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Birth Control Health Center - Topic Overview

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Wednesday, 28 November 2007

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Birth Control Health Center - Topic Overview
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If you are using a method now that you are not happy with, talk to your doctor about other choices.

What health issues might limit your choices?

Some birth control methods may not be safe for you, depending on your health. To make sure a method is right for you, your doctor will need to know if you:

Smoke.
Are or could be pregnant.
Are breast-feeding.
Have any serious health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, migraine headaches, or diabetes.
Have a family history of bone thinning (osteoporosis) or blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) or lungs (pulmonary embolism).
Have ever had breast cancer.
Have a sexually transmitted disease.

How can you get birth control?

You can buy:

Condoms, sponges, and spermicides in drugstores without a prescription.
Plan B emergency birth control in most drugstores without a prescription. But you do need proof that you are 18 or older.

You need to see a doctor or other health professional to:

Get a prescription for birth control pills and other methods that use hormones.
Have an IUD inserted.
Be fitted for a diaphragm or cervical cap.

Some pharmacists will not sell Plan B or fill prescriptions for birth control pills. If this happens to you, ask for the location of a pharmacist who will, or go to:

The Emergency Contraception Web site at http://ec.princeton.edu, or call 1-888-NOT-2-LATE.
The Planned Parenthood clinic nearest you, or call 1-800-230-PLAN (1-800-230-7526).

For information about birth control laws in your state, see the Guttmacher Institute’s State Center at www.guttmacher.org/statecenter/contraception.html.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learning about birth control:	What is birth control? How does birth control prevent pregnancy? What are the different methods of birth control? How well do the different methods work? What methods help prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)? What is emergency contraception?
For teens only:	How does pregnancy happen? How does birth control prevent pregnancy? What are common myths about sex and pregnancy? What should I do if I miss or skip a birth control pill?
Using birth control:	What should I know about: Condoms (male and female)? Female barriers (diaphragm, cap, Lea's Shield, or sponge)? Fertility awareness (natural family planning)? Combination estrogen plus progestin methods (pill, patch, or ring)? Progestin-only method (pill or shot)? Intrauterine device (IUD)? Tubal ligation and tubal implants for permanent birth control? Vasectomy for permanent birth control? Emergency contraception after unprotected sex?
Advantages and disadvantages:	What are the pros and cons of hormonal birth control? What are the pros and cons of hormone injections for birth control? What are the pros and cons of IUDs?
How-to questions:	How do I use a condom? How do I use a female condom? How do I use a hormonal skin patch? How do I use a hormonal vaginal ring?
Ongoing concerns:	Which birth control method should I use? Do birth control pills cause cancer? What should I do if I miss or skip a birth control pill? For a planned pregnancy, how long do I wait after stopping birth control to try to become pregnant?

VitaDocs Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: May 23, 2006

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.

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