With all the birth control options available, picking just one can quickly become overwhelming. Christina Nguyen, MD, Marvin Najjar, MD, and the team at WHASN West Valley in Las Vegas, Nevada, can help. These highly respected specialists take the time to help you sort through the options and choose the birth control method best suited to your needs. The team takes the guesswork out of this very important decision, and they have a genuinely warm and caring personality that encourages conversation. Call today or schedule your appointment with their online service.
The list of available birth control methods is long and somewhat complex. And to further complicate matters, there are numerous options within the options you can choose from.
Birth control methods include permanent sterilization and temporary measures such as:
This can consist of birth control pills, stick-on patches, vaginal rings, shots, and implants. They use hormones to stop your body from releasing an egg that sperm can fertilize. You may have to take some types of oral contraceptives daily, while others last for months to several years after just one injection or implant placement. Nexplanon, for instance, is a small rod implanted under your skin and provides effective birth control for up to three years.
This birth control type forms a barrier to keep sperm from reaching an egg. Male condoms are likely the most often used barrier method. While female condoms are available, they’re only 80% effective at preventing pregnancy. The diaphragm, cervical cap, and cervical shield are barrier methods that fit into your vagina and must be prescribed by your physician.
These tiny devices are inserted into your uterus and prevent pregnancy by keeping sperm from fertilizing an egg. Some release copper into your uterus, which acts as a spermicide that kills sperm. Other IUDs release progestin into the uterus, a hormone that thickens your natural cervical mucus and prevents sperm from reaching an egg. IUDs are designed to prevent pregnancy from 3-10 years, depending on the type you choose, and are considered 99% effective.
Permanent sterilization for women involves a tubal ligation. This is a simple surgical procedure in which your fallopian tubes are clipped or blocked to prevent eggs and sperm from reaching each other. A tubal ligation can sometimes (rarely) be reversed. Most often, however, it’s considered permanent and only recommended if you’re sure you don’t want to become pregnant in the future.
The most effective birth control method often depends on your age, overall health, and a multitude of lifestyle factors. The WHASN West Valley team helps narrow your choices with in-depth education and counseling regarding birth control methods so you can decide which option you’d like to try.
To learn more about birth control and the best method for you, call WHASN West Valley or click on the online scheduling tool now.