 

51 Common Contraception and Birth Control Quiz and Answers

IUDs (Intrauterine Devices)

1. Do copper IUDs make your period worse?

Copper IUDs, like ParaGard, associates with heavy and more painful bleeding. They can increase backaches and cramping during monthly periods in some females. These side effects are not necessarily a reason for concern.

Studies show that prostaglandins contribute to the heavy menstrual flow. They are fats at the site of tissue damage or infection in the body. The insertion of an IUD could cause inflammation and increase blood flow to heal the body. Prostaglandins also control the menstrual cycle.

Thus, as your body heals from a copper IUD insertion, your monthly period flows heavier. However, your periods may normalize within six months to two years. You can opt for another birth control method if the heavy bleeding creates discomfort.

2. Can I lose my IUD?

Yes, you can lose your IUD. The process where the IUD leaves the uterus is called expulsion. You might experience a partial or complete fall out of the IUD.

Without much-known reason, it usually happens to women below age 20, those with painful or heavy menstruation, females that have never conceived or those that insert an IUD after an abortion within the second trimester of pregnancy.

You can also lose your IUD if an inexperienced person inserts it into the uterus. It is likely to take about three months before losing the IUD. As soon as you notice an expulsion of your IUD, visit your physician to remove it.

3. Can the IUD hurt my partner?

No. It shouldn’t hurt your partner. Your cervical mucus helps in hiding the IUD strings feel, especially during sexual intercourse. Even if your partner feels the strings, it shouldn’t hurt or be painful for him.

However, if the string makes him uncomfortable during sexual intercourse, contact your doctor. Your health care provider could make the strings shorter by trimming or curling them back.

Your partner might feel the IUD’s strings if he inserts his finger into the vagina. If your IUD shifts from its position (about to be expelled), it would make sex uncomfortable both for you and your partner, thus needs your doctor’s attention.  

4. How soon does an IUD become effective after you get it?

The non-hormonal IUDs (copper IUD- ParaGard) become effective once a doctor inserts them. They act so fast that you can use them as emergency contraception in place of pills.

For the hormonal IUDs, they take about seven days to become effective at preventing an unwanted pregnancy.

So you might want to use a condom or other birth control method during your sexual activity within these seven days. However, if a doctor inserts any of the hormonal IUDs during your menstrual period, it will start working immediately.

5. How expensive is IUD – is it affordable?

IUDs birth control methods are expensive without insurance. Its cost ranges from $500 to $1,300, depending on the product and healthcare provider. But with the help of insurance, you can perform Intrauterine Device insertion at a much more affordable price. Some private insurance (Medicaid) plans even cover the total fee of an IUD insertion process.

Moreover, if you consider the long-term use of the IUD, you’ll realize that the price is low and worth it. The Paragard IUD can last in the body for up to ten years, which means you pay about $4 to $5 per month based on the total price.

The same is applicable with Mirena IUD and other IUDs. You can also visit the family planning clinics/health centers around you to check whether they offer flexible payment plans or IUD discounts.

6. My IUD was expelled. Is it safe to insert another one?

If your IUD expels partially or totally, it’s safer to meet your doctor to remove it. Don’t attempt to remove it by yourself to avoid complications. The doctor will perform an extensive physical examination, including an ultrasound, to spot the displaced or expelled IUD. In some cases, displaced IUDs often cause severe complications and heavy bleeding.

You can implant another IUD as soon as you take out the first one. But that would depend on your doctor’s directive concerning the result of the examination. If you are bleeding heavily or feeling pains, your doctor will likely prescribe another birth control contraceptive like a condom.

7. Can I use tampons alongside an IUD?

Yes. You insert the tampon and IUD through the vagina. Although the IUDs are placed in the uterus while the tampons stay around the vagina, they are similar. The cervix separates a tampon from the IUD, and each carries out its function without interfering with the other.

They both have strings, but the tampon hangs outside the vagina while the IUD strings are around the cervix. If you notice your IUD strings close to your tampon, visit the doctor as your IUD may expel.

8. Is it safe for me to take out my IUD?

No. It is not advisable to remove your IUD device yourself. A friend or family member who is neither experienced nor qualified should not take it out for you to avoid complications or severe damage.

