Contraception
Abstinence - "Saying No". Abstinence is free and
available to everyone. It is the most effective way to prevent pregnancy and
sexually transmitted infections.
Cervical Cap - A small rubber cap that is inserted like a diaphragm
and fits snugly onto the cervix. Caps come in four sizes and must be fitted
by a health care provider.
Condom or "Rubber" - Latex sheath that fits onto
the man's penis to catch sperm and prevent them from coming in contact with
the woman’s egg. Condoms are very effective when used correctly every
time. They are the best method to prevent sexually transmitted infections other
than abstinence. Condoms are available at family planning clinics like ours
( $0.00 - $0.25 each) or at drugstores and supermarkets.
Contraceptive Foam and Gel - When placed inside a woman’s
vagina before intercourse, foam and gel work by destroying sperm as well as
blocking the sperm from reaching the egg. If you are concerned about STI transmission,
discuss this with your clinician before using this method.
Depo Provera - A hormone that is given once every three months
by injection (shot). It works similar to the pill by stopping the woman from
releasing an egg. The client needs to be up-to-date with her annual exam, including
breast exam.
Diaphragm - A rubber disk that is placed into the woman’s vagina which
blocks the man’s semen from entering the cervix. Contraceptive gel on
the rim of the diaphragm also kills sperm that it comes in contact with. A diaphragm
must be fitted by a health care provider.
Implanon™ - Implanon™ is a type of birth control
for women. It is a flexible plastic rod the size of a matchstick that is put
under the skin of your upper arm. It contains a hormone, etonogestrel, that
lasts for three years. There is no estrogen, latex or silicone used in this
method, and the rod does not dissolve.
Female Condom - It looks like a large plastic condom with
a flexible ring on each end, one end closed and the other open. The closed end
is placed into the woman’s vagina like a diaphragm but protects like a
condom.
Fertility-Awareness - A method to determine when ovulation takes place by measuring
daily temperature, cervical fluid, and cervix position. Using this information,
a woman can abstain from intercourse when she is most fertile. Some women use
this method to aid them in becoming pregnant. An appointment can be made for
education on how to use fertility awareness for conception or contraception.
IUD - We offer the Paraguard copper T IUD which provides
very effective birth control for up to 10 years, and the Mirena IUD that provides
birth control for up to 5 years. Two appointments are usually needed, the first
for an annual exam and sexually transmitted infection screening, and the second
for the IUD to be inserted. A health care provider inserts the IUD by placing
an inserter through the cervix and into the uterus. The IUD is best recommended
for a woman who is in a mutually monogamous relationship.
Nuva Ring - A flexible ring containing a combination of hormones
that is inserted in the vagina every three weeks. It works similar to the pill
by stopping the woman from releasing an egg. The client usually continues to
have a monthly period. A client needs to be up-to-date with her annual exam,
including breast exam for this birth control method.
Ortho Evra - The first birth control patch. It is a combination
of hormones that is applied once a week. It works similar to the pill by stopping
the woman from releasing an egg. The client usually continues to have a monthly
period. A client needs to be up-to-date with her annual exam, including breast
exam for this birth control method.
Pills/Minipills - The pill is taken at the same time every
day, and prevents pregnancy by delivering a small but steady dose of hormones.
Pills are extremely safe and have advantages such as lowering a woman’s
risk for cancer of the ovary and endometrial cancer, decreasing menstrual cramps,
pain, amount of flow, and sometimes even decreasing acne. An appointment is
needed with an annual exam to follow within three months.
Please call with any questions you might have about our available methods.
WE ARE ALWAYS HERE TO HELP YOU!!
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