Birth Control

What is birth control?

Birth control prevents unintended pregnancies from occurring. There are several birth control methods available at NewMed Immediate Care to meet your family planning needs. These methods include:

Barrier methods

Condoms, diaphragms, and contraceptive sponges are birth control methods that work by trapping sperm to prevent egg fertilization.

Hormonal birth control

Hormonal birth control methods like oral pills, injections, implants, and intrauterine devices (IUDs) use hormones to prevent ovaries from releasing eggs for fertilization.

Hormones also thicken mucus in the cervix to stop sperm from reaching eggs and alter the uterine lining to prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg.

Nonhormonal birth control

A copper IUD is a popular, hormone-free birth control that uses copper, which is toxic to sperm, to prevent pregnancy.

When should I schedule a birth control consultation?

Adult women and adolescent girls can schedule a women’s health evaluation at NewMed Immediate Care if they are sexually active or plan to be but aren’t ready to become pregnant.

In some cases, hormonal birth control may be a part of a treatment plan for women’s health issues, including irregular periods and endometriosis.

Your medical provider can also prescribe low-dose birth control for women transitioning to menopause, the time when estrogen levels decline and menstrual cycles end. Hormonal birth control may help ease menopause-related symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, and anxiety.

Which birth control method is best for me?

Your choice of birth control depends on many factors, including your age, medical history, lifestyle, and plans for a family. The NewMed Immediate Care team offers comprehensive health evaluations to determine which birth control options are appropriate for you.

If you’re looking to have children in the near future, you may be a candidate for birth control pills, patches, implants, or injections. IUDs offer the longest protection against pregnancy and may be an option for those most interested in convenience and women who can’t use hormones.

Condoms are the only birth control method that also offers protection against chlamydia, gonorrhea, and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Continue using condoms when intimate with a new partner or multiple partners whose medical history you don’t know.

Call the NewMed Immediate Care office nearest you today to schedule a birth control consultation. You can also use the online feature to book an appointment or visit the office as a walk-in.