Babies are charming and loveable, but you need to plan before getting one. If you are not ready for a baby right now, there is a wide range of effective birth control methods for preventing pregnancy. However, choosing the best birth control method can be challenging. Therefore, consult your doctor to help you identify the best contraception San Antonio method for your lifestyle and health. Here are tips to help you choose the best contraception method.
Understand your risks
Before you start your birth control method, you need to visit your doctor to check your health condition and review your medical history. Your doctor will help determine if the contraceptive you want is right for you depending on your health. For instance, if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, or estrogen-sensitive cancer, you should not use estrogen-containing birth control.
Furthermore, if you are over the age of 35 and you smoke tobacco, you should avoid estrogen-containing contraceptives. Your doctor can assist you in determining if the risks of pregnancy exceed the chances of adverse outcomes.
Think about the side effects
Some women do not experience any side effects after using the pill and other hormonal birth control. However, that is not the case for everyone. Others experience weight gain, mood swings, headaches, nausea, and reduced libido. Also, non-hormonal birth control methods like copper IUD may cause heavier periods or cramping.
Talk to your doctor about any side effects you experience after starting your birth control. Also, weigh out the pros and cons of each contraception method and decide which best is for you.
Consider your lifestyle
When selecting a birth control method, it is crucial to think about your lifestyle. Are you someone who struggles to remember to take your pills every day? Then you need to choose a long-term birth control method like the UID or implant. In addition, if you are sexually active with different sexual partners condoms may be an excellent option for protecting against sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy. Ensure you select a contraceptive method that will suit your daily schedule and activities.
Do not be afraid to experiment
The good news is that you don’t have to use one birth control method for the rest of your life. If the birth control method you are using is not working for you it is good to experiment with a few options and see how they make you feel.
Everyone’s body is unique. If your current birth control method is causing side effects, talk to your doctor about changing it.
Consider your future plans
Before choosing a birth control method, you need to determine if you want a baby soon or later in life. If you want to have a baby in the next year, select an easily reversible contraceptive or short-acting method. For instance, you can get pregnant shortly after you stop taking your birth control pills. If you do not plan on having kids for several years, or you feel your family is complete, selecting long-acting methods such as IUD or implant may be the best option. Also, you can consider permanent sterilization.
Call Aurora OB/GYN today to learn more about contraception.
