Family Planning
Family planning helps prevent unplanned pregnancies by enabling individuals to control and determine the time, number and spacing of their children. There are many methods of family planning and no one method is ideal for everyone. When choosing, consider what is important for you and your family, and use that as a measuring stick. Consult the best family physician in Westminster to find out what contraceptive options you have and which method is right for you.
Factors to Consider
Most contraception methods are not one hundred percent effective, and some are more effective than others. Generally, reversible types of birth control are not as effective as the irreversible ones. If pregnancy is a complete no for you, choose a method that has a very high effectiveness rate.
Consider how much effort you would like to put into preventing pregnancy. Also, consider how often family planning bothers you. Is it every time you have sex? Every day? Or after a couple of years? You don’t want an irreversible method if you’re planning to have children in the future. Usually, most hormonal methods and surgical procedures are either not easily reversible or permanently irreversible.
Cost is also a factor, as some methods are cheaper than others. If you’ve used birth control before, use that experience to make a decision. Look at methods that worked well for you as well as those that had side effects, and choose accordingly.
Barrier and Hormonal Methods
Family planning methods can be classified in many ways but the general categories include barrier methods, hormonal methods, natural methods, and medical procedures. Typically, Barrier methods focus on spermicide by creating a barrier against sperms to prevent them from reaching the uterus. They include condoms, cervical caps, and sponges, among others. This method must be used every time you have sex. Not only are barrier methods cheaper, but they also have mild side effects. However, they have a low pregnancy prevention rate.
Hormonal methods are among some of the most effective pregnancy prevention methods available. They work on the female reproductive hormones by regulating them in order to manipulate ovulation and prevent pregnancy. They include IUDs, vaginal rings, arm implants, and shots, among others. Pills are usually taken daily, while shots and rings are taken on a weekly basis. IUDs and implants can be used for a couple of years before replacement. Although hormonal methods are effective, they can also have serious side effects.
Natural and Medical Methods
All-natural methods include the Female Awareness Method (FAM), and withdrawal. These methods are free and have no side effects. Withdrawal requires experience, whereas FAM needs a woman to chart her cycle correctly by relying on signs from her body. Because they completely rely on you and your partner’s actions, they require a lot of effort, commitment, and dedication. Natural methods work best when combined with another form of birth control.
Medical procedures include permanent surgical procedures like vasectomy and emergency procedures like Plan B pill. They are very effective and are suitable for people who no longer want children. Most couples prefer vasectomies to tubal ligation as it’s relatively cheaper and quick. Emergency procedures reduce the risk of pregnancy after unprotected sex, and contraception failure. They are not intended for everyday use as they are disruptive to a woman’s cycle due to large doses of hormones.
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