Birth Control Q & A
What is birth control?
Birth control refers to any method, medication, or device you use to prevent unintended pregnancies. Despite having many birth control options, unintended pregnancies are a major health concern in the United States.
Having an unplanned baby affects a woman’s physical, emotional, social, and financial well-being.
Heartfelt Obstetrics And Gynecology provides birth control and family planning counseling to empower you to make good decisions about your health now and in the future.
What are the methods of birth control?
There are many methods of birth control. Each method has its benefits, as well as potential drawbacks. Types of birth control methods include:
Barrier methods
Male and female condoms, diaphragms, and the cervical cap are barrier methods of birth control. These methods are effective when used correctly every time you have sex. Condoms can also protect you from sexually transmitted diseases on their own or in combination with other contraception.
Hormonal contraception
Hormonal contraception includes the birth control pill, injection, vaginal ring, and patch. These types of birth control contain hormones similar to the ones your body makes. These hormones prevent ovulation, which is when your ovaries release an egg.
Without ovulation, there’s no egg for fertilization.
Intrauterine device (IUD)
The IUD is a small plastic device placed and left inside your uterus to prevent pregnancy. There are two types of IUDs: hormonal IUDs and non-hormonal IUDs.
Sterilization
Sterilization is a permanent form of birth control. For women, the team performs a tubal ligation using minimally invasive surgery. During the procedure, they tie, band, clip, block, or cut your fallopian tubes to prevent sperm from fertilizing an egg.
Natural family planning
Natural family planning involves various techniques that monitor and track ovulation so you can plan intercourse when you’re not ovulating.
Emergency contraception
Emergency contraception is a type of hormonal birth control you take immediately after having unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy.
How do I know what type of birth control is best for me?
The Heartfelt Obstetrics And Gynecology team provides birth control counseling to help you find the method that works best for you. That puts you in charge of your health and family planning.
Call Heartfelt Obstetrics And Gynecology at (541) 205-6890 or request an appointment online today.