What is birth control?
Birth control includes any medicine, device, or method used to prevent pregnancy.
When it comes to preventing pregnancy, you have a lot of options, which can be confusing and overwhelming. The team at Pure OBGYN help you make a selection that fits your personal and health needs. No one birth control works for all women.
What are my birth control options?
Your birth control options include:
- Hormonal methods, such as birth control pills, patch, shot, or vaginal ring
- Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC), like an intrauterine device (IUD) or hormonal implants
- Barrier method with condoms, diaphragm, or cervical cap
- Rhythm method that uses your ovulation cycle to track when you’re most likely to get pregnant
- Sterilization with a tubal ligation or vasectomy
Some methods of birth control are more effective than others.
A tubal ligation, also known as having your tubes tied, is a permanent form of birth control. The team at Pure OBGYN may be able to perform a tubal ligation laparoscopically to minimize risk and recovery.
Are birth control pills safe?
Birth control pills are safe and offer health benefits, including:
- Lower risk of certain types of cancer
- Improvement in menstruation
- Less menstrual cramping
- Better skin
However, if you’re a smoker and over the age of 35, you shouldn’t use birth control pills due to the risk of blood clots and high blood pressure.
What medical conditions can birth control help?
Birth control is primarily used to help prevent pregnancy, but certain types of birth control, such as the hormonal methods, may be recommended to help reduce symptoms gynecologic conditions cause, such as:
- Endometriosis
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Uterine fibroids
- Ovarian cysts
What are emergency contraceptives?
Emergency contraception prevents or delays ovulation, therefore stopping a pregnancy from occurring. You may need emergency contraception if you forgot to take your birth control pills for a few days, the condom broke, or you had unprotected sex.
The types of emergency contraceptive pills include:
- Combined birth control
- Ulipristal
- Progestin only
For effectiveness, you need to take the emergency contraception within five days of unprotected sex.
To discuss your birth control options, call today or book an appointment online.
