Contraception Specialist
Progressive Womens Health, PLLC
Asia Mohsin, MD
OBGYN located in Friendswood, TX
With so many forms of contraception available today, it’s important to have advice, guidance, and education from a women’s reproductive health expert like Asia Mohsin, MD, at Progressive Womens Health in Friendswood, Texas. Dr. Mohsin can help you find the right option for your situation and then prescribe what you need. Book your appointment online or by phone today.
Contraception Q & A
What are my oral contraceptive options?
There are two general types of oral contraceptives available:
Combination pills
Combination pills, the most popular type of oral contraceptive, have estrogen and progestin hormones. You take combination pills daily.
Combination pills prevent egg release, thin out the uterine lining, and increase cervical mucus. These things combine to make egg fertilization difficult or near-impossible. Combination pills can help you regulate your menstrual cycle quite reliably.
Minipills
Minipills have only progestin hormones. As with combination pills, you take them daily. It’s important to take minipills at the same time, or at least within a three-hour window, each day. Minipills usually don’t stop egg release, but they do increase cervical mucus and thin the uterine lining.
Out of every 100 women using oral contraceptives, 5-9 experience an unwanted pregnancy. But, if you take oral contraceptives perfectly (no missed doses and no late doses) the effectiveness rate will be higher.
What are my IUD options?
There are two categories of IUDs: non-hormonal and hormonal. The non-hormonal IUD, ParaGard®, contains copper wire. The copper causes uterine inflammation to make your uterus inhospitable to sperm and prevent pregnancy. ParaGard works for up to 10 years.
Hormonal IUDs like Mirena® release progestin to prevent pregnancy. Mirena works for up to five years. Both types of IUDs are over 99% effective. Dr. Mohsin implants the IUD, and you don’t have to worry about it until it’s time to replace it, in most cases.
What other types of birth control are available?
There are many other options for birth control if you don’t feel oral contraceptives or an IUD is right for you. Some options may include:
- Birth control injections: shots every three months, about 96% effective
- Birth control implant: in-arm implant, lasts three years, over 99% effective
- Birth control patch: weekly skin patches, around 93% effective
- Vaginal ring: worn three weeks at a time, around 93% effective
The choice of what’s right for you depends on many factors, including your lifestyle and how much pregnancy risk you’re comfortable with. Dr. Mohsin explains all of the best options for you, and she’s happy to guide and advise you to help you determine the right thing.
To find the contraception option that’s best for you, use the online scheduling tool or call Progressive Womens Health to make your appointment today.