Choosing a Birth Control Method: Factors to Consider

You have the right to choose the best method of birth control for you to prevent unintended pregnancies. However, it’s important that you also consider several other factors to ensure your choice in birth control is right for you.

At Alpha OB GYN, Sowmya Reddy, MD, and our gynecology team offer you comprehensive help in selecting the safest and most effective method of birth control. Before you make your decision, here are the factors you need to consider:

Your existing health

Your existing health, and even your personal and family medical history, play a role in your choices in birth control.

If you have underlying health conditions, such as a history of blood clots, you might not be able to use certain methods of birth control that contain hormones. This is because hormonal birth controls can increase your risk for blood clots and other health complications.

Be sure to give our team an accurate picture of any previous or existing health conditions you have that might interfere with your use of certain birth controls.

Your age

If you’re over 35, hormonal birth controls may not be a safe option because of concerns for health complications, including breast cancer and blood clots.

Older women looking for an effective and safe birth control might need to consider hormone-free birth control methods, such as the Paragard® copper intrauterine device (IUD) that doesn’t use hormones to prevent pregnancy.

Your family plans

Some birth controls, including pills and skin patches, are short-acting and will allow you to become pregnant soon after stopping. Other birth control options, like an IUD and birth control implants, offer much longer protection.

For this reason, you need to consider your plans for family before selecting your method of birth control to reduce your risk for issues that can complicate your fertility.

The convenience factor

There are several convenient birth control options to consider if you have concerns about interfering with intimate moments. You might not want to use barrier methods like a diaphragm if you’re worried about forgetting to use it in the heat of the moment.

More convenient options for birth control might include:

• Birth control pills
• Vaginal rings
• Injections
• IUDs

You also need to remember that if you have multiple sexual partners, you still need to use condoms with these methods of birth control to reduce your risk for sexually transmitted diseases.

Exploring permanent birth control

If you’re sure you’re done having children, our team at Alpha OB GYN can work with you to decide if you’re ready for permanent birth control procedures.

Our providers offer minimally invasive surgical procedures, like tubal ligation, to prevent your eggs from meeting with sperm for fertilization. We review your medical history and your family plans to ensure permanent birth control is your best option before scheduling you for surgery.

If you’re just making your birth control decision for the first time or you need help finding a more convenient form of birth control to prevent unwanted pregnancies, call Alpha OB GYN or book an appointment online today.