Why take prescription birth control? Very simply, it works. After nearly a half century of research, testing, and follow-up, prescription birth control has passed the test. No other means of preventing pregnancy, next to abstinence, can provide the assurance of the prescribed pill, patch, or injection. In fact, prescription birth control works nearly one hundred percent of the time.

Convenience

Taking a pill, wearing a patch, or getting a monthly injection are far more convenient methods of birth control than using creams, foam, diaphragms, or any other non-prescription method of birth control. Once you have grown used to taking a pill every day, changing your patch weekly, or getting your injection or inserting the NuvaRing once a month, you no longer need to think about protecting yourself. In the heat of the moment, it can be very challenging to locate your method of protection, to remember to use it, or to use it properly.

Side Benefits

For some women, prescription birth control comes with the very important side benefits of regulating their periods, clearing up their skin, and stopping painful periods.

Cost Effective

Yes, it is necessary to visit your doctor periodically to upgrade your prescription and you do need to fill your prescription monthly. The cost of the pill can be as low as twelve dollars a month in some areas through Planned Parenthood clinics or as high as one hundred dollars without insurance. To save money, shop around for the best price and check in with your local Planned Parenthood for help. So, how is using prescription birth control more cost effective than non-prescription methods? Prescription birth control works nearly 100 percent of the time. With typical use, twenty-six percent of women using spermicide get pregnant in their first year, 20 percent get pregnant on diaphragms, 40 percent on sponges, and 85 percent using chance as their approach to their fertility. The cost of pregnancy is very, very high indeed compared to the cost of prescription birth control.

Medical Safety

When a woman uses prescription birth control, she must check in with her doctor periodically. The benefits of seeing a doctor over time are considerable for a woman during her reproductive years. Not only will your doctor keep track of your reproductive health, he or she will be checking your blood pressure and asking vital questions about your general health, too. Women in their twenties who are on prescription birth control are approximately one tenth as likely to die from birth-related or birth control-related causes than their peers who are using other methods of fertility control. Women in their thirties are about one half as likely to die from reproductive causes as their peers using other fertility control methods. A woman who is concerned about her health and well being should consider the benefits of using prescription birth control.