Birth Control & IUDs
Birth control is a common topic at annual gynecology appointments. Whether you’re trying birth control for the first time or looking to adjust the birth control you currently use, Summit Women’s Health is happy to help you find the right fit.
What is birth control?
Birth control is anything you use to prevent pregnancy. There is a wide variety of medicines and tools that one can use for birth control, including condoms, diaphragms, pills, injections, patches, vaginal rings, and intrauterine devices (IUDs).
All forms of birth control come with different rates of effectiveness, which means the percent of time that medicine or tool prevents pregnancy. For example, a condom has an effectiveness rate of about 87%.
What is an IUD?
An IUD is a tiny device, about the size of a quarter, that is placed inside the uterus to prevent an egg from being able to fertilize and begin a pregnancy. There are two major forms of IUDs: a copper IUD and a progestin IUD. Your doctor can talk to you about the version that may be more right for you.
Many women like that IUDs only need to be inserted once and then last for at least 3 years, and often more (like 5 to 10 years). This can make it a great option for people who struggle to remember to take a daily pill or replace a ring. The device can be removed at any time if the patient wants to try to get pregnant.
Some people don’t like that IUDs cause lighter, intermittent bleeding rather than a regular period. IUDs can also cause periods to stop entirely—which some women don’t like, but others are very happy about.
IUDs may not be right for every patient, such as those who are anemic or have experienced pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Your doctor at Summit Women’s Health can discuss all the topics you need to address before you consider using an IUD.
What side effects can birth control cause?
Side effects from birth control medicines - such as pills, injections, and rings - are very common, but most or all of them usually go away within 1-3 months.
When patients ask about side effects, most of them are referring to the side effects of birth control pills (BCPs) specifically. Some common side effects for BCPs include:
Nausea
Headaches
Breast tenderness
Mood changes
Spotting between periods
Increased or decreased libido
Missed periods
Vaginal discharge
Many people also ask about weight changes related to birth control pills. So far, studies have not shown a connection between weight gain for women who use birth control pills vs. those who don’t. However, women generally do experience changes in where and how much weight they carry in their teens, 20s, and 30s.
What is the best form of birth control for me?
Your doctor at Summit Women’s Health will work closely with you to identify what form of birth control will be good for your health and lifestyle. There are short-term, long-term, and permanent options for preventing pregnancy.
If you try a form of birth control and it causes you discomfort, you may talk to your doctor about trying a different form. Many women try several forms of birth control before landing on one that works for them.
I have no desire to have children. What are my options?
Summit Women’s Health offers several standard procedures for permanent birth control.
Tubal ligation is a procedure by which the fallopian tubes are tied, cut or blocked. This prevents eggs from being able to move from the ovaries to the uterus. Tubal ligation is considered a permanent method of birth control due to the difficulty of reversing the procedure.
Essure works by inserting a special coil into the fallopian tubes. This coil causes the tissue to develop fibroids, or growths, that close the tubes. Essure is sometimes preferred over tubal ligation because it can be performed without making incisions to the body.
The Acessa Procedure is a new, non-invasive form of hysterectomy surgery. This procedure removes the uterus through a small device inserted through the vagina. A typical hysterectomy involves cutting open the abdomen; The Acessa Procedure removes the need for those incisions.
To explore which birth control options may work well for you, a discussion with your provider is a good place to start. To book an appointment at Summit Women’s Health with Brandon M. Lingenfelter, DO, PhD, Megan Lingenfelter PA, Sam Snyder, DO, or Valeah Bradshaw, NP, call us at 681 282 5591 or use our scheduling portal.