Having a child is a joyful experience, but raising them is expensive. Research reveals that parents can expect to spend $16,227 and $18,262 per year raising a child born in 2023. That’s a whopping sum.
Twenty-seven percent of non-parents under 60 don’t plan to have any children, revealed a survey conducted by The Harris Poll for NerdWallet. The reason is simple: the overall cost of raising children is too high. Even millennials aren’t having kids. About 38% cite cost as a reason for opting out of parenthood.
The cost of raising a child is definitely high, but you’ll miss out on a lot if you skip having children. Instead, consider delaying pregnancy until your finances are in order.
Fortunately, there are several affordable, long-acting birth-control options you can turn to delay pregnancy. Here, we’ll discuss some contraceptives you can use to prevent pregnancy until you’re financially ready.
1 Birth Control Pills
The birth control pill, also called “the pill,” is the most common contraception among women. Nearly 25% of women aged between 15 and 44 use pills to prevent pregnancy.
Birth control pills contain hormones—progestin and estrogen—that prevent pregnancy by altering the way a woman’s body works. The hormones of these pills inhibit ovulation, making it difficult for the sperm to fertilize an egg.
Two types of birth control pills are available—combination pills and progestin-only pills.
Combination pills contain both progestin and estrogen, which stop ovaries from releasing eggs. These also make changes in the cervix, lowering the chances of pregnancy. Progestin-only pills, on the other hand, contain only progestin. These pills are often recommended to women who cannot take estrogen due to health issues or other reasons like a history of stroke or heart disease.
Birth control pills are 99% effective in preventing pregnancy, but only if taken regularly. Missing even a single dose can increase your likelihood of getting pregnant. Certain medicines can also lower the effectiveness of the pills. The antibiotic Rifampin, antifungal Griseofulvin, certain anti-seizure medicines, and certain HIV medicines can make the pill less effective.
2 Intrauterine Devices
If you’re looking for a reversible form of birth control option, intrauterine devices will fit the bill.
Intrauterine devices, or IUDs, are small, T-shaped devices that are designed to be inserted into the uterus of women. A healthcare professional, particularly a gynecologist, fits an IUD into a woman’s uterus. Once inserted, IUDs can stay in place for up to ten years or more than that in some cases. You can get yours removed when you’re financially stable and ready to start a family.
Five types of IUDs are available in the U.S. The four types—Skyla, Mirena, Liletta, and Kyleena—are hormonal IUDs. These release the hormone progestin in small amounts, just like progestin-only birth control pills. These are a good option if you experience heavy periods, as they make periods lighter.
The fifth type of IUD is Paragard—also called the copper T IUD. This is a hormone-free option. Unlike others, it starts working right after the moment it’s inserted. If you insert it within five days of unprotected sex, it can keep you from getting pregnant.
Still, we advise you against it despite Paragard being an effective IUD. Women who got Paragard inserted in their uterus are filing lawsuits against the manufacturer, Cooper Surgical, and Teva Pharmaceuticals. These women, in their Paragard IUD lawsuit, allege that their devices fracture during use or upon removal, causing injuries internally and other issues.
TorHoerman Law explains that the Paragard IUD can harm women in two ways—it can migrate inside the body or break during the removal process. Injuries associated with the use of Paragard are organ damage, perforated uterine lining and cervix, infertility, and pregnancy complications like ectopic pregnancy.
Invasive surgeries are often required to remove the pieces of IUD from the uterus and the surrounding organs. Thus, it’s a good idea to avoid Paragard and go for hormonal options to be on the safe side.
3 Condoms
You can also delay pregnancy by using condoms until you’re financially prepared to have a baby. Condoms are the most popular form of contraception among couples who want to delay parenthood. These come in both male and female varieties.
Nearly 98% of women whose male partners use male condoms correctly during sex for a period of one year will be protected from unplanned pregnancy. Ninety-five percent of women who use condoms will be protected against unwanted pregnancies. That’s according to the World Health Organization’s latest research.
Condoms are hormone-free, and they act as a barrier to prevent the sperm from entering into the vagina, hindering the process of fertilization. However, they only prevent pregnancy when correctly used. Be sure to read the instruction manual properly to learn how to use them correctly.
Not only pregnancy, but condoms are also effective in preventing the transmission of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
To wrap things up, there are several contraceptives that you can use to prevent pregnancy until you’re ready financially. This list contains only a few of them. Some other options you can explore are vaginal rings, birth control shots, and birth control implants.
Before you opt for any contraceptive option, be sure to consider effectiveness, convenience, and personal preferences. Or, even better, visit a healthcare provider. They will recommend you the best option depending on your age and health issues, if any.
