family planning refers to the set of contraceptive measures that a woman, a man, or a couple can use to prevent pregnancy.
Several contraceptive methods available that help prevent pregnancy. The most popular being condom and contraceptive pills.
Deciding on the correct method can be difficult because there are so many things to consider. Including cost, and side effects, among others.
On Institute of Gynecology of Barcelona Dra. Gómez Roig We inform you and recommend the best treatment based on your needs. Always in our consultations Gynecology we offer you our Medical services in a personalized way in family planning.
What Contraceptive Methods Are There?
The contraceptive methods that exist or are currently available are:
- Barrier methods.
- Contraceptive pills.
- Vaginal ring.
- subcutaneous implant.
- Intrauterine devices (IUDs).
- Injectable contraception.
What is the Right Method for me?
El most suitable method for family planning the one that the woman chooses after good information. Despite this, we must know that no contraceptive method is perfect.
Before choosing a contraceptive method You must balance the advantages and disadvantages of each.
One should always choose the best option that one will be able to use consistently and correctly. The best contraceptive method it is the one that you will use on a regular basis, the one that creates the most confidence for the woman and her partner, and the one that does not cause annoying side effects.
Consulting a specialist is important if one wants to have all the information. Sometimes the different treatment alternatives are not really known.
On the contrary, information on family planning is essential to be able to make a good choice.
Are Contraceptive Methods Safe?
The know if Are contraceptives safe? It is an important question that women should ask themselves.
The security of the chosen option depends on several factors.
Incorrect use is one of the most frequent causes of method failure. On less frequent occasions, medication or device failure may also be the cause of family planning failure.
Certain options like intrauterine devices (IUD) and subcutaneous implant have a lower risk of failure (pregnancy).
The reason these are the most secure is that they are the easiest to use and are used most correctly.
In general, contraceptive methods that are designed to be used at the time of sex. For example, him condom and the diaphragm are generally less safe than other methods of scheduled and more planned use, for example, the IUD and anticonceptive pill.
The Barrier Methods
The role of barrier methods is to prevent sperm from entering the uterus.
The barrier contraceptives include:
- The male condom.
- female diaphragm.
- The cervical cap.
Birth Control Pills
Most contraceptive pills, also known as the pill, contain a combination of two female hormones estrogen y progesterone.
When taken correctly birth control pillsThese are very effective.
In general, if you miss a anticonceptive pillThis should be taken as soon as possible.
If, on the contrary, you do not take it or forget it for more than one day, these should not be left. Consequently, we always advise in the Family planning another method of back-up contraception such as condom.
Side Effects of the Pill
- Nausea, breast tenderness, bloating, and mood changes, which usually improve after two to three months.
- Spotting or irregular vaginal bleeding. This is particularly common during the first few months. If you miss a pill, irregular bleeding may also occur.
Apart from the pill that combines two hormones, there is also the progesterone-only pill: called minipill.
The Pill does not contain estrogen and is useful for women who cannot take it for example while breastfeeding.
In addition, this type of contraceptive can also cause irregular bleeding.
Another way to take birth control is through patches on the skin. The patches contain the two hormones, estrogen and progesterone. They are similar to birth control pills. We can say that the patch is as effective as birth control pills, and some women may prefer it because you don't have to take it every day.
The vaginal ring The flexible plastic also contains estrogen and progesterone that are slowly absorbed. It is left inside the vagina for three weeks, and is removed to take a one-week break.
The vaginal ring is not noticeable and is easy to insert and remove for most women.
The risks and side effects of the vaginal ring within family planning are similar to those of the pills.
What we recommend is to go through the Gynecology Center in Barcelona and study what will be the best contraceptive method.
Vaginal Ring
The vaginal ring It is a flexible ring-shaped plastic.
This method also contains estrogen and progesterone that are slowly absorbed.
Once placed, it is left inside the vagina for three weeks, and is removed to take a one-week break. The vaginal ring is not noticeable and is easy to insert and remove for most women.
The risks and side effects of the vaginal ring are similar to those of the pills.
subcutaneous implant
El subcutaneous implant It is a device that is placed under the skin on the forearm, and is a carrier of gestagens (progesterone family of hormones).
This method consists of a small single rod, which is placed under local anesthesia by one of our specialists in Family planning in the consultation of the Institute of gynecology of Dr. Gómez Roig.
This contraceptive option prevents pregnancy for at least 3 years, through slow release of the hormone.
If you regret or change your option, you can withdraw at any time.
Once placed, the implant is effective 24 hours after insertion.
Irregular bleeding is the most bothersome side effect, like the rest of contraceptives made only by progestin or progesterone.
Once the subcutaneous rod is removed, the possibility of To get pregnant It is imminent.
intrauterine devices (IUD)
These intrauterine devices they are placed through the vagina and cervix into the internal cavity of the uterus. The IUDs currently available for family planning are safe and effective.
Types of intrauterine devices:
- The copper IUD: the copper IUD does not contain hormones. It should be known that, on occasions, this IUD can give slightly more abundant periods. In women with menstruation problems, due to increased bleeding, it can be an inconvenience.
- Levonorgestrel-releasing IUD: The levonorgestrel-releasing IUD releases a hormone (of the progesterone family) that thickens cervical mucus and thins the endometrium (the lining of the uterus). This IUD also decreases the amount of bleeding during menstruation and decreases the pain associated with periods. It is necessary to know that some women stop having menstrual periods completely, although this effect disappears when the IUD is removed.
Injectable Contraception
This treatment option injectable contraception It is also based on administration of gestagens alone (hormones of the progesterone family).
The injection of the drug is performed at the muscular level, and is administered once every three weeks.
Like any single administration of hormones related to progesterone, the side effect that may appear is irregular bleeding.
Despite this, this method is very effective, when used correctly.
It is important to note that up to 50% of women stop having periods after using the injectable for one year.
It is because of that It is recommended to use only in women who do not wish to become pregnant. in a minimum period of one year.
Today we know that although ovulation and menstrual periods They usually reappear within six months after the last injection, but they may take a little longer.
On Institute of Gynecology of Barcelona Dra. Gómez Roig We will inform you and recommend the best treatment based on your needs. We will advise you correctly.
If you have any questions about contraceptives or about Family planning Do not hesitate to contact us.
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- About the Author
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Head of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Service at the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital in Barcelona. Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Coordinator of the Sixth Course of Medicine at the University of Barcelona, UB. Director of the Dra. Gómez Roig Institute and Coordinator of Obstetric and Gynecological Processes at the Corachan Clinic in Barcelona.