What Are My Birth Control Options?
- Posted on: Jul 15 2019
In this day and age, there are so many different forms of female contraception available that it can feel a little overwhelming. Here at Camelback Women’s Health, we strive to help all of our patients make a contraceptive choice that’s good for you, your lifestyle, and that you feel confident with. Let’s take a closer look at some of your options.
Hormonal Contraception
- Combined Oral Contraception: COC or birth control bills have been a popular option among women for decades. By using a combination of progestin and estrogen, these oral pills help to prevent unplanned pregnancy as long as they are taken at the same time every day. If You miss a pill, make sure that you use a condom or another type of contraception.
- Contraceptive Patch and Vaginal Ring: For patients who like the idea of using hormones for contraception, but they aren’t good at taking a pill every day, then we may recommend the contraceptive patch or vaginal ring. Both of these methods also use hormones to help prevent unplanned pregnancy but not sexually transmitted diseases.
Intrauterine Devices or Systems (IUD or IUS)
The IUD and IUS are the most effective forms of reversible contraception currently available in the united states. As a quick and easy procedure, we will insert one of these days into the uterus, which helps to prevent unplanned pregnancies. Typically, we recommend this type of contraception to patients who have had vaginal births, have no risk factors of sexually transmitted diseases or infections, and who are in a mutually supportive relationship.
Nexplanon
This form of hormone-releasing birth control is used to prevent pregnancy for up to three years. The implant is a small plastic rod that contains progestin and it is inserted in the inner side of the upper arm.
Permanent sterilization
Tubal ligation is a permanent form of contraception that requires surgery. Patients who no longer want to have children may prefer this
Advantages include high efficacy, permanence, cost-effectiveness, nothing to remember or buy, no significant long term side effects, and privacy of choice.
Disadvantages may include lack of protection against sexually transmitted infections, expense at the time of the procedure, infection, pregnancy, the permanence of method, difficult reversibility, and surgical error.
These are just some of the birth control options that we offer here at our office. If you want to learn more about how preventative measures, contact our office at Paradise Valley or Biltmore offices at 602-468-3912.
Posted in: Birth Control Options