Your health care provider is in the best position to locate the IUD through ultrasound and safely remove it. Removing the IUD is not as scary as inserting it. The procedure for removing the IUD is much easier, less painful and faster than you think. So if your IUD is due for removal, is displaced or expelled, book an appointment with your doctor to take it out.

Hormonal Birth Control

9. Does hormonal birth control make me gain weight?

Some females experience weight gain while taking hormonal birth control. However, these weight gain side effect occurs due to fluid retention and not body fat.

Estrogen and progestin are the two main ingredients in most hormonal birth control, and a high dosage of estrogen increases fluid retention and appetite. The weight gain effect poses no threat and usually disappears within 2 to 3 months.

So, if you notice an uncomfortable weight gain while taking a specific contraceptive, consult your health provider to suggest a suitable method- particularly contraceptives low in or without estrogen.

• Can I have sex without a condom the day I start on hormonal birth control?

Yes. But it depends on certain situations and choice of birth control. Most hormonal birth control like the shot, implant, IUD can become effective immediately after insertion, provided that you are in your period.

If you get any of these contraceptives on days other than your period, you will have to wait for seven days to start working. Alternatively, use a backup method like a condom within these seven days.  

11. Can birth control affect my sex drive?

Several factors influence your drive or interest to have sex, and birth control is one of them. The artificial hormones can affect your mood and reduce your testosterone level, thus, decreasing your urge to have sex with your partner.

Relate your concerns to your doctor to determine the best contraceptive for you. Apart from your hormones, your choice of partner, time and place also influences your sex drive at that moment.

• Will hormonal birth control affect my emotions?

Yes. Some studies show that emotional issues like depression and anxiety are common with females on birth control pills. About half of all women using the pill discontinue within the first year due to its mood-swing side effects.

Even when some doctors might advise that women overlook the mood-swing effect, most women and medical research experts often raise concerns.  You could opt-out of the non-hormonal contraceptive methods.

• Do I have to take my birth control pill at the same time every day?

Yes, you should take your birth control pill at the same time every day. It increases the consistency and effectiveness of your oral contraceptives. Again, it depends on the kind of pill you are using. A slight change in time for some pills might not affect their potencies.

Most combination pills containing estrogen and progestin hormones are still effective when you don’t take them at the exact time. But the difference between the first pill dose and the next should be within a 24-hour time frame.

On the other hand, you must take mini pills (progestin hormone alone) at the same period daily, within a 3-hour time frame for maximum effectiveness. With your doctor’s guide, choose the oral contraceptive that suits your schedule and lifestyle.

• Can the pill cause cancer?

Yes. A study suggests that oral birth control slightly promotes the risk of cervical and breast cancer. In contrast, the pills also decrease the risk of certain cancers like ovarian, uterus, colorectal, endometrial cancers.

Hormones increase cancer risks as they affect the pattern cells divide and differentiate. For instance, estrogen and progestin (present in oral contraceptives) increase cell division in breast tissues.

But in the endometrium or the ovary, estrogen promotes cell division while progestin opposes it by decreasing the cell division. Your doctor is the correct plug for a helpful guide to the contraceptive pill.

• Is it safe to take two pills in one day?

Yes, especially if you have missed a pill. In this case, you can take two pills in a day. But try not to take the pills at a closer time range to avoid nausea and vomiting or vaginal bleeding.

We recommend that you use two contraceptive pills at least 10 hours apart. If you feel any of these symptoms, it will relieve you after some time, but you can seek medical help in the case of severe symptoms.

• Does taking birth control pills to make it harder to have kids later?

One of the birth control myths is that contraceptive pills affect fertility. But in reality, it doesn’t.

Significant research studied women using contraceptives for seven years. After quitting birth control, 21 percent of these women got pregnant around the first month, and close to 80 percent managed to conceive within one year.

The delay in conceiving after stopping your birth control pill happens as your body takes time to stabilize. After stabilizing within a few months, your ovulation and the menstrual flow usually return, then you can get pregnant.

However, if you take too long to conceive, consult a gynecologist to check for any hidden medical conditions.   

• Can having diarrhea make the pill less effective?

Yes, diarrhea can affect the absorption and effectiveness of the pill. Conditions like bacterial infection, intolerances, allergies, poor absorption, among others, can lead to diarrhea.

