How to Choose the Right Birth Control for Your Body

There are a lot of options available to help you plan your family the way you want it to be. Deciding between the options can be a difficult choice and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Dr. Fozouni can certainly help you make the right decision based on your needs and your medical history. However, there are things you need to think about when it comes to choosing the right birth control for you.

Here are some things to consider about your choice in birth control:

Your plans for children

If you still want to have children in the future, a wide variety of birth control options are available from which to choose. Planning children in the next year may rule out long-term birth control options, such as implants, which protect against pregnancy for several years.

Your best options may include condoms, birth control pills, or diaphragms. Dr. Fozouni can determine which methods are best suited for your health and your lifestyle based on how soon you want to start a family.

Your sex life

If you have more than one sexual partner, you not only need to consider your risks for pregnancy, but also your risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Condoms offer the best protection from disease and may be the ideal option for your lifestyle. You may also want to use a backup method of birth control to protect against unwanted pregnancy.

Side effects

Some birth control methods have minimal risks for side effects. However, even with condoms there can be health complications, including allergies to latex or spermicides.

Hormonal birth controls, like pills and injections, can cause a variety of side effects. They may not be suitable for older women or those who smoke due to an increased risk of stroke and blood clots.

In some cases, you may need to try multiple types of birth control to determine which is least likely to give you uncomfortable, unwanted side effects.

The convenience factor

Birth control methods, including the IUD and injections, may be more convenient for you than other methods. These options don’t require much maintenance or preparation leading up to intimate moments.

With certain methods like condoms and pills, you have to remember to actually use them to prevent pregnancy. Forgetting to take your pill or schedule hormonal birth control injections can put you at risk for unwanted pregnancy.

Your underlying health concerns

It is important that Dr. Fozouni review your medical history and current health status before recommending a birth control method that is right for you. Your overall health can influence what type of birth control works best for your body.

For instance, non-hormonal birth control may be necessary if you already have a condition that affects your thyroid or your hormone balance.

Permanent birth control considerations

If you’re sure you are done having children and that your family is complete, you may want to consider your options for permanent birth control.

A tubal ligation eliminates the chance your eggs can be fertilized by sperm, ensuring your protection from pregnancy for the long-term. Though this treatment is ideal for addressing pregnancy concerns, you still need to select a protection method to prevent STDs.

With so many factors to consider, the best first step is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Fozouni. You can book an appointment today by phone or use the convenient online booking feature.