Birth control or contraception stops you from becoming pregnant before you’re ready to have a baby.

Using a suitable birth control method allows you to benefit from a rewarding sex life without risking your physical and mental health with an unwanted pregnancy.

Birth control options available at Innovation Medical Group Southwest Territory include:

Birth control pills

Birth control pills contain estrogen and/or progesterone, the female sex hormones. They work by stopping ovulation (the monthly release of an egg from your ovaries) or slowing the egg’s passage down the fallopian tubes. Birth control pills can also thicken the cervical mucus and make the lining of your uterus thinner so sperm can’t reach the egg.

Intrauterine devices (IUDs)

A hormonal IUD uses the same method as a birth control pill. What’s different is that instead of taking a pill every day, you have an implant (IUD) in your uterus that releases the hormones. Hormonal IUDs last around 3-5 years. Copper IUDs make your uterus hostile to sperm rather than using hormones. They can last for ten years.

Implants and injections

A birth control implant is a tiny hormone pellet that your Innovation Medical Group Southwest Territory provider injects under your skin. You can also receive a long-lasting hormone injection. These methods are particularly useful for women who don’t want the hassle of remembering to take their daily pill.

Barrier methods

Barrier birth control methods stop sperm from entering the uterus. They include female and male condoms, sponges, and caps (diaphragms). These methods all work best in combination with a spermicide that kills any sperm that get around the barrier.

When deciding on the method of birth control that’s most suitable, think about your lifestyle and what you want from your contraception.

For instance, you might want a temporary solution to preventing pregnancy that you can easily reverse, like the sponge, cap, or pill. Or you may prefer one that lasts for years so you can forget about it, like an IUD.

Your medical history can also be important, as some women have risk factors that could make hormonal birth control methods more likely to cause side effects. Previous experience of breast cancer or blood clots might mean some hormonal methods of birth control are unsuitable.

When you’re ready to choose a birth control option, your provider at Innovation Medical Group Southwest Territory can offer advice on the advantages and disadvantages of each one.