You're vigilant about keeping your hair cut and your teeth cleaned, and your reproductive health should be on the same strict schedule. Here’s a look at the many advantages of seeing your gynecologist regularly.
The world of birth control can be confusing thanks to the sheer number of options. If you want to prevent pregnancy, the first step is to explore your options so you can find one that fits your unique lifestyle and needs.
To help you sort through the various birth control methods, our OB/GYN, David Foulk, MD, and his team here at Marion Ob/Gyn have broken down the different approaches to birth control below.
To get pregnant, sperm needs to find its way to your egg and fertilize it. With barrier birth control methods, we prevent this meeting from happening by forming a barrier.
To give you an idea of what we’re talking about, the following are the most common forms of barrier birth control:
These barriers to conception take place at different points in your reproductive system, but they all accomplish the same thing: They prevent sperm from reaching your eggs.
Another approach to birth control involves controlling your hormone levels to control your ovulation. The concept behind hormonal birth control is to prevent your ovaries from releasing eggs that can be fertilized.
The variations in hormonal birth control methods all boil down to delivery, as the mechanism behind them all is the same. These delivery methods include:
Of these delivery methods, some offer less hassle and more protection. For example, if you take a daily pill, you may forget a dose or two, which can affect the efficacy rate. Conversely, if you choose slow-release pellets, we simply implant the pellets, and they work for up to three years.
The final birth control option is not using any device, but rather, it relies on more natural methods, such as:
If you want to go a more natural route, we’re happy to sit down with you to explain how they work best.
Ultimately, choosing your birth control method is a decision only you can make, but we’re here to help you find one that you’re comfortable with and one that meets your goals.
Most of these birth control options don’t protect you against sexually transmitted infections. Only abstinence and condoms can accomplish that.
And many of these methods are only as good as how you use them. For example, if you use a sponge without spermicide, you greatly reduce its efficacy. We’re happy to explain all of this to you so that you’re well aware of what you need to do to ensure protection.
To explore your birth control options further, please contact our office in Marion, Ohio, to talk with one of our knowledgeable and friendly staff.
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