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Writing it on your hand.  Making a Google task.  Asking your roommate or partner to remind you.

What do you think these things are trying to help someone remember to do?

Prevent pregnancy, of course!

These are just some of the many ways that I’ve heard women use to try and remember to take their birth control pill daily, change their patch weekly, or replace their ring monthly.  Considering that the last big study of pregnancy showed that about 50% of pregnancies in the United States were unintended, many of these methods might not be working so well.  Luckily there are some new ways to reliably remind you or your partner about their birth control and even doctors appointments.

For some birth control-related fun and helpful tools, check out the Bedsider.  From this website you can explore your birth control options, set up free daily, weekly, or monthly reminders, and even sign up for their sassy and informational Friday Bedsider e-mail listserv.  You can also set up appointment reminders for things like your yearly Well Woman’s exam.  You did remember that, right?

As you might have guessed, there’s also an app that will help remind you about your pill.  The “Miss Mint” app allows you to set your reminder time and then will discretely notify you daily with messages like famous quotes.  She will even remind you an hour after your set time, just in case you didn’t pay attention the first time.

So no more writing on your hand folks!  And if you find that using your birth control correctly is too much of a pain, it might be time to explore your other options.  There are several kinds of birth control that require little to no thought or reminder, and are more effective than the pill, patch, or ring!

Check out your options with My Method and then make an appointment with a sexual health educator at Counseling and Wellness Services (919-966-3658) if you have additional questions.  Once you think you know what’s right for you, make an appointment at Campus Health (919-966-2281) to talk with a healthcare provider!

And of course remember that no matter how consistent you are at remembering to use your birth control method, no method other than male or female condoms will help protect you or your partner from STDs, except for abstinence of course!