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Child-Free By Choice? 3 Considerations When Making The Decision Between Long-Term And Permanent Birth Control

Many individuals and couples are making the choice to remain child-free. When considering birth control methods, you may be torn between long-term and permanent options. There are several considerations that can help you make the best choice for your situation.

Chance Of Doubt

It can be difficult to be 100% certain that you want to remain child-free depending on the reason for your choice. If your decision is based on lack of desire to have children, your choice may be more concrete than making the decision because you are in a situation that is not conducive to raising a child. Since your marital status or financial situation could drastically change in the future, it is better to choose a long-term birth control method rather than a permanent one. Many long-term birth control methods, such as hormonal and non-hormonal intrauterine devices (IUD) and implants, will afford you multiple years of protection with the chance of preserving your fertility if you change your mind later.

Your age should also factor into your decision. Although everyone is different, you are more likely to be confident in your decision as you grow older. If you are in your 40's or 50's and approaching menopause, you may feel more confident that you will not regret a permanent birth control method than if you made the decision in your 20's or 30's.

Medical Reasons

Some people elect not to have children because they may have a chronic, serious medical condition that affects them mentally or physically, and would cause significant problems in their unborn child or their ability to raise children. Additionally, being the carrier of certain genes may cause a person to avoid the risk of passing down the genetic defect to their child. If you are facing a similar situation, you might elect to have permanent birth control to keep the risk of an unintentional pregnancy as low as possible.

Gynecological Problems

If you do not want children and have gynecological problems, such as heavy bleeding, severe cramps, endometriosis, or fibroid tumors, you might prefer a long-term birth control method instead of a permanent option. Although it is possible to have a permanent birth control method and concurrently use a different method to help with gynecological problems, it may be less expensive to choose a hormonal-based birth control since it will serve multiple purposes. Since permanent birth control methods only prevent the sperm from reaching the egg, it will not help with gynecological concerns.

Being child-free by choice carries the decision of whether or not you should choose a permanent birth control method. By considering your reasons not to have children and your personal circumstances, you can make a satisfactory decision. To find out more, speak with a business like Abortion Care.