Lifestyle Tips Archives | Page 3 of 7

Holiday Gift Ideas that Encourage Self-Care

Thoughtful and meaningful holiday gifts are a great way to show your friends and family that you care about them, but what if you’re looking for a gift that will prompt them to care for themselves a little bit more? The holidays are such a busy and stressful time of year, and if you have a loved one that you think could use a little inspiration to do something nice for themselves, there are some great options out there for gifts that will encourage self care! Whether you’re getting these for someone else or maybe even putting them on your own wishlist, these gift ideas will help provide an incentive for anyone to make a little time for themselves.

Weighted Blanket

Although you might second-guess yourself while trying to wrap a present like this, a weighted blanket makes an excellent gift this time of year. Providing all the benefits of a comfy, cozy blanket, they also help to reduce stress, improve sleep, and promote relaxation overall. Some studies even suggest that they can be helpful in alleviating chronic pain. Make sure you do your research on the correct weight and size to buy for the person in question so that the blanket is safe to use, and wish your loved one some wonderful, relaxing winter’s naps!

Journal

Getting your thoughts out of your head and onto paper is a very healthy habit to get into, but a lot of people find it challenging. Journaling can seem like a big time sink because of the expectation that you’ll write pages and pages each time you sit down. Some also struggle with a lack of ideas for things to write about, or simply find it hard to keep on top of journaling every day. A solution to this problem that makes a great gift is a journal with daily prompts for things to write about. It encourages reflection, is a great self care tool, and is easy to keep up with every day!

Spa Gift Card

If there’s one way to really take a moment for yourself and unwind, it’s a day at the spa indulging in things like massages, and the best incentive to take a spa day is a gift card. After all, if you don’t use it, it’ll go to waste, and no one wants that. A gift card or certificate to a local spa will give your loved ones the perfect excuse to spend a few hours prioritizing themselves and their own relaxation.

Oil Diffuser

Essential oils have many different properties that can be beneficial for a person’s physical and mental wellbeing, such as lavender for relaxation or or citrus for a mood boost and some energy. One of the most popular ways to use essential oils is in a diffuser, which can make your loved one’s home smell fantastic as well as being an act of self care. You can get diffusers for a range of different prices, so order one along with a few bottles of popular oils to make a wonderful holiday present. If the person has pets, however, just be careful which oils you choose. Some can be harmful to dogs, cats, or other animals!

Yoga Mat

Sometimes self care isn’t just about facials and bubble baths, but about more literal ways of taking care of yourself, such as ensuring you get enough sleep and eat nutritious foods. Exercise is another very important part of self care, and getting in the habit of doing some kind of physical movement at least a few times a week will have great benefits for your health and mental wellbeing. A yoga mat makes a great gift for anyone in your life who is looking to become more active in the new year, and there are many stylish ones out there to choose from.

Everyone could use an excuse to engage in a little more self care as this year winds to a close, so whether you’re shopping for family, friends, or even yourself, these gift options will all be fantastic ideas that will encourage more self care and better mental health. Make sure to keep them in mind as you finish up your last minute holiday shopping!

The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second most common cancer in American women after skin cancer, and one in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Thanks to treatment advances and an increase in earlier detections through screening, the breast cancer death rate dropped by 1% per year from 2013 to 2018. With fundraising and research taking place every year, especially during October, this disease becomes less deadly all the time, and hopefully one day soon a cure will be in sight. Since it’s the month to go pink and show your support, here are a few events near Berks County, PA.

Endure for a Cure

Crossfit 717 in Lemoyne, PA, is hosting their 10th annual Endure for a Cure fitness challenge on November 6th, starting at 8:30 a.m. All proceeds go to the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition. There will be a basket raffle, t-shirt sale, and light refreshments, and the competitions will include a one-mile run, clean ladder challenge, and a “Grace” challenge.

