Our primary goal at All Women’s Care is to provide our patients with high-quality obstetric and gynecological medical care services. We strive to offer the best comfortable and caring environment for each of our patients. Our state-board certified GYN/OBs are well versed with the latest techniques in surgical procedures and reproductive health care. Get in touch with us if you are looking for a well-equipped and reputable women’s health care clinic in Los Angeles.
As a woman, you may want to have a specific number of children. Sometimes, you may not wish to get pregnant because you are actively pursuing other interests, such as your career and education. Family planning enables you to fulfill your life goals and plan for your future kids. You will be able to determine the age gap between one child and the next and the size of your family. We offer a wide array of family planning services. Read on to know more about our service areas.
Birth Control Pills
Birth control pills are medications that contain hormones essential in preventing pregnancy. They are not available over-the-counter, and you can only access them via a doctor’s prescription. They come in a pack, which may contain up to 28 pills. You are supposed to take one pill each day. Birth control pills are affordable, effective, and safe. Apart from preventing pregnancy, you can accrue other reproductive health benefits when you utilize them correctly.
How Birth Control Pills Prevent Pregnancy
Birth control pills inhibit fertilization (a sperm being joined to an egg.) They prevent fertilization by stopping your ovaries from ovulating. When there is no ovulation, no egg will hang around for a sperm to fertilize, and pregnancy cannot happen.
Furthermore, birth control pills have certain hormones that usually thicken cervical mucus. The primary purpose of this thick cervical mucus is to block sperms from swimming to an egg for fertilization.
Are Birth Control Pills Effective?
Yes, birth control pills are 99.99% effective. You cannot expect to get pregnant while you are on the pill.
However, you may make certain mistakes while using birth control pills. These mistakes may make you fall pregnant. For instance, you may forget swallowing the pills, lose the entire park, or fail to refill your prescription when it runs out. You can take specific steps to ensure that you do not make such mistakes and become pregnant. Some of these steps include:
- Using a birth control pill reminder app
- Setting an alarm to remind you to take the pills
- Keeping the pills inside your handbag
- Having a pill buddy, so you will always remind each other to take them
- Telling your partner to remind you when to take the pills
It is crucial to do anything that will work for you to take your pills on time. You can also consider using condoms during sexual intercourse to give yourself more protection against accidental pregnancies, and STDs too.
NuvaRing
Using NuvaRing is one of the safest, simplest, and most convenient ways to prevent pregnancy. Besides the prevention of pregnancy, Nuva-Ring has other health benefits such as reduction of acne and mental cramps, as well as making monthly periods lighter and less painful.
Just like birth control pills, NuvaRing is 99.99% effective, provided you have utilized it correctly and followed your doctor's instructions. All you need to do is always to ensure it is inside your vagina, and wear a new ring on time. You can jot down the next day to change your ring in your diary, or use a birth control app. Alongside the ring, you can utilize condoms to give yourself additional protection from unplanned pregnancies, as well as to avoid contracting STDs.
NuvaRing can be the best family planning option for you if you do not wish to take a birth control pill each day, or you don’t like thinking about birth control just right before you engage in sexual intercourse.
Depending on your doctor’s instructions, Nuva-Ring is replaced once or twice every month – and that’s the only time you will think about birth control. You can pick up several rings at once from your doctor, or have her mail them to you.
NuvaRing will make your periods more regular and easily predictable. You can also utilize it to skip some of your periods, especially when you would like to attend certain special occasions. Moreover, Nuva-Ring can help prevent some illnesses and dangerous conditions such as ectopic pregnancy, ovarian and endometrial cancer, premenstrual syndrome, and anemia.
Of course, the primary reason why you would like to use Nuva-Ring is to have children at the right time. One of the best things about Nuva-Ring is that you will be able to get pregnant immediately when you stop using it.
Injections
You can opt for birth control injections to prevent pregnancy. The only type of birth control injection that is available is the Depo-Provera. The Depo-Provera contains an artificial hormone – medroxyprogesterone, which works the same way as progesterone. This artificial hormone will stop ovulation. Therefore, your ovaries will not release any eggs, and there will be no fertilization, thus making you incapable of conceiving. Moreover, the Depo-Provera will thicken the uterus and cervix lining, making it impossible for sperms to reach any released eggs.
When you choose this birth control method, you will receive an injection on your rear-end or arm every 12 weeks. The Depo-Provera will start working immediately if it is administered to you within the first five days after you have gone through your menstrual period. It is 99.99% effective in the prevention of pregnancy.
Almost all women can use Depo-Provera as a family planning method. However, you should not get this injection if you have blood clots, liver disease, brain cancer, and unexplained vaginal bleeding. The Depo-Provera may also not be ideal for you if you have osteoporosis or a history of depression, stroke, or heart attack. Furthermore, teenagers are discouraged from using this birth control method.
