If you’re considering contraception in San Antonio, Texas, there are various birth control methods to choose from. Each has its benefits, so it’s essential to understand what each one entails before deciding. Book an appointment with San Antonio OBGYN. Here is a look at some of the most promising birth control methods currently available.
Birth Control Pills
The birth control pill is one of the most well-known forms of contraception. Although there are dozens of brands to choose from, they all work in basically the same way: They trick your body into thinking it’s pregnant by maintaining high levels of estrogen and low levels of progesterone.Â
It prevents you from releasing an egg each month (ovulation), and it also thickens your cervical mucus so that sperm can’t quickly swim through it. The pill must be taken every day to be effective, but it is around 99% effective at preventing pregnancy when used correctly.
Birth Control Patch
The birth control patch works the same way as the pill, with a tiny difference: It delivers hormones through the skin. You place a new contraceptive patch on your hip, abdomen, or buttocks once a week for three consecutive weeks to be fully protected from pregnancy.Â
Then you have one patch-free week before starting up again. This method doesn’t require remembering to take a pill every day, but it is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy, just like birth control pills.
Depo Provera: The Birth Control Shot
The birth control shot is a progestin-only method of contraception that works by thickening your cervical mucus and suppressing ovulation, just like birth control pills and the patch do. It would be best to get an injection from your doctor every three months to be fully protected, but it is around 99% effective at preventing pregnancy when used correctly.
Birth Control Implants
The birth control implant is a small device inserted under the skin on your arm by a doctor. It releases progestin into your body over three years to suppress ovulation and thicken cervical mucus, just like other hormonal contraceptives do. But unlike other methods, the implant is around 99% effective at preventing pregnancy without requiring you to take a pill or get a shot every few weeks. It’s also completely invisible, so no one else can tell that you’re using it.
Barrier Methods
Birth control methods that involve placing a physical barrier between the sperm and egg are called barrier methods. These include condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps, and contraceptive sponges. These devices help to block semen from reaching an egg by either trapping it inside or covering the cervix so that it can’t enter. They are very effective, but they have a higher failure rate than hormonal contraceptives.
Intrauterine Devices (IUDs)
Intrauterine devices are small, T-shaped pieces of plastic inserted into your uterus by a doctor. IUDs work by releasing copper or hormones to prevent fertilization and implantation, so they must be left in place for several years to be fully effective. When used correctly, intrauterine devices are around 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.
There are various birth control methods to choose from, each with benefits. It’s essential to understand what each one entails before deciding which plan is right for you. This article has looked at some of the most promising birth control methods currently available.