Mat Pilates Class

Club Pilates and Wyndridge Farm Beer Garden will be hosting a Pilates Mat Class Fundraiser at Wyndridge Farm Beer Garden in Lancaster, on October 15th at 5:30 pm. Spots are reserved via donation, and all proceeds will go to the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition. The class will be 50 minutes long and participants must bring their own mat. You must be older than 13 to participate in the class, but children of all ages are welcome to attend and enjoy food and drink after the class as well. Donate $25 or more and get a free drink voucher!

Knock Out Breast Cancer

Come to Club La Maison Fitness and Health Complex in Wayne, PA for Knock Out Breast Cancer, a morning of free fitness classes to benefit Living Beyond Breast Cancer. Donations are optional but encouraged. Classes begin at 8 a.m. on October 30th and will run until 10:20 a.m., including BodyCombat, BodyPump, Sprint Cycling, and Core. Bagels and coffee will be provided after classes have concluded.

Zombie Fun Run

Presented by Field of Screams, the 2021 Zombie Fun Run 5K will be held on November 13th at Field of Screams in Mountville, PA. Get chased by terrifying zombies through this unique 5K course that includes mud, obstacles and more. Choose to run during the day, or for the true thrill-seekers, after dark. There will be kid-friendly runs throughout the day and goodies provided at the finish line. Event proceeds benefit the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition.

If you’re not feeling up to being chased by zombies or heading to the gym to raise money and awareness, here are some simple and easy things you can do for Breast Cancer Awareness month that will make just as much of a difference.

Get Checked

One of the best ways you can raise breast cancer awareness is to get yourself screened! Women are recommended to begin getting mammograms at age 40, and continue getting them yearly until about age 55. While mammograms are a full scan of the breast, regular breast exams should be performed for all adult women at least every few years by your doctor, and it’s recommended to also do a self exam on a monthly basis, so that you can become familiar with your breasts and easily notice any changes. If you’re of the age to have your mammogram or clinical exam done and have been putting it off, this is the month to do it. Early detection is key! Those who don’t need exams or mammograms can help by offering to drive their loved ones to the appointment.

Offer Your Support

If you have a family member, friend, or loved one who is a current breast cancer patient or breast cancer survivor, taking the time to be there for them and let them know how much you love them is one of the most important things you can do this month (or any time of year). You don’t need to show up with pink pom-poms in hand and a “fight cancer” t-shirt on to be making a difference, just spend some time with them and help in whatever way you can. Offering to drive them to a doctor’s appointment or treatment session, or cooking or buying them a meal can be a huge help for someone who is dealing with such a difficult time. Above all, if you can brighten their day and put a smile on their face, then you’ve helped them!

In this busy day and age, we’re not always the best about listening to our bodies, but a missed period will set off alarm bells in most women’s heads as a clear sign that something is up. The most obvious answer is that amenorrhea (the medical term for a missing period) is a sign of pregnancy, but for those who are not sexually active or for whom a pregnancy test has ruled that reason out, what could be the root cause of a missed period? Turns out, there are a lot of potential reasons.

For starters, how long should you be skipping periods before you start to worry? Typically once a pregnancy has been ruled out, the time span varies based on regularity. If you’re usually very regular, start talking to your doctor after a few months have passed. If you have a history of being irregular, six to nine months is usually the time to start looking for the cause of your amenorrhea.

Nutrition and Lifestyle

When the body doesn’t receive enough nutrients, endures exercise that is too intense, or a combination of those factors, the reproductive system shuts down to try to help the body cope with the physical stress. Amenorrhea is a common symptom of eating disorders for this reason, but it’s also seen in athletes or people with intense and unhealthy fitness regimens. You may see the myth floating around in weight loss and exercise circles that a missing period means you’re on the right track and working hard enough, but this is false– and dangerous. If you’ve noticed your period stopping as a result of your diet and physical activity, it’s time to reassess. Make sure you’re getting enough nutrients of all kinds and not over-exerting yourself when you exercise.

PCOS

PCOS, or polycystic ovarian syndrome, is a hormonal disorder, and even though it’s fairly common, it is often overlooked. Irregular or missing periods are a symptom of PCOS, as well as infertility problems, weight struggles, and excessive body hair and acne. A doctor can diagnose PCOS through checking your hormone levels with a blood test. If you suspect you have PCOS, it’s important to bring it up to your doctor and ask about being tested, because women with PCOS are at a higher risk for diabetes, and you may need regular screening to help you avoid this additional problem.

