The birth control options available at Hopkins

Condoms 

If you haven’t seen one before, let me warn you, the bowls set out on the tables in The Student Health and Wellness Center (HelWell) are not full of candy. Condoms essentially work as a physical barrier between the sperm and the vagina and are about 98 percent effective if used perfectly. Beyond their usefulness just as a contraceptive, they can also help prevent STDs. This means you should be using them when you’re with a new partner, even if you’re on other forms of birth control. Homosexual couples need to keep condom use in mind as well.

As previously mentioned, you can get condoms in HelWell for free.

The Pill

There are two basic types of birth control pills: ones that include both estrogen and progestin (combination pills) and ones that just contain progestin. The pill works by preventing the egg from leaving the ovaries and thickening the cervical mucus to keep the sperm from reaching the egg. They are highly effective.

Less than one percent of women who take the pill get pregnant. They also have other benefits, including making periods lighter, reducing menstrual cramps and reducing acne. Some women do experience side effects from the pill including headaches, nausea, breast tenderness and vomiting.

HelWell offers five different types of combination pills of varying hormone levels. You can receive up to 13 packs (which each last one month) per health insurance year on the Hopkins insurance plan. If you’re not on school insurance, then the packs cost either $11 (Aubra, Chateal, Tarina Fe), $14 (TriNessa) or $16 (TriNessa Lo).

To receive any type of birth control from HelWell, you must agree to receive your gynecological care from them. This means getting annual exams, including breast exams and pap smears, from the a practitioner at HelWell.

The Patch

The patch is similar to the pill in that it releases hormones into your body, though this is done topically with the patch. You change the patch every week for three weeks, and then you don’t put a patch on for the fourth week. The risks and effectiveness are similar to the pill.

The Implant

This is also a hormone-based contraceptive. It is a small, matchstick-sized rod that is inserted into the arm. It lasts up to four years and only releases progestin. It is also 99 percent effective. Most women will have irregular bleeding during the first six to 12 months of use.

HelWell offers the implant (brand name NEXPLANON) but only for students under University-sponsored insurance.

IUDs

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are small, T-shaped, pieces of plastic or copper that are inserted into the uterus. There are two types: hormonal IUDs (which work in the same way that the other hormonal contraceptives do) and copper IUDs. Copper IUDs are non-hormonal contraceptives. The copper acts as a spermicide, preventing the sperm from reaching the egg. They last for up to 12 years and are over 99 percent effective. While the insertion is an outpatient procedure, some women experience cramping or mild to moderate pain where the device is inserted. These should go away after three to six months.

HelWell offers both hormonal and copper IUDs but only to students under University-sponsored insurance. The brand they offer for hormonal IUDs is called Mirena and should be replaced after six years. For copper IUDs, they offer Paragard, which should be replaced after 12 years.

The Shot

The birth control shot is an injection of progestin into the arm or buttocks that can prevent pregnancy for up to three months. While it is 99 percent effective when used as directed, you need to get the shot every 12 weeks. The injection has to be performed by a healthcare provider.

HelWell offers an injection called a Depo shot (Medroxyprogesterone, IM). This is free for students on University insurance and $93 otherwise.

The Ring

This is a form of hormonal contraception and is placed in the vagina once a month for three weeks at a time. It releases both estrogen and progestin and is 99 percent effective when used as directed. It has similar benefits to the pill, though some women prefer this as you do not have to worry about remembering to take something everyday.

HelWell offers a NuvaRing for $137 for students without Hopkins insurance and for free for those who have it.