Choosing the Right Birth Control

The choices for birth control have never been greater for women who are intimate with their partners. There are pros and cons with each method, and talking to a doctor who specializes in women’s health can help sort them out.

Some women do not want to use a method that uses hormones, but for others the effects of reduced monthly bleeding and cramping with hormonal birth control are highly desirable. Women who want to become pregnant in the future may want to consider a quickly reversible method.

“I’ve counseled many women on the proper timing to discontinue their birth control when they want to become pregnant,” says obstetrician/gynecologist Dr. Kelly Campbell.

Some of the issues for a woman to consider when choosing birth control are: use of hormones; protection against STDs; pre-intimacy preparations; length of time to reverse its effects; effect on menstruation; whether it’s private or not detectable; and whether it works immediately or only after intimacy.

“Because of the continuum of care at the Women’s Health and Menopause Center, a woman doesn’t have to give up her doctor when she becomes pregnant,” says obstetrician/gynecologist Dr. Shira Gordinier. “The same physician who prescribes her birth control can also help with pre-pregnancy planning, the pregnancy and the birth.