Thyroid Disease

If tests have ruled out hormonal problems like PCOS but you’re still having trouble figuring out why your period is missing, it’s possible that your thyroid might be the problem. Because there are so many potential causes for amenorrhea, the thyroid isn’t often the first thing doctors test for, but it is important to consider it as a factor when other explanations don’t add up.

Birth Control

Going off the pill and suddenly having a missing period can be a shock when you’ve gotten used to the regularity that the pill offers, but it’s not unheard of. Some women do experience about four to six months of amenorrhea after stopping the pill, so if you’ve just cancelled your prescription, make sure you rule out pregnancy as a cause, and then give your period a little time to come back before you really start worrying.

Menopause

We all know that menopause marks the end of our menstruating years, but your period won’t just stop dead as you approach this age. In most cases, it’s a slower process in which your period becomes irregular and unpredictable, often just skipping a month. It’s important to note that you can still become pregnant at this time in your life! When your period is irregular it becomes harder to predict ovulation, so make sure you stay on top of your birth control methods if a baby isn’t in the cards for you at this time.

Breastfeeding

With the craziness that accompanies a new baby, you may be grateful to hear that periods often stop during breastfeeding, especially if you are exclusively breastfeeding. During the weaning process it may crop back up and be irregular at first before settling back into your natural cycle, but again remember that missing or irregular periods does not mean it’s impossible for you to get pregnant. Ovulation comes before the period, and it can still happen if you aren’t careful.

Stress

There’s a good reason that medical professionals of all types are always urging their patients to lower their stress levels. Stress really can damage your physical health, and one of the telltale signs of this is menstruation coming to a stop. When stress of any kind becomes intense enough, the body goes through changes that allow it to better handle danger, and one of these changes is shutting down the reproductive system. If tests and discussion with your doctor have ruled out other causes and conditions, it may come down to the stress of your life forcing your body into a constant state of fight or flight.

With these potential causes for a missing period in mind, you’re now ready to take charge of your own health and get to the bottom of what’s going on with your body. Renewed Vitality is passionate about helping people stay informed and involved in their health. We are the Berks County area’s top facility for hormone replacement therapy and other treatments. To learn more, don’t hesitate to contact us!

When you’re a man in pain, it’s easy to feel both internal and external pressure to “toughen up” and put off seeing a medical professional. Especially if you aren’t exhibiting symptoms, reasons to put off preventative health screenings are usually easy to find. But ignoring preventative care options, like prostate exams, colonoscopies, and others often causes more harm than good.

It can feel invasive and unnecessarily vulnerable to seek medical attention of any kind, but annual physicals and other preventative care help you take responsibility for your own health in the long term. Such earns you the chance to monitor real risks, prevent healthcare complications, and catch any serious illness early when it’s likely easier to cure or treat.

These four men’s health tips will empower you with choices that put you on the road to your best health.

Understand Your Risks

Certain health issues are more prevalent in men, and taking preventative steps is critical toward managing and treating them. For instance, knowing you have an increased risk for developing certain diseases may convince you to take steps to improve your health.

Conditions that are more common in men include: heart disease (including coronary artery disease and heart attack), hypertension (high blood pressure), skin cancer, lung cancer, and ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Men are also more prone to atrial fibrillation, diabetes, having an elevated BMI, and using tobacco products.

Don’t Avoid Annual Exams

Even when you don’t feel sick, you should still see your primary care doctor at least once a year. Your annual wellness visits are an opportunity to engage with your physician and review family history, medical conditions, your history with surgery, and any current prescription and nonprescription medications or other supplements.

Normal preventive care practices, including screenings, immunizations, and counseling are often 100% covered by individual healthcare plans, so make sure to review your benefits and check with your doctor’s office before confirming an appointment.

Alternatively, using telehealth services will put you in contact with a doctor for a live virtual doctor’s visit. This option can help men who can’t easily make it to the doctor’s office find the time for preventative care, wherever they are.

