Birth Control

Many forms of birth control are available, most of which fall into two categories: hormonal contraception or barrier methods. The experienced doctors and nurse practitioners at Burlington OBGYN Associates Inc. in Burlington, Massachusetts, can help you choose the form of birth control that suits you best from the many available choices. Whether you want a long-lasting implant or a method you can stop instantly, the team can help. Call Burlington OBGYN Associates Inc. or book an appointment online today to find the ideal birth control method for you.

What is birth control?

Birth control enables you to plan for pregnancy at the time of life that’s best for you. Birth control is an effective strategy to plan your life and being better prepared to grow your family. Lack of birth control or improper birth control can result in unplanned or accidental pregnancy, physical and mental health problems, family stress, financial hardship, and a host of other issues. With effective birth control, you choose when you want to get pregnant and when it right for you to expand your family.

What is hormonal birth control?

Hormonal birth control changes the sex hormone (estrogen and progesterone) levels in your body that control fertility and conception. Experts at Burlington OBGYN Associates can recommend:

• Birth control pills
  • Birth control pills prevent ovulation. If there’s no egg for the sperm to fertilize, conception can’t occur.
• Birth control patches
  • Patches release hormones gradually through your skin.
• Contraceptive injections
  • Depo-Provera® is a contraceptive injection that lasts for 13 weeks.
• NEXPLANON®
  • NEXPLANON implantable rods are tiny rods that go under the skin on your arm, controlling fertility for up to three years.
• NuvaRing®
  • The NuvaRing is a flexible hoop containing hormones that fits inside the vagina. After three weeks, you remove your NuvaRing, wait a week, and insert a new one.
• Hormonal Intrauterine device (IUD)
  • An IUD is a small device that fits in the uterus to provide long-acting reversible contraception. Hormonal IUDs prevent the uterine lining from developing. Burlington OBGYN Associates Inc. offers Skyla®, which lasts three years; Kyleena, which lasts five years; and Mirena®, which lasts up to eight years.
• Paragard® copper IUDs are also available. They work differently, making the uterus hostile to sperm, so they die before reaching the egg. Copper IUDs last for 10 years and are non-hormonal. Burlington OBGYN Associates offers Paragard IUD insertion at our office.

What are barrier birth control methods?

Barrier methods prevent sperm from reaching the egg. A diaphragm or cap covers the cervix during sex, and a contraceptive sponge blocks the end of your vagina. Female condoms line the vagina. Male condoms cover the penis. You also use a spermicide gel with barrier methods to kill stray sperm.

Barrier methods offer slightly less secure birth control than hormonal options but are ideal if you can’t or don’t want to take hormones. Burlington OBGYN Associates Inc. always recommends using condoms (even if you use hormonal birth control), unless you’re in a monogamous long-term relationship, to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

 Are there permanent birth control methods?

Yes, in some cases you could choose permanent sterilization (tubal sterilization) if you’re sure you don’t want to get pregnant ever again. This is a careful decision that has to be taken in consultation with the experts at Burlington OBGYN Associates. Our doctors have counselled and guided many women choose tubal sterilization when they have confirmed that they no longer have plans to expand their family.

Call Burlington OBGYN Associates to schedule a birth control consultation or book an appointment online today.