Birth Control

It’s Your Body. You Determine When and How to Use Birth Control.

Using birth control, or contraception, correctly is your responsibility. Safe and effective birth control is crucial for feminine health if you are sexually active. Once you and your Park Medical Centers health care professional have decided upon a birth control method, we’re here to make sure you understand how to use it safely and effectively.

Prescription methods of birth control include medically prescribed hormones, barriers, or devices. There are several prescription birth control options available to women, and most contain some form of hormone – estrogen and progestin. Several hormonal choices even offer alternative delivery systems (either through mouth, skin, injection, etc.). 

Options We Offer:

The Pill

The pill is the common name for oral contraception. It’s one of the safest, most effective, and popular methods of birth control. The pill is made up of synthetic forms of hormones that naturally occur in a female’s body. One of the ways the pill works is by stopping the action of the hormones that trigger ovulation. The pill must be taken daily to sustain the hormone levels needed to prevent ovulation.

The Shot

The Depo-Provera™ shot, also known as DMPA, is an injectable form of birth control. The shot must be given every 3 months (12 weeks) and will only provide optimal pregnancy protection for that amount of time. There are two versions available – the Depo-Provera™ shot and the Depo-SubQ Provera™ injection.

The Ring

The ring is a small, flexible circle about 2 inches in diameter. You insert it into your vagina once a month and leave it in place for 3 weeks. Then, you take it out for the remaining week. The ring secretes synthetic hormones – estrogen and progestin – to protect against pregnancy for one month. This method may be more prone to error than some of the other prescription options (due to misuse, misplacement, and not staying where it should).

The Diaphragm

The diaphragm is latex or silicone, dome-shaped cup with a flexible rim and does not contain any hormones. It is inserted securely in the vagina and becomes a barrier which covers the cervix. Before insertion, the diaphragm and its ring should be covered with spermicidal jelly or cream. It is put in place before intercourse and needs to be left there for 6 to 8 hours after ejaculation. If this is your choice, your Park Medical Centers health care professional will refer you to an Obstetrician\Gynecologist (OB\GYN) to determine the correct size and type of diaphragm.

Caution: Birth Control Can Fail!

About half of unplanned pregnancies occur in women using contraceptives. That’s because birth control pills and other contraceptives must be used correctly to be effective, and too often they aren’t.

Except for abstinence, there is always the chance that birth control failure can happen. One in every three babies is conceived by accident. The main reason for birth control failure is user error.  This includes not properly using your birth control according to its instructions, and not always using birth control.

Speak with your Park Medical Centers health care professional to determine what form of birth control is best for you.  Remember, it’s your choice.