When it comes to creating a family, there are certainly plenty of options these days! However, no matter what your family plan is, you need to understand the various birth control options and how you can find the right choice for your plan and your body. Luckily, Dr. Kim is here to help. 

Before you decide which kind of birth control best suits your needs, it’s important that you completely understand each option, including which ones you will feel the most comfortable with.

There are essentially six options for birth control: 

Family Planning

Arguably the most common form of birth control, pills are a daily contraceptive that you ingest. If used as suggested, can prevent pregnancy %99 of the time and it is easy to consume. Once taken, they release hormones to prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs. However, some women might feel side effects such as weight gain, headaches, breast tenderness, and nausea. If such side effects are experienced, it is better to switch to a different option. 

PILLS:

The vaginal ring is a small soft, plastic ring that you place inside your vagina. It releases a continuous dose of the hormones oestrogen and progestogen into the bloodstream to prevent pregnancy. If used correctly, the vaginal ring is more than 99% effective. One ring provides contraception for a month, so you don't have to think about it every day.

IUDs (intrauterine devices):

IUDs are devices that can easily be implanted in the uterus by a doctor. They also provide %99 protection by releasing copper into the womb. The copper alters the cervical mucus, which makes it more difficult for sperm to reach an egg and survive.  Every 5 years, the device needs to be renewed so that the effectiveness continues. If desired, can be easily removed anytime by your doctor.

implants:

Placed into the upper arm every 5 years, implants release progestin and provides %99 protection.

In order to prevent you getting pregnant, they release the hormone progestin which prevents pregnancy in two ways: Progestin thickens the mucus on your cervix, which stops sperm from swimming through to your egg. When sperm can’t meet up with an egg, pregnancy can’t happen. Progestin can also stop eggs from leaving your ovaries (called ovulation), so there’s no egg to fertilize. When eggs aren’t released, you can’t get pregnant.

INJECTIONS:

VAGINAL RINGS:

PATCHES:

Injections are safe birth control shots that are injected every 3 months and provide %94-99 protection. They also contain the hormone progestin. Progestin stops you from getting pregnant by preventing ovulation. When there’s no egg in the tube, pregnancy can’t happen. It also works by making cervical mucus thicker. When the mucus on the cervix is thicker, the sperm can’t get through. And when the sperm and the egg can’t get together, pregnancy can’t happen.

The birth control patch is a type of contraception that contains the hormones estrogen and progestin. You wear the patch to avoid becoming pregnant. Once a week for three weeks, you place a small patch on your skin, so that you wear a patch for a total of 21 days. During the fourth week, you don't wear a patch — which allows menstrual bleeding to occur.

The birth control patch works similarly to combination birth control pills. The birth control patch prevents pregnancy by releasing hormones into your bloodstream that keep your ovaries from releasing an egg (ovulation). The birth control patch also thickens cervical mucus to keep sperm from reaching an egg.

Family planning is important. It gives you the option to plan your life ahead and choose the right time to move forward with the next step in your life when you and your husband are both ready emotionally, financially, and mentally.  During your appointment in our Los Angeles office, Dr David Kim will work with you to determine the ideal birth control options based on your needs and circumstances.