Mary Lide, 26, IUD

One of the greatest benefits of using an IUD is how long they last. But Mary Lide makes a good point: hormonal IUDs often have very few side effects. (The levels of hormone in your system are really low.) For women who have had a bad experience with another hormonal method, a hormonal IUD might be a good alternative.

Mary Lide will tell you honestly that her Mirena IUD insertion included 15 seconds of “ouchy pain,” but she says it was worth it for the eight years of continual birth control.