Diarrhea often causes malabsorption of liquids, food, and medication in the intestine, and so these needed substances leaves the body through stool instead of being absorbed into the bloodstream.

Frequent stooling will prevent the body from fully absorbing your pill, thus increasing your chances of getting pregnant. If you stool within two days (48 hours) after taking your birth control pill, consider it a missed pill, and take another one. Alternatively, use condoms or contact your doctor to prescribe another safer birth control method.

• How soon can I get pregnant after going off the shot?

The time frame to conceive after stopping your shot varies from one woman to another. It usually takes a while to get fertile after your last shot.

Some women might get pregnant within 3 to 4 months, while others take as long as 1 to 2 years to conceive.

The duration of your shot does not affect how soon you can get pregnant. If you want to use Depo (shot) for a short time and plan to get pregnant a few months later, this birth control method is not suitable.

Women over 35 years who hope to get pregnant soon should speak with their health provider for a better birth control method.

• How soon does the implant start working?

An implant can start working as soon as the doctor inserts it, provided that you are within your menstrual period. If the doctor inserts in other days aside from your period, the implant will take about seven days to take effect.

So with these seven days, you might want to use other birth control measures like a condom to prevent an unplanned pregnancy. Talk to your health care provider about the best time to insert the implant for you.

• How soon can I get pregnant after taking out my implant?

You can get pregnant as soon as the hormones present in the implant decreases and you start ovulating, which can happen at any time after you remove the implant. It usually takes about 3 months to 18 months to get pregnant.

We advise that you use condoms during or after taking the implant out until you experience three regular menstrual periods at most. It will help you to monitor when your body fully adapts to the new change. It can also help you to track when you get pregnant accurately.

• I’m spotting from the implant. What can I do to stop it?

Spotting (light blood flow in between menstrual periods) is one of an implant’s side effects. If you are new to implants, it could take a few months before your period normalizes. Although this is not common with every woman, spotting does not pose any threat.

The contraception implant brands like Nexplanon and Implanon are great options for women looking for more extended birth control methods, as they can last for 3 years.

However, if you are uncomfortable with the spotting, you might want to consider using a vaginal ring, hormonal IUD, the patch, or the pill which hardly causes spotting.

• What’s the difference between Implanon and Nexplanon?

Implanon and Nexplanon are implants manufactured by Merck & Co. to prevent conception. Although Nexplanon is the latest device model that possesses certain vital features that Implanon lacks, both work in the same way.

A health care provider inserts either the Implanon or Nexplanon in a woman’s skin, after which it releases a progestin hormone, etonogestrel, that ceases ovulation.

However, it is difficult to detect and remove the Implanon device when it migrates to another area in the body. A prolonged stay of this implant in your body can cause severe complications leading to death.

An improvement with Nexplanon is the addition of barium sulphate. This substance makes it easier for doctors to spot the implant through an X-ray. The Nexplanon also comes with a new applicator for easier insertion.

• What should I do if my birth control changes my mood?

Contraception exposes you to hormonal imbalance as it promotes inflammation, leading to depression, based on studies. But if it is inheritable, the risk of depression increases. The mood change symptoms such as depression could also occur due to some underlying hormonal imbalances.

If your birth control method changes your mood, you need to see a doctor for a proper examination to restore balance and provide a suitable replacement.

• How can I figure out when to take my pill while travelling to a different time zone?

With the help of a pill reminder or alarm, you can remember the exact time to take your pill. However, you have to figure out and compare your home time zone with that of your travel destination before or while travelling. It will help to take your pill at the right time or within the 24-hour time frame.

For instance, if you reside in Ottawa ON, Canada, and you travel to Madrid, Spain, which is 6 hours ahead, you should use your pill 6 hours later in the day. So if you use your pill at 10 am in Ottawa, take it at 4 pm in Spain.

But if you use the mini-pill (progestin-only), you have to take the pill within a 3-hour time frame. Else it would be considered a missed pill.

Emergency Contraception

• How can I prevent nausea as a side effect of emergency contraception?

Some women feel queasy and even vomit after taking emergency contraceptive pills. The sickness occurs due to the presence of estrogen in the EC pill.

Some emergency contraceptive pills contain a high dosage of estrogen, resulting in stomach upset, compared to medicines with a lower hormone dosage. You can easily experience nausea if you are starting to take the pill.

