At Center for Women’s Health, we provide up-to-date information regarding all options available for prevention of pregnancy. Your doctor will make recommendations to determine the best form of birth control that fits your individual needs.


BIRTH CONTROL OPTIONS

Below are listed the forms of birth control available. You can also visit the CDC website for more information on reversible methods of birth control.

  • Natural Family Planning

  • Barrier Methods of Contraception: condoms, diaphragm, cervical cap

  • LARC (Long Acting Reversible Contraception): Intrauterine devices and implantable contraceptive. The American College of OB-GYN recommends long acting reversible contraception as a first line contraceptive for most women including adolescents. These devices can usually be placed at a short visit in our office.

    • Intrauterine Devices

      • Mirena: A five-year IUD containing the hormone levonogestrel

      • Skyla: A three-year IUD containing the hormone levonogestrel

      • Paraguard: A 10-year copper IUD containing no hormones

      • Insertion can be done in the office after excluding pregnancy. Most insertions are simple and uncomplicated. Your Doctor will assist you in choosing the right IUD and recommended follow-up.

    • Contraceptive Implant

      • Nexplanon: The implant is a 4-cm by 2-mm rod containing etonogestrel that provides three years of contraception by consistently suppressing ovulation. It is very effective similar to sterilization.

      • Insertion is an easy procedure in the office under local anesthesia. The implant can be inserted at any time if pregnancy is excluded.

  • Injectable Contraception

    • Depo-Provera: Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) 150 mg/ml is given every 13 weeks by intramuscular injectio

  • Combined Hormonal Contraception: birth control pills, patches, and ring.

    • Oral Contraceptives: Effectiveness is based on the woman’s ability to take consistently and not miss pills. Linking the product to daily activities decreases the rate of missing pills.

    • Contraceptive Patch and Ring

      • The patch (Ortho Evra) is changed weekly for three weeks followed by one week without the patch.

      • The vaginal contraceptive ring (Nuvaring) is initially inserted between cycle days one thru five and left in place for three weeks, followed by one week of no use.

  • Progestin-Only Pills

    • Sometimes referred to as minipills. Must be taken at the same time daily for maximum effectiveness.

  • Permanent Sterilization

    • Permanent sterilization is an option for those women who have completed their families. Female sterilization outside of being done at time of cesarean section is typically completed either laparoscopically (through incisions in the abdomen) or hysteroscopically with the Essure procedure.

      • Laparoscopic sterilization is performed through small incisions in the abdomen through which a camera and instruments are used to interrupt the fallopian tube in some way either by taking out a portion or with the use of clips.

      • Hysteroscopic Sterilization (Essure). Typically done as an office procedure or a short outpatient procedure with minimal downtime. It does require and x-ray dye test (hysterosalpingogram) three months after insertion to ensure complete tubal occlusion.

    • Male sterilization includes a Vasectomy. Vasectomy is generally thought to be safer than female sterilization as it is done with local anesthesia. It is important to remember that sterilization is not meant to be reversible.


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