Choose To Live Healthier

In addition to committing to annual checkups, adopting even small-seeming changes in your life can improve or even save it in the long run. To live a healthier lifestyle, consider the tips below:

Exercise Diligently
- Regular exercise helps keep your body at a healthy weight, decreasing your risk of heart disease and stroke. The CDC officially recommends 30 minutes of exercise a day, five days per week. Any physically strenuous activity counts, so choose something you enjoy — like calisthenics, cycling, swimming, or hiking — keeps it pleasurable for you. When you motivate yourself to exercise with fun, you’re more likely to commit.

Eat Healthier
- Adjusting your diet can have a major effect on your overall health. Focus on eating vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean sources of protein (including fish and chicken that isn’t fried). Limit how much red meat you eat, and do the same with processed foods, saturated and trans fats, and foods with added sugar and sodium.

Stay Within A Healthy Weight Range
- Making sure your weight stays within a healthy range has tons of health benefits: it lowers your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even cancer. If you are overweight, it’s especially important to commit to gradual habit changes so your weight loss is consistent and lasts. If you’re trying to lose weight, start small to not overwhelm yourself. Ask your physician what your medically-based suggested weight range is and how to best get there.

Stop Smoking And Limit Alcohol
- If you smoke cigarettes, vape, or use additional forms of tobacco (chewing tobacco, snuff, etc.), talk to your doctor about the best ways to quit. Ingesting alcohol increases your risk for certain types of cancer, heart disease, and stroke. If you occasionally drink, moderation is essential to keeping a healthy lifestyle.

Be Transparent With Your Doctor

To make the most out of your doctor appointments and build overall trust between you and your physician, transparency is crucial. Men may feel embarrassed about experiencing medical difficulty, but without being open about all the factors that contribute to your health, they can’t do their job as well.

Some men may not want to hear about having to change their diet or lifestyle habits, or may even not feel ready to confront a health issue. But your doctor is your partner in caring for your health and living a long, healthy life. You can be assured that whatever happens, your physician has heard similar concerns before and is trained to help you medically, whatever the cause(s).

At Renewed Vitality, we specialize in helping people stay informed and passionate about their lives and health. We are the Berks County area’s premier facility for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and other treatments. We serve both men and women, offering safe, effective care that relieves hormone imbalance symptoms and restores quality of life for patients at all stages of life. To learn more, don’t hesitate to contact Renewed Vitality today!

A Widespread Problem

If you or your partner have experienced painful sex, you are not alone. This problem affects many couples and, likely, many more couples than you think. It is estimated that roughly 20% of women experience dyspareunia.

Dyspareunia refers to persistent or recurring pain during intercourse. Pain during sex often goes unmentioned, even at the doctor. It can have a massive impact on a relationship, resulting in anxiety and stress. In addition, pain during sex can impact a couples’ level of intimacy.

What Causes Painful Sex?

There are many possible causes of pain during sex. Therefore, it’s important to discuss your specific symptoms with your doctor to ensure proper treatment. A few possible causes include:

Insufficient vaginal lubrication – This affects 50-70% of women after menopause. It can be due to medications, diet/lifestyle changes, emotional or psychological stress, and something else entirely. It’s a common issue that many, many women deal with.
Vaginismus – This is extreme tightness of the vaginal muscles or spasms of the vagina.
Vaginal infections due to yeast or bacteria.
Vaginal atrophy – This is thinning and drying of the tissue that makes vaginal walls and is common after menopause.
Ovarian issues such as cysts.

Symptoms of Painful Intercourse

Most women who experience sexual discomfort experience pain at entry, during thrusting, or after intercourse. In the latter case, burning, aching, or sharp pain can last up to hours afterward.

