What is The Best Method Of Birth Control?

When it comes to planning a family, every woman is different. Some envision having eight kids, while others only plan to have one. Some women don’t want to start planning to have a baby until long after they’re married, while others want to get started with having a family right away. However, if having kids is not in your current plan, there is one thing you definitely want to plan on―birth control.

Birth control is a great way to stay in control of your health plan, whether that is to put off having kids month by month, for a few years, or even permanently. No matter how far off pregnancy may seem to you, there is a birth control option for you that will help you prevent any unwanted mishaps from occurring.

Types of Birth Control

We have come a long way since birth control pills became first publically available in the 1960s, with hundreds of different brands, types and forms of birth control being currently available to women all over the world. Some common forms of birth control include:

  • Abstinence: Abstaining from sex.
  • Condoms: Using latex female or male condoms to prevent pregnancy, used each time during intercourse.
  • Birth Control Pills: Hormone pills which help to prevent pregnancy, taken daily.
  • Birth Control Shots: A shot in the arm that helps to prevent pregnancy, typically lasts for up to three months.
  • Birth Control Implants: A tiny device that is inserted inside of you to prevent pregnancy, typically lasts up to three years. Some birth control implants include Essure and NovaSure.
  • Birth Control Patches: A small arm patch that is placed on the skin once a week to help to prevent pregnancy .
  • Birth Control Sponges: A foam sponge that is inserted into the vagina to prevent pregnancy, typically lasts for 24 hours.
  • Birth Control Vaginal Rings: A small ring put inside of your vagina that helps to prevent pregnancy, typically lasts for three weeks.
  • Cervical Cap: A small silicone cup inserted into the vagina to help prevent pregnancy, typically lasts for up to two years.
  • Intrauterine Device (IUD): A small T-shaped vice that is inserted into your uterus to help prevent pregnancy, typically lasts up to 12 years.
  • Morning-After Pill: A pill taken after intercourse to help prevent pregnancy for up to five days after unprotected sex.
  • Vasectomy: Sterilization for men that prevents pregnancy permanently.
  • Hysterectomy: Surgery that prevents pregnancy permanently by removing a woman’s uterus.

Which Birth Control Method Is Best For You?

With so many birth control options available, how should you decide which method is best for you? There are several different personal factors that you should consider when deciding on a birth control. For example:

  • How reliable are you about remembering tasks? Will you be able to remember to take a pill daily or only once a week? Do you need a more permanent method  that you won’t have to worry about remembering to take?
  • How long do you want to prevent pregnancy for? Is having kids in your very near future, still a couple of years away, or never in your future?
  • Would you prefer to get your period once a month, as usual, or would you like to skip your monthly period?
  • Do you have any health risks? Do you smoke? Do you have frequent migraines?

Once you have answered all of these questions, take your answers to your OB/GYN so that you can work together to decide on a birth control method that will work best for you. Your doctor can also discuss with you any pros/cons to the different available birth control methods to help you decide on which medical option would be best for you.

To sign up for an appointment to discuss birth control with the gynecology experts at Zeid Women’s Health Center, be sure to contact us today at our Longview, Tyler or Henderson locations. The physicians at Zeid WHC have helped women all throughout East Texas determine which birth control method is right for them and their pregnancy plan in the future. We can help you too!

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