In today’s political climate, women are asking themselves now more than ever, ‘What Are My Birth Control Options?’ This article will share information from the Mayo Clinic in regards to the different birth control options available on the market today. However, it is important to speak with your physician before choosing a birth control option. Some treatments may work better than others based on your specific medical history and lifestyle.
It is recommended that any sexually active person have annual exams in order to check their sexual and reproductive health. Schedule your appointment with Supreme Medical Center today to take control of your body.
What birth control options are available?
Your birth control options include:
Barrier methods. Examples include male and female condoms, as well as the diaphragm, cervical cap and contraceptive sponge.
Short-acting hormonal methods. Examples include birth control pills, as well as the vaginal ring (NuvaRing), skin patch (Xulane) and contraceptive injection (Depo-Provera). These are considered short-acting methods because you have to remember to use them on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.
Long-acting hormonal methods. Examples include the copper IUD (ParaGard), the hormonal IUD (Mirena, Skyla, Kyleena, others) and the contraceptive implant (Nexplanon). These are considered long-acting methods because they last for three to 10 years after insertion — depending on the device — or until you decide to have the device removed.
Sterilization. This is a permanent method of birth control. Examples include tubal ligation for women and vasectomy for men.
Spermicide or vaginal gel. These are nonhormonal options for birth control. Spermicide is a type of contraceptive that kills sperm or stops it from moving. Vaginal pH regulator gel (Phexxi) stops sperm from moving, so they can’t get to an egg to fertilize it. You put these products in the vagina right before sex.
Fertility awareness methods. These methods focus on knowing which days of the month you are able to get pregnant (fertile), often based on basal body temperature and cervical mucus. To avoid getting pregnant, you do not have sex on or around the days you are fertile, or you use a barrier method of birth control.
It’s also important to be aware of emergency contraception — such as the morning-after pill (Plan B One-Step, Aftera, ella, others) — which can be used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex.
How do the different birth control options work?
Various types of birth control work in different ways. Birth control methods may:
- Prevent sperm from reaching the egg
- Inactivate or damage sperm
- Prevent an egg from being released each month
- Alter the lining of the uterus so that a fertilized egg doesn’t attach to it
- Thicken cervical mucus so that sperm can’t easily pass through it
What is the method’s effectiveness?
To be effective, any method of contraception must be used consistently and correctly. Contraceptives that require little effort on your part, such as IUDs, contraceptive implants and sterilization, are associated with lower pregnancy rates. In contrast, methods that require monitoring fertility or periodic abstinence are associated with higher pregnancy rates.
Is it reversible?
The method of contraception you choose depends on your reproductive goals. If you’re planning pregnancy in the near future, you may want a method that’s easily stopped or quickly reversible, such as a short-acting hormonal method or a barrier method. If you want to prevent pregnancy for a longer amount of time, you may consider a long-acting method, such as an IUD. If you’re certain that you don’t want to get pregnant at any time in the future, you may prefer a permanent method, such as sterilization. You may find that different contraceptive options work for you at different stages of your life.
Supreme Medical Center in Houston
When it comes to getting better fast, the best thing you can do is schedule an appointment with your physician at the first sign of illness. At Supreme Medical Center our doctors work with you to treat your symptoms and get you back to feeling like yourself in no time.
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