Breaking Up With Your Contraceptive

WHEN TO KEEP THE MAN, BUT DITCH THE METHOD

You long ago stopped wearing your hair in a huge '80s mousse sculpture and traded in your 10-speed for a high-tech hybrid. Why? Because as your life changed, those things no longer made sense for you. Think about your contraception the same way. "Which birth control method is best for a woman is based on where she is in her life," says Vanessa Cullins, M.D., vice president of medical affairs for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America in New York City. And with all the new options available, it's the perfect time to find one that fits your lifestyle today.

Sex and the single woman. Sexually transmitted diseases are as important a concern as pregnancy, so stock up on your favorite condoms. Don't buy the kind with the spermicide nonoxynol-9, which studies show can cause vaginal irritation and may even increase HIV infection risk.

Part of a pair. Since being in a monogamous relationship reportedly results in more sex, pregnancy prevention is usually your main concern. You've got lots of options: If you only want to think about birth control four times a year, consider Depo-Provera, a progestin-only shot. Then there's always the Pill or one of the other newer methods that pack the same hormonal punch. Lunelle provides estrogen and progesterone in a monthly shot. Nuvaring delivers the hormonal protection through a vaginal ring, while Ortho Evra sends hormones through a place-anywhere patch. Or try an IUD; today's devices are safe and many docs now recommend them for women who haven't had children.

Mommy wannabe. Thinking of trying to have a baby in the next year? Consider a barrier method, like condoms or a diaphragm, or a quick-clearing hormonal type, such as the monthly injection or traditional Pill. They're formulated to stop working as soon as you quit using them. (Skip Depo though; each shot prevents pregnancy for at least three months, and some doctors say it delays fertility for as long as 18 months.)

Baby spacer. If you're a mom who wants a breather between pregnancies, you can choose any option unless you're nursing. The estrogen-containing Pill may interfere with milk production, so if you're breast-feeding, use a progestin-only method, such as the mini-Pill or Depo-Provera.

Finished with babies; not with sex. If your nest is full, consider an IUD, says Felicia Stewart, M.D., adjunct professor of ob/gyn at the University of California at San Francisco. It's effective for up to 10 years—and removable. If you're positive you're done with pregnancy, you can opt for sterilization, which requires surgery (unlike an IUD) and is permanent.

Need to know

Reevaluate your method each time you change partners or have a major life event, such as a wedding or a baby.!