Birth control offers protection from unwanted pregnancies. Because every woman has different needs, there’s a variety of birth control options available.
At Alpha OB GYN, Sowmya Reddy, MD, offers popular forms of birth control in the office. Dr. Reddy also provides comprehensive health evaluations and gynecological exams to help you decide which method is right for you.
Overall, birth control reduces your risk for becoming pregnant before you’re ready. Contraceptives also help you plan for the family you want and when you’re ready to have children.
The birth control options you can choose from include:
A barrier method of birth control prevents sperm from meeting egg for fertilization. Common options for barrier birth control include diaphragm, cervical cap, and sponge. You must remember to use this kind of birth control every time you have sex for the method to be effective.
Condoms are also a type of barrier-method birth control. Not only do they reduce your risk for pregnancy, condoms are the only birth control option that also lowers your risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Birth control pills stop ovulation to prevent sperm from fertilizing an egg. Using conventional pills, you still have a period each month. There are also continuous dosing pills that cause a period only four times a year. Some women won’t have a period at all.
There are other short-acting methods available as well. Mini pills and vaginal rings slowly release hormones to prevent conception, while the Depo injection is administered every 12 weeks in order to prevent pregnancy.
Soon after you stop using short-acting birth control, you can become pregnant.
For women who don’t plan on having children for a while, long-acting birth control options are available. Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are convenient because you don’t have to remember to take a pill every day and they provide long-lasting protection.
An IUD goes into your uterus to prevent pregnancy, some for up to 10 years. Both hormonal and non-hormonal IUDs are available. IUD placement services are available in-office and only require a simple procedure to complete.
For women who are sure they are done having children, Alpha OB GYN offers permanent forms of birth control such as tubal ligation. This is a minor surgical procedure that prevents eggs from traveling into the fallopian tube for fertilization.
Hysterectomy services are also available to treat underlying health conditions like endometriosis when other treatments aren’t working. During a hysterectomy, our surgeons will remove your uterus and possibly other reproductive structures using minimally invasive surgical techniques and you will no longer be able to become pregnant.
There are many factors that go into the birth control decision. Dr. Reddy and our staff can help determine which choice is the best fit for you.
Factors that you should consider when choosing a birth control include your:
We can help you find the best birth control method during a comprehensive gynecological exam. Schedule one today by calling the Alpha OB GYN office nearest you or by booking an appointment online today.
