What are my contraceptive options?
When it comes to preventing pregnancy, you have many options, including:
- Barrier method — condoms, cervical cap, or diaphragm
- Short-acting hormonal contraceptives — birth control pills, the patch, or vaginal ring
- Long-acting reversible contraceptives, or LARC — intrauterine devices or hormonal implants
The team at Garden State Women’s Center offers short-acting hormonal contraceptives and LARCs.
How does birth control work?
The methods of birth control that Garden State Women’s Center offers prevent pregnancy by either stopping your ovaries from releasing an egg or preventing the sperm from fertilizing an egg.
Birth control pills and patches use low-dose hormones to prevent ovulation, or releasing of the egg. These methods of contraception are safe and effective.
What is an IUD?
An intrauterine device is a method of birth control that prevents pregnancy by stopping the sperm from reaching the egg. It’s a T-shaped device inserted directly into your uterus.
The doctors at Garden State Women’s Center insert the IUD at the office in a procedure that only takes about five minutes. The procedure itself is relatively painless, but you may experience some cramping after insertion.
There are two types of IUDs:
- Copper IUD — non-hormonal, uses copper to prevent pregnancy
- Hormonal IUD — contains progestin, a hormone, to prevent pregnancy
Is an IUD an effective form of birth control?
IUDs are 99% effective and considered one of the best forms of birth control. Unlike the pill or other forms of birth control, once it’s in, there’s nothing else you have to do, which is why it’s so effective.
The IUD protects you from pregnancy anywhere from three to 12 years. The copper IUDs provide the longest protection from pregnancy.
If you have an IUD and decide you’re ready to start a family, your doctor can easily remove it. And unlike other forms of birth control, there’s no waiting period — you can get pregnant immediately once the IUD is removed.
While the IUD can protect you from pregnancy, it can’t protect you from sexually transmitted diseases.
If you have questions about your contraceptive options, call the office or book an appointment online.
