Birth Control Consultation
Our providers recommend arranging an initial birth control consultation appointment before prescribing birth control. During our consultation we will discuss options available and determine which option fits best for the patient.
Birth control options that our providers might prescribe at our office:
Birth control pills (also called oral contraceptive pills and the “Pill”) are a type of female hormonal birth control method and are very effective at preventing pregnancy. The Pills are small tablets that you swallow each day.
Adolescent girls and young women are frequently prescribed birth control pills just for the medical benefits. Birth Control Pills are a safe and effective treatment for many types of medical problems, including PCOS, irregular menstrual periods, menstrual cramps, acne, PMS, and endometriosis.
Medical benefits of Birth Control Pills include:
- Regular and lighter periods: Oral contraceptive pills can help to regulate the menstrual cycle so your period comes about every 28 days. The Pill usually causes lighter periods too. The hormone doses in BCPs are very low. When you are taking the birth control pill, the lining of your uterus doesn’t become very thick so very little blood needs to come out each month. For the extended cycle pills, you might have a period every 3 months or even less.
- Clearer skin: Birth control pills can improve acne. The hormones in most types of BCPs can help stop acne from forming. Be patient though, as it can take a few months to see an improvement.
- Less cramps, or no cramps: Birth control pills can help to decrease menstrual cramps.
- Other medical benefits: Because there’s less menstrual bleeding with the use of birth control pills, girls taking the pill are less likely to become anemic (have too few red blood cells). Birth control pills also lessen your chance of getting endometrial (lining of the uterus) cancer, ovarian cancer, and ovarian cysts. BCPs also protect against pregnancies that occur outside the uterus (tubal or ectopic pregnancies).
Depo-Provera® is a female hormonal method of birth control. It’s very effective in preventing pregnancy. Depo-Provera® contains a synthetic (man-made) form of the hormone progesterone, called depo medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA). The Depo-Provera® injection gives 3 months protection against pregnancy. You should get one injection every 3 months (13 weeks) to get the best protection against pregnancy. It’s safe to get your injection up to 2 weeks early if you can’t get your next injection in exactly 13 weeks.
NEXPLANON is a small, thin, and flexible hormone-releasing birth control implant that provides up to 3 years of continuous pregnancy prevention. It’s placed discreetly just under the skin on the inner side of your non-dominant upper arm by one of our birth control specialists.
NEXPLANON® is an implanted hormone-secreting contraceptive, which helps keep you from getting pregnant. No contraceptive method is 100% effective, including NEXPLANON.
NEXPLANON does not prevent transmission of HIV/AIDS, or any other sexually transmitted diseases.