You may experience various side effects when you receive a Depo-Provera injection. Some of these side effects include irregular menstruation periods, general body weakness, headaches, fatigue, nervousness, bloating, depression, dizziness, belly pain, acne, hair loss, weight gain, among others. The most common side effect of the Depo-Provera shot is an irregular menstrual cycle. According to WebMD, 50% of women stop experiencing their monthly periods when they use this family planning method.
The main benefits of this birth control method are that it is super-effective, cheaper than birth control pills, and it can make your menstrual periods less painful and lighter. However, the Depo-Provera may not be the perfect fit for you if you are too busy to visit your doctor every three months to receive the injection.
Patches
Contraceptive patches are convenient and safe methods that are highly effective in preventing pregnancy. You will have to wear the patch on some parts of your body, like your belly, back, upper arm, or butt. The skin will absorb hormones essential in preventing pregnancy from the patch. These hormones will stop ovulation, and your ovary will not be able to release any eggs. Also, it will thicken your cervical walls, and sperms will be unable to reach any released egg to fertilize it. The only birth control patch brand available in the United States is Xulane.
You should use the patch the right way to be successful in preventing pregnancy. Certain mistakes, such as failing to refill the prescription, or not wearing a new patch on time, can really cost you.
Generally, the birth control patch is 99% effective. However, it may not work best for you if you need to be reminded frequently to wear a new patch on time. It may fall off on rare occasions, and this will stop the skin from absorbing hormones that play a vital role in preventing pregnancy. It may also work less effectively for overweight women.
Women who are fond of smoking should not use the patch or any other form of birth control that contains hormones. Other women who should also avoid using the patch include those who are suffering from diabetes, migraine headaches, breast cancer, diabetes, blood clots, or uncontrolled high blood pressure.
Birth control patches are great for women who are not comfortable with taking pills or injections regularly, and they would like to use a family planning method that does not interrupt their sexual lives. Patches are not just for family planning; they can also help you prevent or reduce acne, premenstrual syndrome, anemia, bone thinning, and ectopic pregnancy.
Nexplanon
Nexplanon (AKA birth control implant) is a small, thin rod that resembles a matchstick. Your doctor or nurse will insert this implant into your arm. Once the rod is inserted into your body, it will start releasing hormones that will help prevent pregnancy. Once you get the implant, you will not be pregnant for up to five years or until you remove it.
The Nexplanon rod mainly releases the progestin hormone. This hormone thickens the mucus walls of your cervix, rendering it impossible for sperms to swim to reach an egg. It can also stop ovulation altogether, and there will be no egg for a sperm to fertilize.
You will absolutely love Nexplanon if you do not wish to get pregnant for a long time. It is also not permanent, and you can remove it any time if you change your mind and desire to become pregnant.
Using Nexplanon is the best way to control pregnancy, compared to other family planning methods. This is because its users have no chance of making fatal mistakes that can increase the risk of pregnancy. Because it is inside your arm, you cannot forget to use it correctly or take it. The Nexplanon rod will prevent you from conceiving 24/7 for five years. This is why it is commonly referred to as the ‘get-it-and-forget-it birth control.’
After five years, you should book a doctor’s appointment to remove the Nexplanon rod from your arm. If you still do not wish to become pregnant, your doctor can insert a new rod into your arm. Typically, Nexplanon will make your menstrual periods irregular, but you can expect them to normalize once you take it out.
IUDs that Contain Hormones
IUD is an abbreviation for the term 'intrauterine device.' It is a family planning method that is inserted inside your womb. An IUD is T-shaped, and it is made up of plastic. You can choose between two types of IUDs: non-hormonal IUDs and hormonal IUDs.
Hormonal IUDs release tiny amounts of the progestin hormone to your body continuously for several years. Progestin is an artificial hormone, which works the same way as progesterone. Progestin prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation and thickening your cervical walls. Besides preventing pregnancy, hormonal IUDs can also reduce heavy or painful menstrual periods.
Just like Nexplanon, a hormonal IUD can last several years, but you can take it out any time you want. When you remove it, you will be able to become pregnant immediately.
Currently, there exist four brands of IUDs that contain hormones in the USA. These brands include Mirena, Skyla, Kyleena, and Liletta. All these brands work the same way and contain the progestin hormone. However, they last for different periods. Liletta and Mirena can last for up to seven years, while Kyleena can work for five years. Skyla works for the shortest timeframe – three years. When the IUD time frame lapses, you should have it removed. You can have a new one inserted if you still don’t want to become pregnant.
IUDs are super convenient, and more than 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. Just like birth control implants, you can have an IUD inserted and completely forget about it for several years; until it expires.
You may experience several side effects after you have inserted a hormonal IUD. Some of these side effects include cramping, backaches, and spotting. Most of these side effects disappear within 3 – 6 months after you have installed the IID or once your uterus gets used to it. You can also utilize over-the-counter painkillers to help you cope with these side effects.
