Good morning, afternoon or evening, and welcome back to The Naked Truth. This week’s question is an important one, especially for those whose parents suffocated them and are just discovering the magic of sex in college.

Q: How do I get birth control? Does it need to be prescribed by a doctor? When do I start using it? Are there different types?

A: In these trying economic times, we here at The Naked Truth understand the need for effective and affordable birth control. And assuming you are a girl (boys, just head down to Walgreens and buy some condoms), there are a lot of important concerns when choosing the birth control method that is right for you.

In the grand scheme of female birth control, there are two categories: barrier methods and hormonal methods. Within these categories, there is a plethora of options as far as price, comfort and availability. 

The barrier methods include such items as female condoms, diaphragms and vaginal sponges. These methods are used to prevent sperm from getting too far up the female reproductive tract to join with an egg. They are also great because they give the bonus of preventing some STIs. 

Most barrier methods, like condoms, spermicide and sponges, can be bought at a Walgreens or other pharmacies. Others, like the female diaphragm or cervical cap, must be fitted and purchased from a doctor, thus making them more expensive (around $100 to $200). Regardless of price, the female condom seems to be the least popular and least comfortable of these methods, and quite frankly, it looks rather silly.  

Hormonal birth-control methods such as the pill, patch, vaginal ring, Depo-Provera shot or Implanon stop the woman’s ovaries from releasing an egg each month. The woman will still have a period; the only difference is there is no egg being released with it. The hormones in these methods also thicken the mucus around the cervix that naturally blocks sperm from entering the uterus. And in case the mucus didn’t persuade you, these hormones also thin the lining of the uterine wall, creating a not-so-friendly environment for a sperm and egg to implant. The hormonal methods can run between $20 and $45 each month, but they do offer the most protection against pregnancy (the average birth control pill, during perfect use, provides 99.9 percent protection).

Implanon represents an interesting trend in modern-day birth control: long-term protection. This product functions in a similar way to the other hormonal means and involves a thin rod being inserted into the woman’s underarm. This method is 99.9 percent effective against pregnancy for up to three years and requires no action before, during or after sex. The downside is this method requires a minor surgery, and the total cost is approximately $400. However, when considering the convenience and the mounting monthly costs of other methods, this may be worth the price.

Choosing the right birth control is going to be different for everybody. The fact of the matter is that the barrier methods are statistically less effective due to the element of human error. On the other hand, some hormonal methods cause irksome side effects like cramps, nausea and depression. 

The choice is entirely personal, but if you have a significant other to think about, research together and decide what works best for the both of you. Like a cheesy (but sexy!) after-school special, our message is always the same: communicate with your partner!

That’s it for this week. For more fun facts on stopping the pitter-patter of little feet, drop us a line at thenakedtruth@jackcentral.com.