Diagnosing Sexual Pain

It’s essential to seek medical attention if pain during sex is a common, persistent issue. Your doctor will review your symptoms and perform a physical examination, including a pelvic exam. Common questions that you may be asked are a description of the pain, sex positions where it is most problematic, and whether your pain has happened with every sexual partner or just one or a few. Additional tests may be required for diagnosis, such as:

Pelvic ultrasound
Blood tests
Hormone level testing

Treatment of Pain During Sex

Treatment varies greatly depending on your diagnosis. A few common treatments for pain during sex are:

Use of a lubricant
Medications to decrease vaginal dryness
Vaginal relaxation exercises
Sex therapy or counseling
Trying new sexual positions
Increased communication with your partner during intercourse
Hormone replacement therapy

What is Hormone Replacement Therapy?

If you’re struggling with pain during sex, hormone therapy might be an option for you. Bioidentical hormone therapy refers to supplementing your natural hormones with plant-based, animal-based, or synthetic hormones to balance everything out.

Renewed Vitality has extensive experience creating individualized replacement hormone therapy treatment plans. Bioidentical hormones are made from plant-based sources. Unlike lab-produced synthetic hormones, plant-derived hormones are designed to give the patients the best and most natural results with the least side effects. Bioidentical hormones are identical to those your body already makes, so they can be used more efficiently and have fewer side effects.

Forms of Hormone Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy is usually given in the form of a pellet. A simple procedure which uses a needle to insert a pellet right under the skin, usually in the thigh, hip, or buttocks. As time passes, the pellet releases the hormone directly to the bloodstream. This pellet supplements the natural production of testosterone and estrogen. As hormone levels normalize, the body returns to its usual level of function, and you may notice a decrease in unwanted symptoms like sexual pain.

Each pellet can last from three to six months. This form of therapy is known to be safe and effective. Placement is completed by a professional, and the pellets have fewer side effects than other known treatments. Other options for receiving hormone therapy are topical creams, hormone replacement patches, and oral hormone replacement therapy. Your Renewed Vitality practitioner can create a treatment plan that works for your needs and lifestyle.

Bioidentical hormone therapy can help women take their sex life back. It can increase natural lubrication in the vagina, making intimacy less painful.

When to Seek Medical Attention

If you’re experiencing pain during sex, your doctor or the professionals at Renewed Vitality can help. Don’t suffer alone in silence! Let us help you find relief so you can reclaim your sensuality today!

Any parent will tell you that having children changes their lives, and their relationship, forever. Between running them to sports and activities, helping them with schoolwork, and ensuring they’re cared for, parents may long for the days when their home is once again quiet and they can spend their time alone together fulfilling their dreams. However, when the day actually comes and the kids are all moved out, the parents’ emotions are not always as they expected.

After the hectic years of raising kids and putting them as top priority, couples may find themselves with empty nest syndrome and struggle to reconnect with one another again. To many, a child-free home may feel lonely and conversations may seem difficult when they don’t revolve around the children’s’ daily schedules anymore. Luckily, there are tips that may help marriages struggling from empty nest syndrome to grow strong again.

Improve Communication

One of the most difficult aspects for empty nesters is learning how to communicate with one another again. Seeing a counselor, joining a support group, or attending a marriage workshop can help greatly in this area.

A therapist and support group can offer advice for this next chapter in life, provide tools for working on your marriage outside of the counseling session, and validate the range of emotions being felt. It is also a safe space to express your feelings and work through them together with a professional. Minds can’t be read so open and honest communication is the only key to a successful marriage. You may learn something new about how your spouse is feeling or see a new perspective on the matter. You’ll be reigniting your spark in no time!

Plan Intentional Dates

Date nights may have been put off during the busy child-rearing years, but now is the time to be intentional about spending quality time with one another. Plan romantic date nights regularly or be spontaneous and embark on trips to places you’ve always wanted to see. Keep it exciting by always planning something new. Try out a popular restaurant, see a new movie, or go wine tasting – the possibilities are endless!

You’re no longer responsible for taking care of young children and it’s time to create cherished memories to share just with your spouse. Enjoy your new found freedom and celebrate the amazing family you have raised together!

Practice a Shared Hobby

Parents who are having trouble adjusting to all of the time they have on their hands now that they live in an empty house may benefit from picking up a new hobby to participate in with one another. This will create bonding time and a new topic to talk about that doesn’t involve the children.