Non-Hormonal IUD
Just like a hormonal IUD, a non-hormonal IUD is T-shaped and is made of flexible plastic. However, it is covered with copper, and this is why it is also referred to as ‘copper IUD.’
There is only one brand of non-hormonal IUDs available in the United States: Paragard IUD. This IUD can last for up to twelve years.
Paragard IUD utilizes copper to help prevent pregnancy. Generally, sperms do not like copper. When a sperm notices the presence of copper, it will automatically change its swimming direction; and this will make it unable to reach an egg. If a sperm does not reach an egg, no fertilization will occur, and you will not become pregnant.
Just like hormonal IUDs, you can have the Paragard IUD removed any time you want. You don’t have to wait for 12 years to lapse. If the IUD expires, but you still want to keep using it, you can request your doctor to insert for you a new one.
The copper IUD is more than 99.99% effective in preventing pregnancy. It will be the perfect fit for you if you prefer non-hormonal family planning methods, or you have medical conditions that cannot permit you to use hormonal methods.
You can also have the Paragard IUD inserted as emergency contraception, especially if you have had unprotected sex to reduce the risk of becoming pregnant. In fact, the Paragard IUD is the most effective form of emergency contraception. If you insert it within five days (120 hours) after you have had unprotected sex, you will not become pregnant. Then, you can leave it there for up to 12 years, or until when you would like to conceive.
Emergency Contraception
Accidents happen. This is why there is emergency contraception – an effective and safe way to prevent pregnancy after you have had unprotected sex.
There are two types of emergency contraception: the morning-after pill and the Paragard IUD. For you to choose the best type, you must consider various factors, such as when you had unprotected sex, if you are breastfeeding, your weight, and which is the easiest for you to find.
Both the Paragard IUD and the morning-after pill can work effectively within five days after you have had unprotected sex. There are also other instances when you can use emergency contraception. Some of these instances include:
- You made a mistake while using another birth control method (for example, failing to take your pills on time)
- Your condom slipped off or broke after ejaculation
- Your partner did not pull out on time
There are two types of morning-after pills: emergency contraceptive pills with ulipristal acetate and emergency contraceptive pills with levonorgestrel. The only brand of emergency contraceptive pills that contain ulipristal acetate in the United States is Ella. Ella works more effectively than pills containing levonorgestrel. However, you cannot get it without a prescription. It may also not be suitable for you if you intend to use it because you made a mistake while utilizing another hormonal birth control method.
There are several brands of emergency contraceptive pills containing levonorgestrel. Some of these brands include Plan B One-Step, AfterPill, Take Action, and My Way. Unlike Ella, these brands are available over-the-counter.
You can opt for the Paragard IUD as emergency contraception if you do not wish to become pregnant for quite a long time. The Paragard IUD serves as both an emergency contraception and a regular family planning method. On the other hand, you cannot use morning-after pills as a regular birth control method. This is because they are less effective and can cause some medical complications when you use them for a prolonged period.
Unintended Pregnancies
Unintended pregnancies may happen because of various reasons. For instance, you may have a false belief that you are menopause, and you can't get pregnant, yet you conceive because you are still ovulating. Or rather, you may fail to use your regular birth control method correctly and become pregnant. Sometimes, you may have an unplanned pregnancy because you were not able to get a suitable family planning control method.
Of course, the only form of family planning method that is 100% effective is abstinence. There is always a 1% chance of getting pregnant when you use contraceptives.
You can book an appointment with us as quickly as possible if you are pregnant but believe you are not yet prepared to have a baby. We will discuss with you all the available options, including pregnancy termination.
Sterilization
Sterilization is a medical procedure that blocks or closes your fallopian tube to prevent you from becoming pregnant. The fallopian tube is where sperms and eggs meet. When it is blocked or closed, sperms and eggs won't meet, and there will be no fertilization; therefore, you won't become pregnant.
Men can also opt for sterilization. Therefore, if you have a partner and both of you don’t want any future children, you can agree who should undergo the sterilization procedure.
There are three main types of sterilization for women: postpartum tubal ligation, bilateral tubal ligation via laparoscopy, and Essure in-office hysteroscopic sterilization. We at All Women’s Care offer mainly Essure in-office hysteroscopic sterilization and postpartum tubal ligation.
We perform the Essure procedure inside our office. We will require you to come for a medical check-up three months after you have undergone the procedure to verify if it worked. You can also choose to go through postpartum tubal ligation if you are under prenatal care, and you do not want to become pregnant again.
Sterilization can be the perfect fit for you if you are 100% sure that you don’t want any future pregnancies. If you successfully undergo sterilization, you don’t have to worry about becoming pregnant for a lifetime.
Find a Women’s Family Planning Clinic Near Me
We at All Women’s Care are dedicated to providing state-of-the-art family planning services to women who live or work in Los Angeles. We will make sure your experience at our clinic is enjoyable and pleasant. We value all your feedback, suggestions, and questions. Call us at 213-250-9461 to make an appointment today.
