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Birth Control

Commonwealth OB-GYN

OB-GYNs located in Brookline Village, Brookline, MA

Sexual intercourse is often a critical part of an intimate relationship. If you are sexually active, family planning provides the care you need to prevent pregnancy or start a family. The team at Commonwealth OB/GYN in Brookline Village, Brookline, Massachusetts, provides consultations to identify the best birth control for your health and lifestyle. The team can also help same-sex couples plan for a pregnancy. Call to schedule an appointment today to get the family planning advice you need.

Birth Control Q & A

What types of birth control are available?

The team at Commonwealth OB-GYN provides a variety of birth control options.

Birth control pills

Over 25% of women in the United States who use birth control choose to take the pill. When taken at the same time every day, the pill stops ovulation, that is, it prevents an egg from being released into your womb. Some birth control pills also thicken your cervical mucus to stop sperm from reaching your uterus.

Intrauterine Device (IUD)

IUDs are small plastic T-shaped devices inserted into your uterus and available in hormonal (Skyla, Kyleena, and Mirena) and non-hormonal forms (Paragard). A non-hormonal IUD is wrapped in copper wire which inhibits the function of sperm and egg to prevent a pregnancy. Hormonal IUDs prevent pregnancy by slowly releasing a low dose of progesterone. Like birth control pills, the hormones either thicken your cervical mucus or stop ovulation.

IUDs can remain in your uterus for up to 10 years, depending on the type.  Your doctor can remove or replace your IUD at any time.

Nexplanon

Nexplanon is a small matchstick-shaped device which is inserted into the inside of your upper arm. The implant slowly releases hormones that prevent pregnancy by thickening the cervical mucus and by stopping your ovaries from releasing eggs.

Implants can prevent pregnancy for up to three years, and your doctor can remove an implant at any time.

Depo-Provera

You can also receive a birth control shot that contains a progestin, a hormone that regulates ovulation.  When given every three months, ovulation and pregnancy are prevented.

 

How do I know what birth control is right for me?

The team at Commonwealth OB-GYN performs a comprehensive consultation to identify the best birth control options for you. During this visit, expect questions about your sexual history, family planning goals, and lifestyle.

Your doctor may recommend several or one birth control method, and you can ask questions about your options to make the best birth control choice for you.

 

Is permanent birth control available?

When you are certain your family planning goal is not to have children, permanent birth control options such as tubal ligation are available. Also called “having your tubes tied,” this minimally invasive procedure seals closed or removes your fallopian tubes to prevent eggs from reaching your womb.

If you have questions about your birth control options and want to prevent pregnancy, call to schedule an appointment with the team at Commonwealth OB-GYN.

 

What is family planning?

Family planning encompasses medical services and treatments that allow you to control when you have a family, how many children you have, and how long you wait between children.

Family planning services include reproductive health exams and treatments. The foundation of family planning is your annual well-woman exam, where you talk to your provider about your overall well-being and reproductive health and ask questions about birth control, your fertility, and preparing to conceive.

Services included in family planning include:

  • Pap smears
  • Breast exams
  • STD testing
  • Birth control and emergency contraception
  • Pregnancy testing
  • Obstetrics care
  • Genetic testing
  • Fertility counseling

 

Family planning also includes routine health screening such as:

  • Blood pressure screening
  • Routine blood testing
  • Weight management
  • Screening for health and pregnancy risk factors

 

The team at Commonwealth OB-GYN also offers counseling services and advice on STD prevention, smoking cessation, and pregnancy.

Call Commonwealth OB-GYN to book an appointment to learn more about their family planning services and how you can take control of your body and fertility.