Getting pregnant and having a baby are huge steps in your life; if you're not ready, you have plenty of options to prevent pregnancy. Birth control is a great way to avoid pregnancy while still being able to have fun with your partner.
At Collaborative Women's Care in Miami, Florida, our team provides the information you need to pick the proper birth control method. Dr. Eduardo Valdes is our expert OB/GYN who evaluates your health and needs to help you choose a birth control method for pregnancy prevention.
Birth control is any medication, method, or device that prevents pregnancy in women. Birth control has various forms, each of which works differently to prevent pregnancy.
Some birth control methods are for the short-term, meaning you can stop them when you want to conceive a child. Other methods are considered long-term and require you to see Dr. Valdes to get them out to get pregnant.
Birth control methods that use hormones prevent pregnancy in various ways. Some birth control methods stop you from ovulating, while others thicken your cervical mucus so sperm can't get through.
Other types of birth control repel sperm or kill them with chemicals to keep them from getting to an egg and fertilizing it. When considering a birth control method, you must understand how it works and how to take it to prevent pregnancy successfully.
When you're looking to prevent pregnancy, Dr. Valdes helps you understand each type of birth control to make an educated decision. Dr. Valdes offers information on various types of birth control, including:
Birth control pills are small oral tablets you take daily to prevent pregnancy. The pill is over 90% effective when you take it properly in preventing pregnancy.
Birth control pills contain hormones to prevent conception. However, you must remember to take them daily around the same time for optimal effectiveness.
The birth control patch has hormones as well that you apply to your skin weekly. The patch is 93% effective in preventing pregnancy when you use it properly.
The birth control implant is 99% effective and is suitable for up to five years of pregnancy protection. Dr. Valdes inserts the thin rod into your upper arm in the office. The implant secretes hormones to prevent pregnancy; the best part is you don't have to do anything.
The intrauterine device, or IUD, is implanted in your uterus to prevent pregnancy anywhere from three to twelve years. Dr. Valdes inserts the IUD into your uterus in the office, and it stays in place as long as you need it. The IUD is also 99% effective.
Barrier methods don't contain hormones and include condoms, female condoms, and diaphragms. You can also use spermicide to enhance the chances you'll prevent pregnancy. However, these methods aren't nearly as successful as other types of birth control.
If you choose this method, Dr. Valdes administers the birth control shot every three months. The shot is hormone-based and prevents pregnancy effectively. It's 96% effective when you stay on top of your appointments.
If you don't want more children, you can opt for permanent birth control or sterilization. You can have a tubal ligation as a woman or a vasectomy as a man. Both are very successful at preventing further pregnancies.
The type of birth control you choose is entirely up to you. Dr. Valdes evaluates your concerns, your overall health, and your goals to determine the best form of contraception for your specific needs.
A significant factor affecting your decision is when and if you want to start a family. If you're not looking to get pregnant soon, you could choose a longer-lasting method like an IUD or implant.
However, if you're looking to start a family sooner, you may opt for something that you can stop quickly, including the pill or barrier methods.
It's also important to understand that birth control alone doesn't prevent sexually transmitted diseases. When choosing a birth control method, you must also consider your sexual health.
The only guaranteed way to prevent sexually transmitted diseases is through abstinence. Still, Dr. Valdes understands that's not always an option. He provides information on condoms and other barrier methods that help prevent pregnancy and keep you safe from disease.
A combination of birth control and barrier methods is the best way to ensure you stay healthy and prevent pregnancy simultaneously.
To learn more about our birth control options, call our office today at 305-200-3878 to book an appointment. You can also schedule a consultation online.
