3 Factors to Think About When Choosing Birth Control

Birth control empowers you to choose when you have kids, the number of kids you want, or not to have kids at all. Many modern birth control methods are up to 99% effective, which means you can trust them to do their job of preventing unintended or unwanted pregnancy.

Our team at Westmed Family Healthcare is prepared to answer all your questions about birth control. Family medicine specialists Clifton Etienne, MD, Michael Cavanagh, MD, and Flora Brewington, MD, specialize in family planning for women and families in Westminster, Colorado, and the surrounding area.

Whether you’re starting birth control for the first time or looking for a change, here are three factors to consider when making your choice:

1. Whether you want to have kids later

Many birth control methods are reversible, which means you can stop using them in the future if you decide you’re ready to get pregnant. Some are more easily reversible than others, though. For example, you can just stop taking your birth control pills, but you need to make an appointment to have an intrauterine device (IUD) removed.

If you’re certain you never want to get pregnant again, there are permanent birth control methods. Tubal ligation, or getting your tubes tied, is a surgical procedure that closes your fallopian tubes so you’re anatomically far less likely to get pregnant.

2. How to use the birth control

Each birth control method works differently, and you’ll need to follow instructions to use it properly. Some are more passive, meaning you don’t need to think about them daily or even every week. Others must be used every day or each time you have sexual intercourse.

Here are several of the most popular options and how to use them:

The pill

You must take your birth control pill every day around the same time. It contains estrogen and progestin hormones to stop you from ovulating.

The implant

The implant, or Nexplanon®, is a tiny rod device our team surgically places under the skin on your arm. It lasts for three years. Aside from having it put in and taking it out, you don’t need to think much about it.

The patch

The birth control patch fuses hormones through your skin. You wear each patch for around three weeks, and then you must stop wearing one for a week as you have your period. You’ll follow this cycle for as long as you use the patch for birth control.

IUD

An IUD is another birth control method you don’t need to think much about while using. During an in-office procedure, our team inserts the device into your uterus. It can stay there for 3-12 years, depending on the type. When you’re ready, or when the device’s time is up, you come back to have it removed.

Your provider might encourage you to check and feel for your IUD’s strings every so often to make sure it’s still in place.

Barrier methods

Barrier methods, like condoms, must be used each time you have sex and don’t want to get pregnant. These have the added benefit of offering some protection from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

3. If there might be side effects

While choosing your birth control, consider that hormonal methods like the pill might come with some side effects. Not everyone will get them, but you might experience:

Breast soreness
Nausea
Changes in your periods (e.g. a lighter flow, period pain, or heavier periods)
Spotting between periods
Headaches
Nausea

In many cases, side effects like these go away after a few months of using the birth control method that causes them.

Get in touch

Ready to compare your options for birth control? Our experts can help. Call our office today to book a family planning appointment, or schedule one online anytime.