Definition:

Birth Control, also commonly known as contraceptives, is a method to prevent pregnancy during and/or after sexual intercourse. Different birth control methods prevent pregnancy in different ways.

Summary

Different types of birth controls:

1. Hormonal

Birth Control Pills

Effectiveness: 91%
Usage: Oral consumption by females.
What happens: Either thickens cervical mucus to keep sperm from entering the uterus or thins the lining of the uterus so that a fertilized egg is less likely to attach.
Estimated Costs: $25 to $40 for a month supply with prescription from GP or Gynaecologist

Hormonal Patches (Evra Patch)

Effectiveness: 91%
Usage: Sticks on the skin of females, to be changed every 3 weeks.
What happens: Releases hormones - estrogen and progestin through skin contact to stop ovulation to prevent fertilisation of eggs.
Estimated Costs: $36 to $50 a month with doctor prescription

Vaginal Rings

Effectiveness: 91%
Usage: Inserted into the vagina for 3 weeks before replacing it.
What happens: Releases hormones - estrogen and progestin through skin contact to stop ovulation to prevent fertilisation of eggs.
Estimated Costs: Around $60 a month with doctors’ prescription

Birth Control Implants

Effectiveness: 99.5%
Usage: Professionally inserted into the female’s arm and can last up to 4 years.
What happens: Progestin works in two ways:
1) Thickening the mucus lining the cervix, to block and trap sperm
2) Preventing ovulation

Estimated Costs: $400-$600 for 3 years at a Gynaecology

Injection

Effectiveness: 94%
Usage: Injecting a shot of progestin into the female body. Each shot can last up to 3 months.
What happens: Progestin works in two ways:
1) Thickening the mucus lining the cervix, to block and trap sperm
2) Preventing ovulation

Estimated Costs: $150-$200 per injection with prescription

2. Barrier

Condoms

Effectiveness: 82%
Usage: Condoms are physically worn on the penis.
What happens: Physically prevents sperm from coming into contact with the egg to prevent fertilization.
Estimated Costs: Purchased over the counter at $15-$20 for a pack of 12 condoms.

Diaphragms

Effectiveness: 88%
Usage: Also commonly known as the female condom, it is inserted into the vagina.
What happens: Covers the cervix and area around it and is kept in the vagina for at least 6 hours after sexual intercourse to prevent sperms from entering.
Where to buy: Can be purchased in the hospitals - eg. KK Women and Children Hospital

Cervical Caps

Effectiveness: 79%
Usage: Also commonly known as the female condom, it is inserted into the vagina.
What happens: Similar to the Diaphragm but fits more snugly around the cervix, but is also kept in the vagina for at least 6 hours after sexual intercourse.
Where to buy: Can be purchased in the hospitals - eg. KK Women and Children Hospital

Spermicides

Effectiveness: 72%
Usage: Substance applied on the viginal walls. Some spermicides need to be applied 10-15 minutes before sexual intercourse and can only last up to an hour after application.
What happens: Prevents pregnancy in two ways: blocking the entrance to the cervix and stopping sperm from moving well enough to swim to your egg. Can be used in conjunction with other forms of birth control.
Where to buy: Can be purchased in the hospitals - eg. KK Women and Children Hospital

3. Others / Surgical

Hormonal IUD

Effectiveness: 99.8%
Usage: Tiny Intrauterine Device inserted into the uterus and can last ranging from 3-7 years inside to prevent pregnancy.
What happens: Releases hormone, progestin, which thickens the cervix mucus lining and prevents ovulation.
Estimated Costs: $400-$500 excluding doctor’s fee

Copper IUD

Effectiveness: 99.2%
Usage: Tiny Intrauterine Device inserted into the uterus and can last up till 12 years inside to prevent pregnancy.
What happens: The copper lining in the IUD releases copper ions which:

1) Is toxic to the egg and sperm hence stops sperm from fertilising the egg

2) Slows the transport of the egg to decrease fertilization

3) Changes the lining of the uterus to make it unable to support a fertilised egg
Estimated Costs: $400-$500 excluding doctor’s fee

Vasectomy/Ligation

Effectiveness: 99.5% - 99.85%
Usage: Surgery conducted by doctors to permanently prevents pregnancy - Vasectomy is for the male while Ligation is for the female.
What happens:

Vasectomy: The male vas deferens are cut and tied or sealed so as to prevent sperm from traveling out from the scrotum.

Ligation: The female fallopian tubes are permanently blocked or removed to prevent sperm from entering and thus the implantation of fertilised eggs.
Estimated Costs:

Vasectomy: Around $200 in public hospitals, $2000-$3000 in private hospitals

Ligation: Around $1000 in public hospitals, $10,000-$12,000 in private hospitals

4. Natural

(Recommended to use with other forms of contraceptions above)

Rhythm Method

Effectiveness: 76%
Usage: Based on the female’s ovulation cycle and abstaining from sexual intercourse on days when the female is most fertile and thus most likely to get pregnant.

Withdrawal Method (Pull-out)

Effectiveness: 78%
Usage: It is exactly what it sounds like - to pull out of the vagina before the male ejaculates to prevent semen/sperm from getting into the cervix. This method works best with other forms of contraceptive such as a condom.

Resources:

https://talktabu.com/birth-control

https://blog.moneysmart.sg/healthcare/birth-control-singapore-contraception/

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control

Medically fact-checked by:

Dr Prem Kumar

MBBS (Singapore); Graduate Diploma Occupational Medicine (Singapore); Member, Academy for Mens' Health

Anchor GP, My Doctor @ Admiralty, 12 years of clinical experience with special interest in primary care

Birth Control