Whether you’ve always wanted to learn how to play chess, you have a passion for golf, or crafting is calling your name, choose a hobby to enjoy together.

Connect with Other Parents

There are many ways to connect with other parents struggling with similar emotions from being empty nesters. As mentioned above, joining a support group or club for your hobby will both provide ample opportunities to meet and connect with other couples. Building new friendships or nurturing past ones that may have been neglected due to parenting responsibilities, will help you stay busy and socialized.

It’s important to remember that just because your children are moved out and on their own, it doesn’t mean that you no longer have purpose as a parent. This is an exciting chapter to reconnect with your spouse and build the love for one another even stronger. You children still need you and one day your home may be filled again with grandkids so enjoy the quiet while you have it!

Finding a great doctor that truly meets all your needs is vital to your health and happiness. That’s why it was so surprising when a recent poll revealed that while more than 90 percent of those polled agreed that making the right choice of physician is important, 50 percent believed they made the wrong decision.

At Renewed Vitality, we understand how necessary it is to feel comfort and trust with your doctor and medical professionals. In order to better guide you on your decision, we’re offering five qualities to look out for that will help you make the right choice.

Friendliness

Getting the best possible medical attention means having to be vulnerable with your doctor. For this reason, a physician with a good demeanor and who has great chemistry with you is key.

An unfriendly, rude, or dismissive doctor can make you much less willing to be open and honest with them about what you may be experiencing health-wise. A little friendliness goes a long way, especially when it comes to trust.

Patience

According to a recent report by ABC News a doctor only spends 17 minutes with a patient on average. A good medical professional should remain with you until all of your questions are answered and you feel as though you have a good understanding of your situation and what to do next.

Never hesitate to ask questions about your personal health. This way, you will have a better understanding of what you may be experiencing, and what you can, and should, be doing about it going forward. The right doctor will take as much time as is necessary to ensure this happens.

Great Communication

Communication is vital to every profession, especially medical science. Not only does great communication include the ability to clearly relay vital information in a way that everyone involved can understand, it also involves the ability to listen to others and consider their thoughts and emotions.

For brief reference, here are the things you should leave a medical office understanding thoroughly:

The necessary self-care steps you should be taking
The name and function of any medications you may have been prescribed
The preventive measures that are available to you
You are the one in control of your medical care
How the practice uses certain electronic and medical tools that are essential to your care

Professionalism

Professionalism is extremely important to a great relationship with your doctor. This includes their ability to recognize when a specialist should be consulted, an accurate knowledge of modern medical science, and an ability to effectively apply that knowledge to a patient.

One great sign of professionalism is a clean, accommodating and welcoming office. Is the waiting room nice and tidy? Is there handicapped parking available? How does the staff interact with patients? Etc.

A Similar Medical Ideology to Your Own

Medical science is ever-evolving. For this reason, you should find a doctor who will be on the same page as you medically, and won’t keep pushing any treatments or approaches to care that you may be uncomfortable with.

For example, if you prefer a holistic approach to health that puts a strong emphasis on diet, exercise, and other lifestyle changes before medication is considered, then you should find a medical professional that shares this viewpoint.

At Renewed Vitality, we specialize in helping people get their lives back and achieve their dreams while considering everything about their medical comfortability carefully.

We are the Berks County area’s premier facility for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and other treatments. We serve both men and women, offering safe, effective care that relieves hormone imbalance symptoms and restores quality of life for patients at all stages of life.

To learn more, don’t hesitate to contact Renewed Vitality in Wyomissing, PA today!

In the modern age of the 21st century, our society is quite lucky to have a number of different methods of birth control at our disposal. While some methods require physical tools and others require medication, one thing is always required to ensure birth control remains effective: a comprehensive understanding of how birth control works and how to use it properly.

Before we get into the nitty-gritty however, let’s clear up a few common questions surrounding birth control use during perimenopause or menopause:

Q: Can I Stop Using Birth Control in Menopause?

A: Medical and fertility professionals usually recommend that women continue to use some form of birth control for the first two years following their last period. Certain methods, however, like the patch, pill, or ring, are not recommended after women enter their mid-to-late 40s. In this scenario, condoms, intrauterine devices (IUDs), or vasectomies among your partners are recommended.

