Birth control is a personal decision a sexually active woman must make to avoid an unwanted pregnancy. When considering your options, how do you know what method is right for you? Which types of birth control are most effective?
Learn the facts about birth control so you can make an educated choice.
If you need help figuring it all out, our board-certified gynecologists at McDowell Mountain Gynecology in Scottsdale, Arizona, are here for you. Both Dr. Rachel Spieldoch and Dr. Kimberly Hartzfeld provide compassionate care for all your female reproductive health needs.
Birth control pills, patches, implants, and intrauterine devices don’t prevent sexually transmitted infections, or STIs. They help prevent pregnancy, but you still need to have a male partner wear a condom or abstain from having sex unless you’re in a committed, monogamous relationship.
While condoms may lower your risk of STIs like herpes, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, they aren’t 100% effective.
If you’re on the pill for many years, it may take your body time to adjust after you stop taking it. This means it may take a while to ovulate and get your period, but it doesn’t make you infertile. A woman’s monthly reproductive cycle usually goes back to normal within a few months.
If you’re looking for a nonhormonal method of birth control, the copper intrauterine device, or IUD, may be right for you. It can stay in place for up to 10 years and works by causing a mild immune system response in the body.
The morning-after pill doesn’t cause an abortion. Abortion is a medical procedure performed to remove an embryo or fetus. The morning-after pill is used as emergency contraception after unprotected sex. It can be used up to 120 hours afterward to prevent pregnancy.
Women can get pregnant well into their 40s and even in their early 50s. Until a woman reaches menopause and doesn’t have a period for 12 months in a row, she can get pregnant.
Have you heard of “change of life” babies? It happens, so be careful. Talk to us about how to prevent pregnancy later in life.
If you’re ready to get the facts about birth control, schedule a consultation with one of our caring doctors at McDowell Mountain Gynecology. They take your health history, perform an exam, and discuss your lifestyle and health concerns.
They then can help you decide which birth control method is right for you. Some women, for example, may want to take a pill daily while others may want a longer-term solution, like an implant or an IUD.
Book an appointment online or call us at 480-483-9011 to explore your options today.
