Learn about birth control options for your life stage
There are so many pregnancy prevention methods available. How do you navigate the best birth control options for your life stage? The physicians at Athens OBGYN are always ready to talk you through your choices and help you choose the option that is best for you.
What are some things to consider when choosing pregnancy prevention methods?
From puberty through menopause, your contraceptive needs change. The good news is, there are birth control options for your life stage. You need to think about contraceptives’ effectiveness, ease of use, your family plans, the number of sexual partners you have, your age, and other factors. While it’s impossible to address every individual circumstance, here are a few life-stage scenarios that may apply to you.
When you want children, but not right now
When you are trying to prevent pregnancy, you want to investigate the most effective contraceptives. Long-acting reversible contraceptives, or LARCs, are effective more than 99% of the time. These include copper IUDs, hormonal IUDs and birth control implants. These “set it and forget it” methods work for three to 10 years after your doctor places them.
Hormonal birth control methods, such as the birth control pill, patch, injection or vaginal ring, are also very effective options. They are approximately 93% to 94% effective with typical use, and more than 99% effective with perfect use.
When you are in your perimenopausal years
Until you reach menopause – meaning you haven’t had a period in 12 consecutive months – you need to use birth control to prevent pregnancy if you are sexually active. While there are several birth control options for your life stage, you might want to consider hormonal methods in your 40s and 50s because of the benefits they offer.
- Helps regulate irregular menstrual cycles
- Can lessen heavy menstrual bleeding and discomfort
- Helps with perimenopausal acne
- Hormonal methods can lower your risk of developing ovarian and uterine cancers
When you don’t see children in your future, or you have completed your family
Permanent male or female sterilization are options when you are positive you do not want children. These methods are difficult to reverse, so you need to be certain about your future plans. Talk to your physician if you are considering these birth control options for your life stage.
When you want to protect yourself against HIV and STIs
At every age, if you are not with a long-term partner, you need to use condoms to protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS. Condoms are the only contraceptive that offer this protection.
Our physicians can help you navigate birth control options for your life stage
Choosing pregnancy prevention methods can be confusing, but it’s vital to find the method that works for you. Fortunately, you don’t have to make the decision alone. The team at Athens OBGYN will take the time to talk with you about your options, your needs, and the choices that may suit you best. Contact us for an appointment.