There are many different contraceptive methods available to women today. Orange Blossom Women’s Group in Trinity can help you make sense of them all so you can make an informed decision about which one is the best choice for this time in your life. Our friendly, professional staff is a quick call away to help you explore your options:
Birth Control Pills
Oral birth control is the most popular method of birth control in the United States. It has many upsides and boasts a 99% effectiveness rate when ideal use instructions are followed completely.
There are a variety of other medications that reduce their effectiveness. If you take any of the following, a backup birth control method, such as condoms, should also be used:
- The antifungal Griseofulvin (there are other antifungals that can be substituted and do not compromise oral birth control’s effectiveness)
- The antibiotic Rifampin (there are other antibiotics that can be substituted and do not compromise oral birth control’s effectiveness)
- Multiple HIV medicines
- Multiple anti-seizure medicines
- St. John’s Wort, and over the counter herb
Hormone Patch
Most patches use the same mechanism as most pills, which is to say they release estrogen and progestin into your body, and that stops ovulation. Unlike pills, which must be taken every day, patches last for a week at a time. Three patches are used in succession, one per week, and then you get a week off before starting the cycle again.
Their effectiveness mirrors that of pills, and they are an excellent option when directions are closely followed.
Birth Control Implant
Want an option that you can get once, and then forget about for up to four years? Inserted in your upper arm, the implant steadily releases progestin, which both stops the production of eggs and thickens the mucus of the cervix, making it more difficult for sperm to travel.
The implant is 99% effective, and its major benefit is that your job is done once you get it; nothing to remember, nothing for you to do while it is active. If you do wish to get pregnant, you must have the implant removed by a doctor.
Birth Control Shot
In the middle ground between the pill, the patch and the implant is the birth control shot. Every three months, a doctor will give you an injection that provides 94% effective birth control for the following 90 days. It works via the same mechanism as the implant.
Other Birth Control Methods
There are several other choices available as well, including the sponge, the vaginal ring, the diaphragm, the cervical cap, the IUD, and more. When all is said and done, there are over a dozen different individual contraceptive strategies for you and your partner to employ and nearly endless combinations you can use that provide different benefits and levels of efficacy.
Contact Us
The world of women’s contraception can be confusing to navigate alone. Orange Blossom Women’s Group, located in Trinity, is your trusted partner in contraceptive management. Call us at today to schedule your initial consultation.
