Which Form Birth Control is Best For You?
Birth control comes in many forms, from pills to patches to injections to safe and effective nonhormonal methods. When you make decisions about what form of birth control you should use, many factors inform your choice, from medical considerations to lifestyle decisions. At DOCCS Urgent Care, we offer birth control in many forms as part of a commitment to women's health. Sangita Sahay, MD, Marilyn Moss, MD, and our experienced care team can advise you on the right form of birth control for your unique health care and personal needs.
Hormone treatment
Birth control can be divided into two overarching categories, hormonal and nonhormonal. For a variety of medical and personal reasons, you may have a preference for one or the other.
Hormonal birth control regulates your ovulation cycle, preventing contraception
Nonhormonal birth control prevents sperm from traveling to the egg
Hormonal birth control options like the pill, implants, injections, vaginal rings, and intrauterine devices (IUDs) impact your body directly. Doses of hormones work to regulate your ovulation cycle, preventing conception. You may experience physical and emotional or psychological side effects. For some patients, hormonal birth control can help with menstrual cycle issues or skin conditions, in addition to functioning as a contraceptive.
If you prefer to avoid hormonal medications, you still have plenty of options available. Barrier methods like condoms, diaphragms, and sponges, and nonhormonal copper IUDs, work to prevent conception without interfering with your hormones.
Personal factors
When you make the choice between different forms of birth control, consider factors from your personal life. These include your age, how soon you want to be protected for sex, and how regularly you want to take medication or update your birth control supply.
For contraception when you need it, along with protection from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), condoms may work best for you. If, on the other hand, you want lasting protection, injections or an IUD might be a better option. However, these long-lasting forms of birth control don’t protect against STDs.
If you're sure that you don't want to have children, you can pursue permanent birth control options like a tubal ligation (for female patients) or a vasectomy (for male patients). Existing health conditions or factors in your medical or family history can also limit your options.
You might need to experiment with a few forms of birth control before you find the right choice for you. At DOCCS Urgent Care & Primary Care Physicians of Melbourne, Florida, we can work with you as you explore your options. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Sahay or Dr. Moss, contact our office today! You can book your appointment over the phone, or by using the online tool.