Birth control is the prevention or interruption of pregnancy. Birth control can be used for both men and women and involves various contraceptive methods. Boca Raton birth control methods are classified into two main groups: hormonal birth control (oral contraceptives) and non-hormonal birth control or barrier methods.
Birth control is a crucial part of family planning. It helps you plan your family size, so you’ll have time to decide when and how many children to have. It also gives you more choices about how many children you want to have in your life, which can help make your life more comfortable while trying to avoid pregnancy.
Types of birth control options
Oral contraceptives: Oral contraceptives (birth control pills) are hormonal birth control. They contain hormones that suppress ovulation and thicken cervical mucus, making it harder for sperm to reach an egg. They also prevent the release of eggs from the ovary. When you take oral contraceptives, your body gradually builds up levels of the female hormone estrogen and progesterone, which are responsible for these changes.
Injectables: Depo-Provera is a contraceptive injection given every three months by appointment. It is effective for up to three years and can be used after childbirth if you have had a tubal ligation or vasectomy. Depo-Provera works by lowering your hormone levels, which stops ovulation from happening during each monthly cycle.
Implants and IUDs: IUDs (Intrauterine Devices) and implants, both small devices inserted into your uterus, are considered long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC). They prevent pregnancy for up to 12 or 15 years, depending on the type of device you use and when it is inserted.
Pills: These contain a combination of estrogen and progesterone. They prevent ovulation (the release of an egg) and thicken cervical mucus so that sperm can’t easily enter the uterus. To be effective, you have to take the pills every day at the same time. Otherwise, you won’t prevent pregnancy. The most common pill type is “ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel.” It has fewer side effects than others and is available over the counter at pharmacies without a prescription.
Intrauterine devices (IUDs): The IUD features a small plastic device injected into the womb by a doctor or other health care provider. It lasts up to five years and prevents sperm from reaching an egg by slowly releasing copper into the uterus over time. It keeps sperm from fertilizing an egg after it has been released from an ovary and passed through the cervix into the uterus.
Diaphragm or cervical cap: These are the most effective forms of birth control and are considered the most popular birth control methods in the United States. Both devices can be used during sex and have a failure rate of less than 1% each year. The diaphragm is placed inside the vagina, while the cervical cap is placed inside the cervix. Both devices work by preventing sperm from reaching an egg.
Birth control pills are a form of hormonal contraception that help protect against pregnancy. They work by preventing ovulation (when an egg is released) or fertilization (when a sperm cell joins with an egg). The hormones present in birth control pills thicken cervical mucus, preventing the sperm from penetrating the uterus and reaching an egg.
To find the best birth control option for your case, talk to MyDoc Women’s Health Specialists and OBGYN.