There are lots of options for Birth control. Your doctor can help narrow the selection since not all methods of birth control are right for every woman.
Birth control pills, for example, are not an acceptable choice if you smoke or have a history of blood clots. You also must remember to take them every day.
Condoms are an excellent choice for protecting your health. But the CDC notes that, annually, 18 of every 100 women in the United States who rely on condoms for birth control end up pregnant.
The intrauterine device (IUD) is very convenient and easy to use. Once in place, you don’t have to think about it or remember anything, and it’s gaining in popularity as a long acting-acting birth control option. Learn a few facts about the IUD before you take a pass on this safe and effective method of birth control.
Myth: IUDs can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility
Fact: the Dalkon Shield was on the market back in the early 1970s and it did cause infections and a host of other, sometimes tragic, medical concerns for many women. That IUD was banned from use more than 40 years ago.Today’s IUDs are one of the safest methods of birth control available, and they have very few side effects.
Myth: IUDs are uncomfortable
Fact: For some women, insertion of an IUD is momentarily uncomfortable. You might experience slight cramping now and then for a couple of days afterward, much like mild period cramps, along with spotty bleeding.After that, however, it may be hard to remember you have an IUD. And many women with IUDs in place experience lighter bleeding during their periods and milder menstrual cramps.
Myth: You can get pregnant with an IUD
Fact: Anything is possible, but the risk of getting pregnant with an IUD is less than 1%. Permanent sterilization is the only method that beats the IUD in efficacy.Depending on the type you choose, an IUD can provide safe, consistent, and effective birth control for 3-12 years. When you decide you want to become pregnant or want to switch to another birth control option, an IUD is simple to remove.
If an IUD isn’t for you, there are a myriad of other safe and effective birth control options available.
These include:
- Hormonal implants, which are long-acting and reversible contraceptives inserted just under the skin, usually in your arm
- Short-acting hormonal medications, including the pill, patch, shot, or vaginal ring
- Barrier methods such as a condom, diaphragm, or sponge, which you must use every time you have sex and are often much less effective than other methods of birth control
Tubal Ligation-When you are sure that you do not want any more children and you desire permanent sterility, we can perform a tubal ligation which is virtually 100% effective.
Call the office or book an appointment online for more information regarding birth control and the option that might work best for you.