To avoid nausea and vomiting, use the non-prescribed anti-nausea drug- meclizine sold under Bonine or Dramamine II brand names. Use this medicine one hour before taking the first dosage of your emergency contraceptive pill. However, this anti-nausea medicine is likely to cause drowsiness.

Barrier Birth Control

• What’s wrong with using expired condoms?

Like every product, condoms have expiration dates. Upon expiration, condom materials like lambskin, polyurethane, and latex degrade and break easily. Condoms tear or easily break when they are less flexible.

Thus, using expired condoms quickly exposes you to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and a high risk of pregnancy. If you can’t see or are unsure of an expiring date on the pack, dispose of it.

But if you don’t have another condom in your house, and you store your expired condom in a dry, cool place, it might work better than not using any condom at all. Use with care to avoid breakage during sexual intercourse. 

• If I’m using another birth control method, do I still have to use condoms?

Yes, you can combine condoms with other birth control methods for a greater chance of preventing pregnancy. Condom is a barrier contraceptive method.

So when you use a condom and another birth control method such as implant, withdrawal, shot, IUD, pill, ring, or patch- in a practical way, you will prevent an unplanned pregnancy. Condoms also reduce the chances of contracting Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). 

• What types of lube are safe to use with condoms?

Silicone or water-based lubes are safe to use with condoms. You can use water-based lubes in any sexual activity, including using sex toys and condoms.

Water-based lubricants are safe to use with non-latex and latex condoms as they reduce the risk of condom breakage. But they don’t last long and so need to be applied at intervals during sexual activity.

Silicone lubes, on the other hand, are slippery and lasts long, thus require less reapplication. These lubes are perfect for a longer intercourse session. Silicone also works well with any condom for easy penetration and anti-breakage.

Don’t use oil-based lubes or any oily substance with condoms as they dissolve latex condoms and increases the risk of breakage even in non-latex condoms.

• Are flavoured condoms safe to use for vaginal or anal sex?

No, they are not. Flavoured condoms are great for oral sex and prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections from camping in your throat.

To improve the fruity or candy-like taste of flavoured condoms, manufacturers add many chemicals while producing them. But these flavoured chemicals can cause vaginal irritations.

Sugar is also added to the chemicals to produce an artificially sweet taste. The presence of sugar messes with the vagina ecosystem and alters its pH level, thereby exposing you to Bacterial vaginosis or yeast infection.   

• How can I check a condom wrapper for damage?

Press your condom wrapper to ensure your condom is intact. If you feel a little air cushion, it means that the wrapper is neither punctured nor damaged. You can also check for damage while pressing the condom wrap to feel the slippery slide lube in the wrap.

Exposing condoms to heat or puncturing can cause the lube to leak or dry out, increasing breakage chances during intercourse.

Behavioural Birth Control

• How do I know that a guy is about to come?

Every man has different ways or signals when they are about to ejaculate. The process of an orgasm stimulates endorphins hormones which enter into the bloodstream and cause intense pleasure and muscle relaxation.

Most guys might feel warm and experience quick muscle spasms throughout their bodies. To understand his peculiar signals, you should communicate with your partner.

If you plan to use the pull-out method, but your partner is uncertain of his orgasm signals, practice first with a condom or play without penetrative sex to learn his signs.

• How effective is withdrawal at preventing pregnancy?

It is effective when done correctly but not reliable. You need to keep the semen during ejaculation (cum) away from the vagina and vulva each time you have sex. Other contraceptives are more effective than the withdrawal method.

Studies show that about four will become pregnant for every one hundred individuals who rightly use the withdrawal method. But since the withdrawal is not reliable as the man could mistakenly deposit sperm into the woman’s vagina, around 22 out of 100 individuals using the pull-out method get pregnant annually.

It is advisable to combine the pull-out method with condoms or other contraceptives for a greater chance of preventing pregnancy.

• Can I get pregnant from anal sex?

No, if you perform anal sex properly. This form of sex is an effective way to prevent pregnancy. But it poses some level of risks that can indirectly lead to pregnancy.

Although there is no internal connection from the anus to your reproductive organs (uterus, fallopian tube, ovaries and cervix) that could cause a pregnancy, sperm released into the anus can slip into the vaginal canal.

