What is birth control?
Birth control describes a method of preventing pregnancy before it begins. There are numerous types of birth control methods to choose from with varying degrees of effectiveness, benefits, and risks.
What types of birth control are available?
With so many options available, it helps to consider birth control methods by grouping them into categories. The knowledgeable team at Womens Clinic LA will help you weigh the pros and cons of each method to narrow down and select the modality that will work best for you.
- Barrier methods: used during intercourse and includes condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps, and spermicidal foams
- Reversible methods: long-acting intrauterine devices like MirenaⓇ and ParagardⓇ, and the birth control implant NexplanonⓇ
- Hormonal methods: includes pills, IUD's, implants like NexplanonⓇ, rings like NuvaRingⓇ, and shots like Depo-ProveraⓇ
- Non-hormonal methods: incudes ParagardⓇ (effective up to 10 years), MirenaⓇ (effective up to 5 years), and SkylaⓇ (effective up to 3 years)
- Permanent methods: includes tubal ligation for women and vasectomy for men
- Emergency methods: includes Plan B morning-after pill
What things should I keep in mind as I choose birth control?
The type of birth control you choose is a very personal decision. The helpful team at Womens Clinic LA educates you about how each type works so you can make an informed decision based on:
- The possible risks
- The potential benefits
- Your partner’s desires and habits
- Your overall health
- Your age
- Your medical history
- Your and your partner’s desire for children in the future
What can I expect from an IUD insertion procedure?
An IUD, or intrauterine device, works to prevent your eggs from being fertilized. Your provider inserts the T-shaped device into your uterus right in the comfort of our office in the South Bay.
The process is similar to having a routine pelvic exam. While you rest on the table, your nurse practitioner will go through the cervix to access your uterus. The IUD is put in place in a position that allows it to be easily removed when you are ready to do so. The process is not painful, but you may feel most comfortable if a numbing cream is applied to the cervix before the procedure.
If I use birth control pills for a long time, will it lower my chances of getting pregnant in the future?
There is no evidence to suggest that prolonged use of birth control pills will influence your ability to get pregnant in the future. In fact, it’s possible to become pregnant in your very next menstrual cycle after you discontinue use of birth control pills.
