The pill? The patch? The IUD? The ring? Birth control choices are plentiful these days, which is why it’s helpful to have a qualified practitioner guide you through your options. At Capital Women’s Care in Leesburg and Sterling, Virginia, the team of OB/GYN and women’s health physicians offer a variety of birth control methods to suit your age, lifestyle, and preferences. Your dedicated doctor will help you choose an approach that’s right for you and your partner.
Birth Control Q&A
How do I decide on the best birth control?
When you explore birth control options, it can be an overwhelming process. Now, there are more methods available than ever, and each comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
The goal of your dedicated provider at Capital Women’s Care is to educate you about your options and help you decide an appropriate course of action. With a clear and confidential picture of your health history, lifestyle, and sexual habits, together you can determine which method may be right for you.
You might want to consider some of the following questions to help you decide which birth control options suit you best:
- Do I plan to have children at some point? If so, how soon?
- What are the side effects of each method, if any?
- Which method will I be most likely to use, given my lifestyle?
- Do I have a backup method?
Keep in mind, too, that you’re free to change your birth control method at any time, so long as you’re practicing safe and protected sex during times when you may be vulnerable to pregnancy.
What are my birth control options?
At Capital Women’s Care, the team of providers offers a variety of different birth control methods, including:
- IUD (intrauterine device), with Mirena™, Skyla™, and Kyleena™ as options
- PARAGARD™ (nonhormonal IUD)
- Essure™
- Oral contraception
- NuvaRing™
- Ortho Evra™
- Depo-Provera™
- Diaphragms
- Birth control patch
The providers are also skilled at helping you create a plan for safe sex or pregnancy avoidance with practices like withdrawal and the rhythm method.
In some cases, you may want to consider more than one birth control option, especially since many of the hormonal methods take several weeks to become fully effective.
How can I avoid side effects?
The side effects of birth control can be managed by changing your dosage — if you’re on hormonal birth control — or by opting for a different method. It’s not unusual to try many different types of birth control before you find one that works best for you.
Speak with your dedicated OB/GYN about your concerns and make sure to track your symptoms closely. In some cases, changes to your diet or lifestyle can help mitigate side effects.
Schedule a birth control consultation with Capital Women’s Care, and take charge of your sexual health today.