Healthcare 101 How Much Does Birth Control Cost?

Birth control is considered pretty much standard these days, so if you are in a committed relationship but are not emotionally or financially ready to have children, you must figure out what kind of birth control you’d like to purchase. The type of birth control you use will determine how much you’ll spend each month, and may make a big difference in your long-term overall health. If you live in England or many parts of Europe then birth control is free when prescribed by your doctor. If you live in the States, you’ll have to pay a prescription fee.

Hormonal birth control like the pill or a vaginal ring is the more expensive birth control on the list, but one of the most effective. This type of birth control will cost you anything from $20 to $50 a month, depending on the type of birth control you use and your insurance coverage. You can also get birth control shots that last for about three months and cost $50 to $75 each.

Condoms are some of the cheapest birth control if you don’t have a regular partner or if you wish to save money. They can cost as little as $1 a piece, and also protect against most STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases), which other forms of oral birth control like the pill do not provide.

Implanted birth control such as the IUD is a good option for those who don’t like hormonal pills or rings, and who don’t want to have a baby in the next 3-5 years. An IUD is fitted into the uterus to keep eggs from implanting, in a minor outpatient procedure. Local anesthetic may be used depending on your wishes – be sure to mention to your doctor beforehand if you would prefer this option. This device costs about $250 plus the cost of your office visit, and it lasts for several years. This is a great way to reduce your monthly expenditures if you don’t want to get pregnant for quite some time. Another more permanent option is surgery that will block or tie the fallopian tubes. This surgery can cost $2,000 or more, but it can save you a lot of money over time, due to the decreased costs of consistently purchasing other forms of birth control.

The cheapest but least effective form of birth control is the Fertility Awareness method. Your only expenditures for this method are a basic body temperature thermometer, which can cost as little as $10. This natural method takes time to learn and is not by any means failsafe, but is better than no birth control at all when practiced correctly. You can learn how to use this method from family planning books or from your doctor. This method provides no protection against STDs, however, so should only be used within a stable, committed relationship.