Q: What Are the Benefits and Risks of Continuing to Take Birth Control Pills During Menopause or Perimenopause?

A: While there can be some benefits to continuing the use of oral contraceptives, such as period regulation and a reduction in bleeding or pain, and their role in keeping your hormones at consistent levels. However, every woman’s situation is different, and there are sometimes risks associated with taking the pill during menopause. Consult with your health care provider for help deciding what’s best for you.

Q: When Should I Start Talking to My Doctor About Perimenopause and Menopause?

A: It’s really never too early to get yourself informed about what lies in store for your reproductive future, but many women choose to begin seeing their health care provider with questions concerning menopause only after they begin to experience their first symptoms. That said, if you begin to experience symptoms that are concerning, like excessive pain and heavy or irregular periods, be sure to contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Without further ado and courtesy of Renewed Vitality, here are 18 methods of birth control, their level of effectiveness, their cost, and their expected longevity.

Birth Control Implant

The birth control implant, or “Nexplanon,” is a tiny, thin rod (about the size of a matchstick) that releases hormones into your body that prevent you from getting pregnant. A nurse or doctor inserts the implant into your arm and that’s it — that’s all there is to it.

Rate of Effectiveness: 99 Percent

Potential Cost: Between $0 and $1300 depending on insurance coverage

Expected Longevity: Approximately 5 years

Intrauterine Device (IUD)

An Intrauterine Device, or IUD, is a tiny device that’s inserted into your uterus to prevent pregnancy. It is long-term, reversible, and one of the most effective birth control methods out there. Some IUDs do not use hormones, while others do. They work by changing the way sperm cells move, preventing them from effectively reaching and fertilizing an egg.

Rate of Effectiveness: 99 Percent

Potential Cost – Between $0 and $1300 depending on insurance coverage

Expected Longevity – Approximately 3-12 years

Birth Control Shot

The birth control shot, also known as the “depo shot” or “Depo-Provera,” is an injection you get once every 3 months. It’s a safe, convenient, and private birth control method that works really well if you always get it on time. It works through the use of the hormone progestin, which stops you from getting pregnant by preventing ovulation.

Rate of Effectiveness: 94 Percent

Potential Cost – Between $0 and $150 depending on insurance coverage

Expected Longevity – Requires recurring dosage every three months

Birth Control Vaginal Ring

The birth control ring (AKA the “vaginal ring,” or simply “the ring”) is a small, flexible ring worn inside the vagina. It prevents pregnancy 24/7 by releasing hormones into your body that stop sperm from joining with an egg.

Rate of Effectiveness: 91 Percent

Potential Cost – Between $0 and $200 depending on insurance coverage

Expected Longevity – Requires replacement monthly

Birth Control Patch

The birth control patch, or “transdermal contraceptive patch,” is a patch worn on certain parts of your body. It releases hormones through your skin that stop ovulation and prevent pregnancy. In addition, the patch thickens the mucus on your cervix, which helps to block sperm from swimming to an egg.

Rate of Effectiveness: 91 Percent

Potential Cost – Between $0 and $150 depending on insurance coverage

Expected Longevity – Requires replacement weekly

Birth Control Pill

The birth control pill, also known as simply “the pill,” is a kind of medicine that uses hormones to regulate your ovulation cycle. Birth control pills come in a pack, and you take one pill every day. The pill is one of the most popular forms of birth control, and is safe, affordable, and effective as long as you always take your pill on time.

Rate of Effectiveness: 91 Percent

Potential Cost – Between $0 and $50 depending on insurance coverage

Expected Longevity – Requires regular, daily dosage

Condoms

Condoms are an extremely popular form of barrier-method birth control. They are thin, stretchy pouches worn on the penis during sex. Condoms provide great protection from both pregnancy and STDs, are easy to use and easy to get, and come in many different forms.

Rate of Effectiveness: 85 Percent

Potential Cost – Typically between $3 and $30 depending on amount and type purchased