It can be overwhelming to decide on the best contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy. You can choose from many options depending on your health, personal circumstances, and preferences. Your provider can share expert guidance for effective and convenient birth control Lake Mary.
Effectiveness of the method
Condoms, intrauterine devices, and the diaphragm are some of the most effective birth control methods. IUDs have a low failure rate of 0.8% or eight pregnancies for 1000 women using the device. Copper IUDs are popular because they do not contain hormones.
However, there is no birth control method that is 100% effective except abstinence. Your use of the contraceptive is another factor that will determine its effectiveness.
Convenience and daily usage
Birth control pills can be effective, but they require daily usage. Skipping your prescription can increase the probability of pregnancy.
Birth control pills can have side effects, including nausea, bloating, erratic mood changes, and breast tenderness. Skipping your prescription could also cause vaginal spotting or bleeding. You may want to consider whether taking the pill every day is convenient for you.
Other methods, like the diaphragm, can be cumbersome due to the messy spermicide it requires. Nevertheless, convenience is often a matter of preference. You can discuss with your partner to determine the contraceptive that works for you.
Side effects of the contraceptive
If you experience side effects, your provider may prescribe progestin-only pills. Progestin is an artificially made version of the female hormone progesterone. Progestin suppresses ovulation and limits the action of mineralocorticoid steroids necessary for pregnancy.
Progestin prevents pregnancy and is usually in combination with estrogen, which controls menstrual bleeding. It is 99% effective if used correctly and consistently every time. If the usage is inconsistent, the birth control’s efficacy is 90%.
Reversibility of birth control
The reversibility of the birth control method is a crucial factor to consider. Some people may want an effective contraceptive, but one they can discontinue when they want to get pregnant.
If short-acting methods like birth control pills are inconvenient, you may opt for a skin patch. It eliminates the need to take pills daily, and you only need to change them once a week.
You may also opt for an intrauterine device. IUDs can remain active for up to ten years and are safe for people who have not been pregnant before. The advantage of IUDs is that removing the device restores fertility even after a decade of use.
If you want a more permanent method, sterilization is a better option. Vasectomy for men and tubal ligation for women are the most common sterilization methods. But you must be sure you do not want to have children in the future.
Protection against sexually transmitted diseases
People with multiple sex partners may opt for condoms or diaphragms to prevent STIs. Condoms are highly effective and easily accessible without a doctor’s prescription.
Condoms offer couples more freedom to choose when they want to have a baby. However, they may require sex partners to discuss their options. Some men have a problem sustaining an erection when using a condom.
Contact us to schedule an appointment today with Christopher K Quinsey, MD.
