What should you expect from family planning services?
Birth control may be the most essential family planning tool, but the best planning includes more than getting a contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy. Family planning should also include preconception counseling.
Preconception counseling consists of a special appointment with Dr. C. that’s similar to a well woman checkup, but with a different purpose. The goal of preconception counseling is to determine whether you have any health issues that might affect having a healthy pregnancy and baby. Then you have time to resolve any problems long before you get pregnant.
During preconception counseling, Dr. C. may talk about your age and other issues related to infertility. After the age of 30, your chances of getting pregnant begin to go down. Once your reach age 35, your risk for infertility must be taken seriously.
What factors should you consider when choosing birth control?
When you visit Dr. C. for birth control, you may have a method in mind, or you may need to learn about the diverse options available. She takes the time to talk with you about the many factors you should consider to get the best birth control for your life.
You want to consider the effectiveness of each method, learn if it has any potential side effects, and whether it’s easy to reverse when you decide it’s time to have children. It’s also important to think about personal variables. For example, will you diligently remember to take a pill if you choose oral contraceptives?
What types of birth control are available?
Dr. C. offers comprehensive birth control services, so you have a range of choices to fit your lifestyle and contraceptive choices. In addition to birth control pills and injections, she offers the following birth control options:
Nexplanon®: Small rod inserted under your skin that gradually releases hormones; provide up to three years of continuous pregnancy prevention
Intrauterine devices (IUDs):
- Skyla® (releases hormones; prevents pregnancy up to three years)
- Mirena® (releases hormones; prevents pregnancy up to five years)
- Kyleena® (hormone-releasing IUD; prevents pregnancy up to five years)
- Paragard® (copper IUD; prevents pregnancy up to 10 years)
Essure®: Permanent birth control; soft flexible inserts places into fallopian tubes, and after about three months, a barrier of scar tissue forms around the inserts that prevent pregnancy.
