Birth Control Choices

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By: A Lady's Doctor

Birth Control Choices

What is birth control?

Birth control is a broad term for methods that prevent pregnancy for sexually active women. The umbrella of birth control contains barrier methods, methods that prevent ovulation, and methods that allow fertilization of the egg but prevent implantation of the fertilized egg inside the uterus.

Birth control works to prevent pregnancy in a few different ways. Hormonal birth control methods, like the pill work by preventing ovulation so that a woman is temporarily infertile. Barrier methods, like condoms, prevent the man’s sperm from reaching an egg. IUD’s thicken the mucus that lives on the cervix, which blocks and traps sperm.

Methods of birth control include:

Methods of birth control include: 

Hormonal birth control methods include:

  • Birth control pills
  • Hormonal patches
  • Birth control implants
  • Vaginal ring

Barrier birth control methods include:

  • Diaphragms
  • Condoms
  • Cervical caps
  • Spermicides

Natural birth control methods include the use of:

  • Ovulation test kits
  • Cervical mucus examination
  • Tracking menstrual cycles (rhythm method)

Other types of birth control options include:

  • Intrauterine devices or IUD’s
  • Emergency contraception aka “morning after” pills

Surgical sterilization methods for birth control include:

  • Tubal ligation (“tubes tied”)
  • Vasectomy

What’s the most common form of birth control?

As many young people either don’t want children or want to delay having children, birth control provides the ideal solution to preventing pregnancies. 

62% of women who are of reproductive age use birth control to prevent pregnancy. Of that 62%, most opt for the birth control pill.

The birth control pill is a safe, simple, and convenient way to prevent pregnancy. It also has other benefits in addition to pregnancy prevention such as reducing acne, making periods lighter and more regular, and easing menstrual cramps.

Another advantage to the pill is that it’s birth control you don’t have to think about during sex. If you take the pill correctly, you’re protected from pregnancy all day, every day.

How do I pick the right birth control for me?

birth control pills

While the pill remains the most popular, it’s not the most effective unless you take it perfectly. In fact, no method of birth control is perfect unless it works for you. 

Before selecting a method you should think about:

  • Effectiveness of chosen method 
  • Will you remember to take something every day (in the case of the pill) or replace something every month (in the case of the ring)? 
  • Do you need to protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?
  • Does it matter if your period is affected?
  • Will you someday want to have a child?

Please call or visit any of our locations to discuss your contraception options today:

340 4th Ave. Suite 8

Chula Vista, CA 91910

(619) 422-2121

 

230 Prospect Pl. Suite 210

Coronado, CA 92118

(619) 435-0041

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Dr. Sefa-Boakye of A Lady’s Doctor has been practicing medicine since 1989 and is dedicated to ensuring his patients are happy and healthy with regular gynecological exams. Learn more about our clinic here:

https://aladysdoctor.com/about-us/

*Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162762.php#devices