Deciding when and if to start a family is an important part of women’s health. By taking control and carefully managing their reproductive health, women can make an informed choice about their fertility and increase their chances of having a healthy pregnancy.
Family planning starts with understanding your options and taking steps to avoid unwanted pregnancies. In doing so, you can maintain your health and well-being throughout your childbearing years.
Before choosing a birth control method, it’s important to have all the information you need to know, so you can make the best decision for yourself. Scheduling an appointment with a family medicine doctor to discuss your various birth control options can help you narrow down your options to the one that best meets your needs.
What to Do Before and During Your Appointment with a Family Medicine Doctor
When choosing the type of birth control that’s right for you, you should consider the ease of use, availability, side effects, and potential risks. Your family medicine doctor can help you with all of this. The different types of birth control available include:
- Hormonal contraceptives that contain estrogen and progestin hormones that thicken cervical mucus and, thus, prevent ovulation.
- Intrauterine devices (IUDs) that, once inserted into the uterus, can prevent pregnancy for up to 10 years.
- Implants (e.g., Nexplanon) release hormones into the body that prevent pregnancy for up to five years.
- The patch looks at a square bandage that contains estrogen and progestin worn on the belly, upper arm, buttocks, or back.
- The shot, which is an injection of progestin, provides birth control for three months.
Medical appointments for contraceptive care generally involve a check of your vitals, followed by your family medicine doctor asking you about your period, sexual activity, and any past pregnancy, as well as discussing your medical, surgical, and family medical histories. A physical or pelvic exam is typically not performed unless you have a concern, such as vaginal discharge, or need a Pap smear or other tests.
Certain medical conditions can affect the type of birth control that is safe and appropriate for you, such as high blood pressure, a history of migraines or blood clots if you are over the age of 35, or if you smoke. Your family medicine doctor will go over the various types of birth control with you and discuss their benefits, disadvantages, and side effects to help you make an informed decision.
Don’t hesitate to ask your family medicine doctor any questions you might have, like:
- How effective are certain methods of birth control at preventing pregnancy?
- How will it affect my health or the medications I’m currently taking?
- Will it affect my period? If so, how?
- Do I need to use a backup contraceptive?
- What does my health insurance cover?
Family Planning in Washington, D.C.
At Community Concierge Care (C3 Cares), we provide women’s healthcare services to Washington, D.C. residents that includes a variety of different family planning methods, ranging from oral birth control pills and contraceptive patches to IUDs and implants. With our family planning services, you are in control of your own health and can determine when and if you want to become pregnant.
To learn more about our family planning services or to take advantage of these options, you can schedule an appointment with C3 Cares by calling (202) 888-6440 or emailing info@c3cares.com.