Suppose your partner ejaculates near your vagina opening, inserts a semen-tainted sex toy or finger into the vagina. In that case, you are likely to get pregnant, especially in your fertile (ovulation) period. 

• Can I get pregnant with my clothes on?

No. You cannot get pregnant with your clothes on as long as there is no form of penetration- through the vaginal or anus. Sperms can’t swim through clothes.

They will get trapped in clothes.

Moreover, when you expose sperms to air, they cannot swim and thus, will only survive with few hours. Therefore, touching clothing with dry semen can’t lead to pregnancy.

Birth Control Patch

• Does the patch come in more than one colour?

Unfortunately, the patch control comes in only one colour (light beige). Sometimes known as Evra, the patch is a thin, small plastic patch that contains the hormones-                                                                                                                                                                      progestin and estrogen placed on your skin. 

Even though the patch has only one colour that might not match your skin, you can place it on recommended areas hidden with clothes. Suitable locations for the path include on your arm, back, lower abdomen and butt.

• Does the patch protect against STIs?

No. Patch focus on releasing hormones that prevent a pregnancy occurrence. The birth control patch is 99 percent effective at reducing the risk of getting pregnant. But it does not prevent the contraction of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

For protection against STIs or STDs, partners should always combine condoms with birth control patches.

Abstinence (no sex or genital contact) remains a 100 percent effective way to prevent unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

• What are the side effects of using a birth control patch?

Like every other birth control method, the patch has its side effects. Although many women don’t usually experience any patch birth control issues, some encounter specific side effects that will disappear after two to three months of use.

The common side effects are sore breasts, nausea and vomiting, menstrual cramps, headaches, mood swings, redness or rash around the patch area.

Patch could also cause more severe but rare issues like stroke, blood clot, and cardiac arrest. But these rare cases occur more among women who smoke or are above 35. If the side effects make you uncomfortable, contact your doctor.

• Can I swim or take a shower while I’m wearing the patch?

Of course, you can. If used properly, the patch hardly falls off. You can partake in your regular activities like exercise and swimming while putting off your patch. While taking a shower, it can get wet without affecting its function or going off.

When you pull or move the patch to a different location, you reduce its stickiness. Wait till its recommended duration to remove it, and if the patch becomes less sticky, you might want to talk to your doctor about getting another one.   

Other Birth Control Quiz

39. What should I do before stopping my birth control?

If you have decided to stop birth control, you can prevent the process yourself or contact your health care provider, depending on the birth control method you are using.

If you are using pills, patch, shots or diaphragm, you can stop using them without a doctor’s help, unlike IUD which you will need to visit the hospital to remove it safely. 

But it is still advisable to talk to your doctor before taking any step in stopping your contraceptive. The doctor is in the best position to give the proper guides, tell you the future side effects, your ability to get pregnant at the shortest possible time, permanent birth control options.

• Can I only get pregnant one day a month?

Yes. You could get pregnant if you were in your fertile period (about six days) when you had sex. The ovum (egg) of a woman is viable for only 12 to 24 hours. Sperm can last up to 5 days inside the reproductive canal of a woman in her fertile days.

The highest chance of conceiving from sexual intercourse is two days before and the ovulation day. However, a woman in her safe period (far from the ovulation day) may not get pregnant from having sex only one day a month. 

• Are contraceptives worth it since they have side effects?

All medicines, even over-the-counter pain killers, have some side effects. But we are overwhelmed with the scary side effects of drugs that we pay little attention to their effectiveness.

Considering the long-time adverse effects an unwanted pregnancy may cause, contraceptives are definitely worth the try. You can find various birth control options that suit you according to your health and needs.

• Does being overweight affect how well birth control works?

Research is still ongoing regarding how overweight or obesity affects the effectiveness of birth control, but there are some theories to explain this. One of the theories describes how our body catabolizes medicines.

Overweight women tend to possess faster metabolism compared to slimmer women. So when a female with more body fat takes birth control pills, it might break down faster than when a female with less body fat takes the same prescription. When a drug breaks down faster than it should, it might become less effective.

A second theory is that women who are overweight or obese have more blood volume in their bodies. A medicine must attain a particular concentration in the blood to be effective. So it might be difficult for a pill to reach its total concentration in the bloodstream for obese women. However, these are just unproven theories.

