Birth Control Specialist

What is birth control?

Birth control includes many treatments that dramatically reduce or eliminate your chance of becoming pregnant while sexually active. Some birth control treatments are temporary, while others are permanent. Collaborative Women’s Care providers offer many birth control choices and work with you to find the best fit.

How does birth control work?

Birth control works in various ways. It can prevent sperm from reaching your eggs, keep your ovaries from releasing eggs, or prevent embryo implantation into your uterus. Permanent birth control surgically changes or removes your ovaries, fallopian tubes, and/or uterus to prevent pregnancy.

Is birth control right for me?

Collaborative Women’s Care specialists check your vital signs, review your medical history, and complete a physical exam to determine if birth control is right for you and, if so, which method is best. The exam includes a pelvic exam if necessary.

They’ll usually recommend that you complete a urine screening, blood tests, an ultrasound, or other diagnostic procedures to detect or rule out pregnancy and gynecological problems.

Your provider discusses your lifestyle and birth control preferences. They find out if you plan to have children before personalizing a birth control treatment you’re comfortable with. 

What kinds of birth control are there?

The birth control choices available at Collaborative Women’s Care include:

Pills

Take oral birth control pills exactly as directed by your provider to prevent pregnancy.

Diaphragms

You can wear a diaphragm inside your vagina to cover your cervix and prevent sperm from entering.

Implants

Your provider places a birth control implant underneath the skin in your upper arm to release hormones into your body that reduce your chance of getting pregnant.

Patches

Birth control patches stick to your skin and release hormones into your body to prevent pregnancy.

Shots

Birth control shots temporarily keep you from getting pregnant while sexually active. You must repeat the shots periodically to maintain their effectiveness.

Vaginal rings

You can place a vaginal ring inside your vagina to release hormones and reduce the risk of getting pregnant.

Intrauterine devices (IUDs)

Your OB/GYN specialist can place a tiny IUD inside of your uterus for pregnancy prevention. They remove the IUD if and when you would like to get pregnant or if it needs replacement.

Emergency contraception pills

Taking an emergency contraception pill soon after sexual intercourse greatly reduces the chance of a successful pregnancy.

Sterilization

Sterilization procedures, including hysterectomy, tubal ligation, and tubal occlusion, are permanent birth control procedures that change or remove your reproductive organs.

To learn more about the many birth control choices available at Collaborative Women’s Care and find one that’s right for you, call the office today or schedule an appointment online.