What is contraception?

Contraception, or birth control, is a term that widely refers to the various methods, medicines, and devices that people use to prevent pregnancy. Contraception works in a variety of different ways, depending on your method, including by:

• Stopping sperm from reaching your eggs
• Damaging or inactivating sperm
• Thickening your cervical mucus so that sperm has trouble moving through it
• Thinning your uterine lining so that a fertilized egg can’t attach to it
• Preventing ovulation

You can also prevent pregnancy with surgical procedures like tubal ligation.

What types of contraception are available to me?

Contraception comes in many forms, including:

Barrier method

Barrier-method birth control products, such as condoms, diaphragms, or spermicides, prevent pregnancy by blocking or killing sperm.

Short-acting hormonal birth control

Short-acting hormonal birth control methods are those you have to use or ingest on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Examples include birth control pills, vaginal rings, birth control patches, and the morning-after pill.

Long-acting hormonal birth control

Long-acting hormonal birth control methods are those that last for three to ten years. These include intrauterine devices (IUDs) and contraceptive implants.

Sterilization

To prevent surgery for the rest of your life, you may undergo a procedure such as tubal ligation (get your tubes tied). A male partner may sterilize himself through a vasectomy. 

How do I know what form of contraception is right for me?

If you’re unsure what the best contraception method is for you, your FemmPro OB/GYN doctor can help you make the right choice. In all cases, the best form of contraception for you is one that you can use consistently and correctly, and one that is safe and comfortable for you. 

When helping you decide which birth control is right for you, your doctor considers factors such as your:

• Reproductive goals (whether you want to have children later, how many children you may want, etc.)
• Age and health history
• Sex and relationship life (marital status, number of sexual partners, how often you have sex, etc.)

Another important factor that FemmPro OB/GYN discusses with you is the differences between the contraception methods available to you, such as their potential side effects, their effectiveness, and their costs.

Your body is your own, and if you’re not ready to get pregnant, or you don’t plan on having children, FemmPro OB/GYN is here to help. Empower yourself with the right contraception for you by setting up an appointment at the practice over the phone or online via ZocDoc today.