5 Reasons People Use (and Love) Birth Control

You may have heard that November 17th is Thanks, Birth Control Day. We’re pretty excited because of all the things birth control does for us and enables us to do. We already know that birth control is great for helping us prevent pregnancy, and that some forms (condoms and internal condoms) also protect against STIs. But what about all the other reasons people use birth control? Here they are, in no particular order. Remember, for free or low-cost access to all the methods of birth control, visit your nearest The Right Time health center.

1. Regulating periods and easing painful cramps

Having an irregular period sucks. Hormonal birth control can help regulate it so that you feel more in control. Hormonal birth control can also help with period pain. It can make periods lighter by making the lining of the uterus thinner. Some people stop getting a period altogether on certain methods, like the hormonal IUDs Mirena and LILETTA. Or you can use your hormonal birth control in a certain way to skip your period.

2. Having better, more stress-free sex

If you’re stressed and anxious about pregnancy or STIs the entire time you’re having sex, well, that’s kind of a mood killer! Birth control can help you focus on what feels good.

3. Controlling acne

Hormonal birth control may also be able to help with managing acne. In fact, some forms of hormonal birth control are actually FDA approved for treating acne. It may take a little trial and error to find one that works for you, but there are plenty of options.

4. Treating a medical condition

Some forms of birth control can help with PCOS (shout out to all the cysters out there!) by stopping ovulation. The pill, patch, ring, and shot are the most effective of all the methods at stopping ovulation. Hormonal birth control can also help control the symptoms of endometriosis.

5. Timing a pregnancy

Waiting until the time is right to have a baby can help you get more control over your future. Maybe you want to take certain steps in your education or your career before creating another human, or maybe you’re waiting for the right relationship. Or maybe you’ve already created a human (or a few) and you just want to wait until you’ve got less on your plate (and all over your floor, and in your hair). Or maybe you’re certain never want to have kids. Whatever the case, birth control can help you wait until you’re ready.

Updated November 2021