There are many different types of birth control methods on the market today. Whether you’re thinking of using birth control pills, having an IUD placed, or wish to discuss other options, Dama A. Ziworitin, MD, can help. At Genesys Women OBGYN in Sugar Land, Texas, the team helps you choose which option is best for you and your lifestyle. Call the office today or schedule an appointment online.
Birth Control Q & A
Birth control is another word for contraception. There are many different types you can choose from to best suit you and your lifestyle. Each contraception method differs in how effective it is, how long it lasts, and how it works.
There are two main types of birth control – hormonal methods and barrier methods.
Hormonal methods, like the birth control pill, involve introducing hormones to your body to make it work differently. Some hormonal options prevent your body from releasing eggs while others still allow your body to release an egg, but they make it difficult for sperm to reach it.
Barrier methods, like a condom, work by stopping sperm from getting anywhere near the egg.
There are at least 15 different types of contraception to choose from. Dr. Ziworitin can discuss your options with you and help you decide which method works best for you.
The two most common types of contraceptives are condoms and the pill. Some other options include:
A tiny, thin rod about the size of a matchstick that releases hormones into your body, preventing pregnancy for up to four years.
A shallow, bendable cup that you put inside your vagina, which covers your cervix during sex.
A small, flexible ring inside your vagina that prevents pregnancy by releasing hormones into your body.
You put a small, round sponge that contains spermicide deep into your vagina before sex.
You wear this patch on the skin of your belly, upper arm, buttocks, or back, and it releases hormones that prevent pregnancy.
With birth control shots, you get an injection once every three months.
A tiny, reversible device that's put into your uterus to prevent pregnancy for up to 10 years.
You track your menstrual cycle so you’ll know when you’re ovulating and can abstain from sex.
The effectiveness of birth control varies based on the method you choose as well as your consistency. On average, hormonal contraception methods, like the pill, are over 99% effective.
Using a condom is about 90% effective, although other barrier methods, such as a diaphragm, offer a protection rate between 80-95%. The more careful and consistent you are, the higher the rate of effectiveness is for each method.
If you’re trying to figure out which birth control method would work best for you, call Genesys Women OBGYN or schedule an appointment online to discuss your options today.