The shot and the pill are two effective forms of hormonal birth control, each with their own benefits and risks. Does one work better than the other?
There are many different birth control options. People can choose which one to use based on their benefits, risks, and what feels right.
When choosing between the shot and pills, people may want to consider their effectiveness, side effects, risks, and convenience.
This article will discuss the benefits and risks of the shot and pills for birth control, and tips for how to choose between them.
What are birth control shots and pills?
Hormonal birth control comes in several forms, including an injectable shot and oral pills.
A person needs to take birth control pills at the same time each day. When using the shot, a person will receive injections of a hormone every 3 months.
There are many different brands of birth control pills, each with slightly different levels of hormones. There are two main groups of pills:
combination contraceptive pills that contain estrogen and progestin
progestin-only pills, or mini-pills
The birth control shot, or Depo-Provera, also contains progestin, which is the hormone that prevents ovulation.
Progestin, which all pills and shots use, prevents the ovaries from releasing an egg. This makes pregnancy very unlikely. The hormone can also make the lining of the uterus less favorable for an egg to implant.
The estrogen component in the combination pills actually thickens the uterine lining, which provides stability and controlled bleeding patterns. This is why people taking the combination pill usually have a regular monthly period.
Effectiveness
According to the Office on Women’s Health, the effectiveness rates of the shot and the pill are slightly different:
About 6 out of every 100 women who have the shot will become pregnant within the first year.
About 9 out of every 100 women who take the pill will become pregnant within the first year.
If someone does not get the shot as regularly as every 3 months, they have a greater likelihood of becoming pregnant.
Likewise, if a person misses a pill or takes it later than the ideal time, this could make the pill less effective.
Certain medicines can interfere with both the birth control shot and pills, which could reduce their effectiveness. A person should ask their doctor about drug interactions when taking a new medicine, including antibiotics.
If someone wants to become pregnant after stopping birth control injections, it takes 10 months, on average.