Women have the right to decide when and if they chose to bear children. Women with mental illness have special contraceptive needs because of the potential impact of their disease on insight and judgment. risk to the fetus from psychotropics and potential for drug interactions between anticonvulsants and hormonal birth control methods. The 1990s have seen the introduction of Norplant and Depo-Provera. both injectable, long-acting progesterone only products. These products provide reliable contraception without the need to take a pill daily and are an option in women sensitive to estrogen. Irregular menses and possibly amenorrhea are the primary adverse effects of injectable contraceptives. Desogestrel and norgestimate are new progesterones found in combination oral contraceptive products. They are less androgenic and antiestrogenic than older progesterones and have little effect on the lipid profile and carbohydrate metabolism. They also carry a low risk of acne and hirsuitism. They recently have been associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolic disease. making their use controversial. Triphasic combination products have overall low concentrations of both hormones. but are vulnerable to failure from interacting medications, or if a dose is missed. With the wide range of birth control options available. a woman can have safe and effective contraception that suits her individual needs.