What are the types of birth control?
There is a broad range of birth control devices and therapies on the market today, but they can all be broken down into two general categories:
Hormonal Birth Control
Many birth control methods rely on regulating your hormones to prevent pregnancy. By intervening in your body’s natural hormone cycles, your ability to conceive is reduced considerably, sometimes as much as 99%. What makes the options under this category different is the mechanism used to deliver the hormone therapy, which includes:
- Birth control pills
- IUDs
- Implants
- Injections
- Patches
Barrier Birth Control
Barrier birth control is a catchall phrase for any method that keeps sperm from reaching your eggs, such as:
- Condoms
- Diaphragms, sponges, and cervical caps or shields
- Tubal ligation
- Hysterectomy
What birth control methods do you offer?
Dr. Channell is happy to discuss any birth control treatment that best fits your needs and goals. At his practice, he has extensive experience using the following:
Nexplanon®
Nexplanon is an implant placed under the skin of the inside of your upper arm that steadily releases hormones for up to three years to prevent pregnancy.
Essure®
Essure is a permanent birth control method that doesn’t use hormones. Essure is an insert that is placed into each of your fallopian tubes to create a barrier of scar tissue, preventing sperm from passing through.
Intrauterine Devices (IUDs)
IUDs are devices placed on the inside of your uterus that releases hormones, or creates a toxic environment for sperm, to prevent pregnancy. An IUD can last between three and six years.
Birth Control Pills
Birth control pills, taken on a daily basis, regulate your hormones to prevent pregnancy.
How effective are birth control methods?
The effectiveness of any birth control method is based on which birth control method you’ve chosen and how you use it. For example, birth control pills are 99% effective in preventing pregnancy, but only if you take the pill daily without skipping any days. For this reason, many women opt for implants that take that risk factor out of the equation.
Women using a sponge without spermicide, reduce its effectiveness considerably, with a drop from 84% to 68% effectiveness.
To choose the best option for your situation, set up an appointment with Dr. Channell to review your lifestyle and your goals.
