By Ellie Tamir-Hoehn (she/her)17, Workers Author
September 23, 2025
Each September twenty sixth we have a good time World Contraception Daya day devoted to spreading schooling about contraceptives (also referred to as contraception). World Contraception Day began in 2007 on account of a number of organizations—together with the United Nations and the Worldwide Alliance of Girls—wanting to construct consciousness about accessible beginning management choices. This yr’s theme is “A selection for all—company, intention, entry.”
“Being pregnant ought to occur by selection not by likelihood,” states the United Nations Inhabitants Fund. Folks use contraception for functions starting from serving to to stop unintended being pregnant to relieving painful durations to treating painful zits. No matter purpose somebody has for selecting to make use of contraception, there are totally different sorts accessible!
It’s essential that teenagers are educated about these choices and have the chance to determine which kind will work finest for them. World Contraception Day is a day the place efforts to tell, educate and study contraception are celebrated.
What Fits You?
Having the information to make an informed choice about what’s finest on your physique can result in extra consolation together with your methodology. Every class of contraception has choices. There are long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) just like the intrauterine gadget (IUD), short-acting hormonal strategies just like the Tablet and barrier strategies like condoms (inner and exterior), amongst others.
Completely different types of contraception work higher for various folks. Concerns embody how you can entry the contraception—do you want a healthcare skilled to insert it, are you able to get it over-the-counter, and so on.? How typically do you must take it or have it changed—day by day, as soon as a month, after a couple of years? As an illustration, the Tablet must be taken at across the identical time every day, whereas an IUD could also be left in for a number of years (it may be eliminated by a healthcare supplier as wanted at any time).
Reminder that there’s just one sort of contraceptive which can stop sexually transmitted infections (STIs): a condom (word that whereas a dental dam prevents STIs, it’s not efficient at stopping being pregnant).
Among the Choices
Whereas the Tablet and IUD could also be extra well-known types of contraception, there are others. For instance, ever hear of the shot, the implant, the patch or the ring? Learn on!
The shot is an injection you get each three months and makes use of the hormone progestin to stop being pregnant by halting ovulation (when an egg is launched). It additionally works by thickening cervical mucus so sperm can not get by means of to fertilize an egg.
The implant is a small, versatile rod (in regards to the dimension of a matchstick) positioned into the higher arm by a healthcare supplier. It releases progestin to stop ovulation. It might work for as much as three years earlier than needing to get replaced.
There may be additionally the patch, a small, skin-toned (there are a selection of tones to select from) sticker which releases estrogen. The patch usually will get positioned on the higher again or arm. For it to work correctly, it’s essential to swap it out weekly on the designated time.
The ring is made of soppy, versatile ethylene-vinyl acetate and incorporates estrogen. It will get inserted into the vagina every month (very similar to a tampon) and sits slightly below the cervix.
There are non-hormonal choices, too. As an illustration, whereas some IUDs comprise hormones, the copper IUD doesn’t (copper is a pure sperm-repellant).
Take a look at this listing for extra particulars and choices!
Invaluable
Having totally different decisions is invaluable. Everyone deserves the chance to study what works finest for them and their physique. As an illustration, as an individual with a phobia of needles, I might most likely go for one thing apart from the shot! Nonetheless, this selection could be preferable for an individual who needs a “set it and overlook it” contraceptive, the place they don’t want to recollect to take one thing regularly.
Most individuals will discover a contraceptive that works for them. Having the chance to decide on lets teenagers have extra say! As for stopping unintended being pregnant—whereas many teenagers usually are not having intercoursethose that do are entitled to study and select from these choices. Many younger folks additionally depend on contraception for causes unrelated to intercourse and so they need to learn about these well being care choices as nicely.
Be a part of us in celebrating World Contraception Day!