At Hoag, our goal is to provide safe, up to date, and evidence-based family planning care. We want to be advocates for our patients and their family planning and contraception needs.
Contraception, also known as family planning or birth control, prevents pregnancy. Contraception works so that an egg cannot be fertilized by sperm to conceive a baby.
There are many contraceptive options available. It is important to remember that no method of contraception is 100% effective against pregnancy. Their level of effectiveness and the way they work varies. Types of contraception include:
Implants (Norplant, Implanon)
Intrauterine devices (IUDs) or long-acting reversible contraception (LARC)
Injections (Depo-Provera)
Oral contraceptive pills (combined pill and progestogen only pill)
Vaginal rings (NuvaRing)
Barrier methods (male and female diaphragms) – these are highly effective to protect you and your sexual partners from sexually transmissible infections (STIs).
Tubal ligation and Vasectomy
Emergency contraception, also known as the morning after pill – Plan B, Ella
Natural methods, also known as “natural family planning” or “fertility awareness”
When choosing a method of contraception, talk to your healthcare provider about all available options. Discuss why you would like to use contraception. For example, some people use contraception for hormonal benefits to help with heavy menstrual bleeding, skipping periods, endometriosis or acne. Additionally, many women find it helpful to involve their partner in an open discussion about options.
Some contraception topics you may want to discuss with your clinician include:
Level of effectiveness
Possible side effects
Ease of use as well as effort and time involved
Your safety and general health – such as other health conditions and current medications or treatments
Your lifestyle and relationships
Your risk of getting a sexually transmissible infection (STI)
If you can stop the contraception method yourself or if you will need to see a healthcare provider
Cost
Weigh the pros and cons and think about how each method meets your current and future needs.
Access to comprehensive health services for women is a priority at Hoag. We provide the full scope of women’s reproductive and family planning services, including:
Contraception (counseling, prescribing, placement of LARC and dispensation of emergency contraception)
Management of:
Ectopic pregnancy
Blighted ovum, threatened, incomplete and inevitable miscarriage
Fetal or embryonic demise (loss of cardiac activity)
Pregnancy termination (medical and surgical abortions)
Emergency services for women experiencing complications related to pregnancy termination
Permanent sterilization options, including bilateral tubal ligation and bilateral salpingectomies
Speak with your OB/GYN, doctor or another trusted healthcare professional. To learn more about maternity care at Hoag, click here.