Birth Control Options for Frum Women

So….birth control. (Also known as “contraception.”) It’s just not something generally spoken about in Bais Yaakovs, seminary, or even Kallah classes. I don’t have any statistics, but it seems that use of birth control is getting more common in the frum community. Perhaps societal expectations and pressures are changing; perhaps women are just sharing more of their private experiences in public spheres… I don’t know! What I do know for sure is that women have questions about their options from halachic, medical, and lifestyle perspectives.

I’m not here to give anyone a psak on what anyone should or shouldn’t be doing. We are all aware of what a beautiful mitzvah it is to have children! At the same time, a woman should feel comfortable sitting down with her husband and Rav to discuss her physical and emotional needs. There are a wide variety of reasons that a woman might want or need to go on birth control.

Alright, now that all that has been said – there are a lot of options out there. Your doctor’s office might have a sign up on the wall showing you what’s more or less effective in preventing pregnancy. And your provider can fill in some details. However, frum women have a different (if overlapping) set of concerns than the average population. (Is this option ever halachically muttar? Will it cause spotting that makes keeping hilchos niddah really complicated?)

I’m going to include an overview of birth control types, or “methods,” here in this post. We will beH review some of the options in greater depth in upcoming posts and podcasts over the next few months. You can also schedule an appointment through the consultation tab with any personal questions or to discuss birth control methods in greater detail.

(Now, this chart may look comprehensive, but amazingly there’s even more to discuss! :-))

Note: There are additional intrauterine devices made of copper available in Israel that are not (yet) offered in the US, but they are still not so commonly used or widely available through the Kupot. The unique design of these alternatives is meant to prevent discomfort and irritation/cramping caused by the “normal” IUD shape.

(The PDF of the above chart is available for download below. Please email frumwomenshealth@gmail.com for permission to reuse. )

Update (November 18, 2021): I’ve noticed that the section on Progesterone Only Pills really isn’t very clear when it comes to efficacy/timing. Please see this much more recent and thorough post on contraceptive pills!