• Should I have a period every month, even if I’m on birth control?

You can, depending on your birth control method and manner of use.

Generally, females using the patch, IUD, ring or pill experience menstrual flow every month. Those who take contraception shots may experience either irregular or no periods at all while in use. Some women even combine hormonal contraceptives like vaginal rings and pills to skip menstrual periods.

• Is there one best kind of birth control?

Every birth control method is effective in its way, provided that you use them consistently and promptly. Abstinence remains the best form of birth control as it doesn’t require any sexual activity that involves the sperm entering into the vagina.

If you must have vaginal sex, then the best pregnancy-preventing options are the IUD and implant, which also provide convenience.

Other contraceptives like the shot, ring, pill, and patch are also savers, but you have to use them the right way. So whatever birth control method you can use correctly and conveniently should be the best for you.

• What are suitable birth control methods for women with high blood pressure?

Birth control methods containing estrogen-like pills, patches, and vaginal rings are not suitable for women with high pressure as they might further increase the blood pressure and cause a heart attack or stroke.

Fortunately, we have other birth control options that are estrogen-free, effective, and safe such as the shot, implant and IUD. You can also get common contraceptives like spermicide, male and female condoms, and sponge.

You can also opt-out for permanent birth control like tubal ligation. Ensure to keep your doctor abreast with your medical condition and get a safe option.

• What are birth control options best for me as a smoker?

Smokers below thirty-five and with no other health conditions can use the pill safely but must discuss with their doctor better alternatives like an implant, IUD, the shot.

Female smokers above thirty-five should avoid the ring, the pill, and the patch. Mixing oral birth control with smoking is deadly and can lead to a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular conditions.

Smoking restricts blood vessels causing clotting of blood. Similarly, oral or estrogen-containing contraception affects the body’s hormones and thickens the blood than usual.

• Does birth control cause blood clots?

Yes, birth control causes blood clots. Some birth control pill increases the risk of having blood clots in women by 2 to 4 times. These pills include progestin and estrogen hormones which prevent conception by stopping ovulation.

However, increasing estrogen levels in your body promote blood clot formation, which blocks normal circulation in arteries and veins, resulting in redness, pains, and swelling. This blood clot can result in severe complications such as pulmonary embolism.

• How can birth control help an ovarian cyst?

Ovarian cysts can occur due to ovulation. You should know about ovulation to understand how ovarian cysts exist. Ovulation prepares your body for pregnancy, where the ovaries release an ovum (egg) each month.

For an egg to travel through the fallopian tube, a sac containing fluid forms around it. The ovarian cyst develops when this fluid-filled sac grows larger than usual. Contraception prevents ovulation which then stops ovarian cysts from growing or forming.

However, birth control won’t decrease the severity or size if it is already present before you started taking contraceptives.

• Can drinking alcohol affect my birth control?

Not directly. Regardless of what birth control option you are using, drinking alcohol does not affect its potency. However, if you are on pills, shots or other options that require regular use, taking alcohol can increase the chance of a contraception failure.

If you drink heavily or get intoxicated, you will most likely take your drug late (possibly after sex) or forget to take it.

• Can I get pregnant if I have sex in a pool or hot tub?

Yes, you can get pregnant. The chlorine in the pool or the hot tub’s heat will not affect the activeness or its ability of sperm to swim into the vagina.

Irrespective of where you are, if the penis ejaculates sperm into your vagina without any birth control, you likely to get pregnant. So you might need to contact your doctor or get an emergency contraceptive if you have had unprotected sex with your partner.  

• Do I have to be sexually active to be on birth control?

No. you can be on birth control even when you are not sexually active. Being on birth control without engaging in any sexual activity makes you aware and keeps you in control of your reproductive health.

Sexual activeness is relative to individuals. For some, it might mean no sexual activity. Others who haven’t had sex in a long while could claim to be sexually inactive.

Most women select the ring, patch or pill to help protect against monthly cramps, acne, heavy period, premenstrual symptoms. The various methods of birth control offer different benefits, so consult your doctor about your best option.

Do you have a birth control quiz or question that is not included here? Kindly drop it in the comment section below or send an email to us.